the blame fell on eric brown. he had previously attended lectures on the same mine used in the murder, and, having joined the british army some years previously, had access to a weapons store in spilsby. eventually eric brown gave a confession in which he blamed his actions on archibald brown's abusive attitude to both him and his mother. on 21 september 1943 he was committed to trial at the essex assizes. the trial started on 4 november; eric brown was tried at the shire hall, chelmsford and declared insane. he was released in 1975.