Three-week plan to abduct boy included practicing letter writing

MICHAEL HAMER had been planning to abduct Joe for at least three weeks even to the extent of practicing his letter-writing to lure his victim away from home.

Four drafts of the letter were found by police.

Hamer told a psychiatrist he wrote the letters the day before the murder, but he told another psychiatrist that the letter which described “sexual activities” with Joe was written three weeks before. Two of the four letters were found in his bedroom, one in the back garden and one not until days later.