22 November 2023 , 20:00
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The tragic death of Ronald Platt went down in history as one of the most bizarre and baffling murders.
Back in 1996, fishermen discovered a dead man's body washed up in a fishing net off the south coast of Devon. The victim was later identified by the expensive Rolex watch on his wrist, which had a unique serial number that led police to his name, Ronald Platt. The 51-year-old former soldier had died at sea and officers worked tirelessly to solve the mystery of his death.
Tonight, a Channel 5 documentary, titled Devil in Disguise: The Murder of Ronald Platt, examines the case that took a strange turn, with the discovery of a second man who was very much alive but living with the same name - and number two on Interpol's most wanted list. As the tale unravelled, Canadian fraudster Albert Walker was found guilty of murdering Ronald and stealing his identity.
Murder victim Ronald Platt (pictured) spent his final moments on a 'fishing trip' with Walker, before he was brutally killed (AP)In the early nineties, Ronald worked as a TV repairman and became friends with Walker through his partner, Elaine Boyes. To thank Ronald for helping him out with a job, Walker bought the couple plane tickets to Canada as a gift. He convinced Ronald that he'd need his driving licence, signature and birth certificate to organise the rest of the holiday.
While the couple jetted off to America, Walker used the information and started calling himself Ronald Platt. When his pal returned from the US, he continued to secretly live under his name. In July 1996, Walker took Ronald out on his yacht, Lady Jane, for a day out fishing off the coast of Teignmouth, Devon. Sadly, that was the real Ronald's last day on earth.
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Police believe that Walker sinisterly led him out to sea, smashed him over the head, weighed his body down with an anchor and threw his corpse overboard. It was two weeks later that his body was recovered from the water. Thanks to his Rolex Oyster watch, officers were able to investigate his murder - infamously dubbing Walker the 'Rolex Killer'.
In 1998, Walker was handed a life sentence at Exeter Crown Court and described as a "ruthless killer" who planned his crimes with "chilling efficiency". Seven years later, he was moved to a Canadian prison to serve out the rest of his sentence. Then in August of this year, The Sun reported that Walker had been granted parole and given permission to spend 60 days out of prison to attempt to rehabilitate him into society. He continues to serve his sentence.
- Devil in Disguise: The Murder of Ronald Platt airs on Channel 5 at 10pm tonight on Thursday, November 22