Bouldner Park, near Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight. It was shortly before 3pm on a summer's afternoon that police received the 999 call: "I've found a man outside my house. I think that he must have been murdered."
Before detectives could reach the scene, an isolated smallholding just a few hundred yards from the Solent coast, a car drew up outside the property.
Anthony Hitchcock, looking agitated and spattered in blood, told the two occupants: "John's had a terrible accident."
As Jean Neale, wife of the dead man, remained by the vehicle, the passenger accompanied Hitchcock to the rear of the house where the body of Neale lay near a wall, covered with an old raincoat.
He lifted the fabric and was confronted by the horrific sight of the victim with the right side of his head battered in.
What Hitchcock had failed to mention was that he had murdered his market garden business partner as he was planting lettuces in the back garden of the property they shared with the dead man's wife and family at Bouldnor Park,
Within minutes, police arrived and 30-year-old Hitchcock was in custody.
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Statement
In a statement, he claimed Neale had swung at him with a rake during a row.
"We were struggling and I knocked him down with a stone. I struck him some more blows, I do not know how many times," he said.
"Next I remember was standing by the back door and thinking I must ring for an ambulance."
The statement ended: "I want to assure everybody I have never had a desire in my life to hurt anyone before. This just happened in the heat of the moment and, for what good it is, I'm sorry for what has happened."
The Echo was to learn that the dead man was liked and respected in the community, where he and his family had lived for two years.
He was fond of animals and kept three goats. As his wife and children tried to come to terms with the tragedy, neighbours looked after the animals.
Hitchcock was charged with murder and two months later, on July 24, 1961, he appeared at Hampshire Assizes in Winchester, where he pleaded not guilty.
For most of the hearing, as jurors heard from 12 prosecution witnesses, Hitchcock sat with his head bowed.
It transpired that Hitchcock had been up a ladder tending brickwork and Neale was planting lettuces. His wife had gone to Yarmouth, where she worked at an
approved school, and their two children had gone out to play.
Mrs Neale told jurors the two men did have arguments but nothing serious.
Hitchcock claimed Neale had attacked him with the rake and threw a stone which struck him on the nose. "I turned away and he came after me. He raised his fist and it looked as though he was clenching something. Before he could land a blow, I either wrenched the stone or knocked it out of his hand."
Hitchcock said he could remember hitting his business partner in the face but did not recall him falling down.
"The next thing I remember was standing over him," he said.
Norman Skelhorn QC asked: "Is it true you were in love with Mrs Neale?"
Hitchcock replied: "Yes, sir."
At that point, Mr Justice Hilbery intervened and asked: "Were you jealous of Neale?"
Hitchcock answered: "Envious but not jealous."
Hitchcock was convicted of murder and sentenced to life.
When the jury announced its decision, Hitchcock slumped forward and had to be supported by a prison officer.
After the judge had passed sentence, he was carried from the dock, sobbing.
Hitchcock took his case to the Court of Appeal, claiming the jury had been misdirected by the judge who, he said, was biased against him. His appeal failed.
"There was ample evidence to justify this conviction," said Mr Justice Edmund Davies.
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