A PROMINENT criminal barrister has joined the chorus calling for a fresh investigation into the deaths of siblings Griff and Patti Thomas, who were found dead in their isolated Pembrokeshire farmhouse in 1976.
Nearly half a century after the grim discovery at Ffynon Samson in the village of Llangolman, barrister Andrew Taylor is questioning the original findings that suggested Griff murdered his sister before taking his own life. Mr. Taylor, known for his work in overturning wrongful murder convictions, has cast doubt on several pieces of evidence used in the initial investigation.
Dyfed-Powys Police have confirmed that their review of the case remains active.
The bodies of Griff and Patti Thomas were initially found by a postman in December 1976. An inquest in Haverfordwest in February 1977 delivered a verdict of manslaughter for Patti and an open verdict for Griff, leaving unanswered questions about the true circumstances of their deaths.
Mr. Taylor pointed out troubling aspects of the evidence, including a nail found embedded in Griff’s eye with no satisfactory explanation from police or pathologists, and significant bleeding from a head injury which contradicts the absence of third-party involvement. Moreover, the scene contained two half-drunk cups of tea and uneaten food, hinting at the presence of a visitor, and no accelerants were found, which challenges the suicide theory.
These details suggest that the siblings might have been entertaining a known visitor shortly before their deaths, adding complexity to the narrative of a lone murder-suicide.
The case has recently gained additional attention through a new BBC Sounds podcast, “Death on the Farm,” which explores the mysterious circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The podcast follows The Pembrokeshire Herald playing significant roles in reviving interest in the case.
Over the years the newspaper has dedicated extensive investigative resources to questioning the initial police conclusions, which suggested that Griff Thomas killed his sister Patti before setting their farmhouse on fire and perishing in the blaze himself.
In recent years, Herald journalists such as Andy Chandler and Jon Coles have highlighted the inconsistencies in the original investigation, particularly focusing on forensic evidence, such as unidentified fingerprints and the unexplained presence of blood on a sewing machine cover.
Their work, combined with campaigns led by local media outlets like Clebran and community councils, pressured Dyfed-Powys Police to consider reopening the case. Coverage has emphasised that the official verdict, which painted Griff as a murderer despite his physical limitations and severe arthritis, left many unanswered questions
The Herald’s reporting has also been instrumental in debunking earlier theories linking notorious serial killer John Cooper to the deaths of the Thomas siblings. Through detailed interviews with local sources and a focus on forensic gaps in the investigation, these publications have kept the unresolved nature of the case in the public eye, pushing for justice more than 45 years later.
With the launch of Operation Hallam, a forensic cold case review started in October 2022, plus this renewed interest, there now renewed hope that modern investigative techniques might finally provide clarity on this nearly 50-year-old case, answering lingering questions and potentially clearing Griff Thomas’s name.
