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John Kay (journalist, born 1943)

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His time as Editor was eventful. He was accused of falsely reporting a profit to the Student Union for one edition of the paper when it had in reality made a loss, but was ultimately cleared of deliberately making the claim. An article he produced on
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In 1977, Kay killed his Japanese-born first wife, Harue (née Nonaka), by drowning her in the bath. After several attempts to kill himself, the police found him in his car naked and covered in blood. He was arrested and charged with murder.
554:. Returning home after the conference, Kay said he felt unable to resign because it would harm his career, but knew he was not capable of functioning as Industrial Editor either. He said that he announced to Harue that he was going to 542:, he pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. Mathew argued that Kay lacked confidence when going 'on the road' to interview people and said that prior to the incident, Kay suffered a 889: 1251: 1010: 398:, where he was an Editorial writer (1965–67); Chief Industrial Correspondent (1967–68); and Deputy News Editor (1968–1970). After a spell in London as a features writer for 310:. In 1977 he was convicted of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility after killing his wife and was admitted to a psychiatric hospital for treatment. 1142: 897: 1079: 867: 1000: 1261: 932: 17: 507:
though, did pay the money to his source, Bettina Jordan-Barber, who was jailed for 12 months in January for misconduct in public office. Kay left
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to say there would always be a job open for Kay with the newspaper. The judge ordered Kay to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital in
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published a two-page spread calling him "the greatest journalist of his generation" and "everybody's mate", and a
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feature in November 2005 identified him as the sixteenth most influential British journalist since the war.
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for prosecuting Kay on bribery charges in 2015, all without touching on his manslaughter conviction (
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for falsely claiming to have had a "world exclusive" interview with Maria McKay, the widow of a
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chief reporter famed for his scoops, exposés and effortless mastery of tabloid-speak", while
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investigation into alleged bribes to police and civil servants. Kay was cleared at the
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with a large pay rise and a company car. Twice named 'Reporter of the Year' in the
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past retirement on a full-time freelance basis but on the same salary as before.
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newspaper from 1974, initially as a general reporter, then as Industrial Editor.
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s chief reporter in 1990. According to freelance journalist Rob McGibbon in the
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on 28 October 1943. Kay's father, Ernest Kay, was managing editor of the London
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newspaper for several decades. He was twice named 'Reporter of the Year' in the
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ceremonies' also attracted controversy, and was described as a "nasty piece of
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reported in November 2008 that Kay had been persuaded to continue working on
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added mentions of the killing to the obituaries after initial publication).
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After graduating from Durham, Kay gained his first job in journalism with
1169:"My mentor died a broken man after Keir Starmer's groundless prosecution" 1113: 911: 369: 365: 43: 496: 300:(28 October 1943 – 7 May 2021) was a British journalist who worked for 243: 1039: 720: 551: 424: 415: 360:
during Michaelmas term of 1963, having previously been News Editor.
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People associated with the News International phone hacking scandal
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In 1979, he married his Spanish-born wife, Mercedes, a PA for the
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member of staff for assistance on stories relating to the army.
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in March 2015 of paying a total of £100,000 over a decade to a
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in 1971 to serve as Business Editor. He began working for
952:"MoD 'mole' Bettina Jordan-Barber jailed over Sun leaks" 971:"What has happened to the 28 arrested Sun journalists?" 459:, tried to recruit the journalist, but Kay remained at 669:
Stick it Up Your Punter! The Rise and Fall of the Sun
585:. After a spell of treatment he was taken back on by 566:, and finally driving his car head-on into a bridge. 569:The court accepted Kay's account of the events and 1032: 491:to be one of eight people arrested as part of the 666: 1208: 589:on condition that he be confined to the office. 1103: 1101: 949: 930: 662: 660: 658: 656: 654: 652: 650: 525: 338:Pilkington). The younger Kay was educated at 834: 832: 601:on 7 May 2021 after a fall. Upon his death, 1166: 1098: 995: 993: 991: 816: 814: 746: 744: 742: 710: 708: 706: 704: 702: 700: 698: 667:Chippendale, Peter; Horrie, Chris (2005) . 252:on the grounds of diminished responsibility 1136: 1134: 1132: 968: 753:Dictionary of International Biography 1973 682: 680: 678: 647: 42: 912:"Eight people held over payments inquiry" 829: 611:obituary described him as the "brilliant 1262:English people convicted of manslaughter 988: 838: 811: 755:. Cambridge: Melrose Press. p. 644. 739: 695: 518:airline. After he severed all ties with 427:VC. She had sold her story to the rival 1140: 1129: 1070:"'Torment' of reporter who killed wife" 687:"Torment of reporter who killed wife". 675: 671:. London: Pocket Books. pp. 89–91. 201: 1979; died 2017) 180: 1976; died 1977) 14: 1209: 487:In February 2012, Kay was reported by 333: 969:Greenslade, Roy (3 September 2015). 750: 24: 1242:Alumni of Hatfield College, Durham 1141:Bennett, Catherine (16 May 2021). 896:. 27 November 2008. Archived from 874:. 25 November 2005. Archived from 376:(SRC), responsible for publishing 25: 1278: 1237:People educated at Bootham School 1202:National Portrait Gallery, London 1191: 1034:"Journalist drowned wife in bath" 950:O'Carroll, Lisa (20 March 2015). 931:O'Carroll, Lisa (20 March 2015). 839:Ponsford, Dominic (10 May 2021). 534:Defended at trial by John Mathew 1167:Newton Dunn, Tom (12 May 2021). 1013:from the original on 12 May 2021 374:Student Representatives' Council 354:), where he served as Editor of 18:John Kay (journalist, born 1944) 1232:The Sun (United Kingdom) people 1160: 1082:from the original on 9 May 2021 1078:. 13 December 1977. p. 4. 1062: 1043:. 13 December 1977. p. 4. 1025: 962: 943: 924: 904: 882: 198: 177: 1247:Palatinate (newspaper) editors 860: 825:. 4 November 1963. p. 23. 821:"Student editor to keep job". 785: 759: 691:. 13 December 1977. p. 4. 597:Kay died at a nursing home in 27:British journalist (1943–2021) 13: 1: 640: 453:, while he was editor of the 413:According to his obituary in 346:and continued his studies at 332:, and his mother was Martha ( 313: 1117:. No. 1547. 14 May 2021 1109:"So. Farewell then John Kay" 7: 10: 1283: 799:(175): 1. 10 December 1963 773:(175): 2. 10 December 1963 526:Manslaughter of first wife 1267:People from Golders Green 383: 287: 279: 271: 266: 256: 241: 226: 222: 215: 211: 158: 146: 138: 128: 118: 110: 97: 76: 50: 41: 34: 1227:British male journalists 592: 150:'Reporter of the Year', 133:Hatfield College, Durham 735:(subscription required) 564:jumping out of a window 619:wrote a piece for the 1198:Portraits of John Kay 823:Birmingham Daily Post 579:St Albans Crown Court 511:in 2015 and retired. 751:Kay, Ernest (1974). 465:British Press Awards 308:British Press Awards 152:British Press Awards 920:. 11 February 2012. 716:"John Kay obituary" 501:Ministry of Defence 577:wrote a letter to 400:Thomson Newspapers 1257:Deaths from falls 900:on 11 March 2012. 544:nervous breakdown 493:Operation Elveden 449:obituary of Kay, 436:He was appointed 402:, he returned to 348:Durham University 295: 294: 291: 290: 236:nervous breakdown 16:(Redirected from 1274: 1185: 1184: 1182: 1180: 1173:Evening Standard 1164: 1158: 1157: 1155: 1153: 1138: 1127: 1126: 1124: 1122: 1105: 1096: 1095: 1089: 1087: 1066: 1060: 1059: 1057: 1055: 1036: 1029: 1023: 1022: 1020: 1018: 997: 986: 985: 983: 981: 966: 960: 959: 947: 941: 940: 928: 922: 921: 908: 902: 901: 886: 880: 879: 864: 858: 857: 855: 853: 836: 827: 826: 818: 809: 808: 806: 804: 793:"Editor Cleared" 789: 783: 782: 780: 778: 763: 757: 756: 748: 737: 736: 733: 731: 729: 712: 693: 692: 684: 673: 672: 664: 635:Evening Standard 627:Sir Keir Starmer 622:Evening Standard 442: 352:Hatfield College 337: 318:Kay was born in 298:John Michael Kay 246: 213: 212: 202: 200: 181: 179: 83: 62: 60: 54:John Michael Kay 46: 32: 31: 21: 1282: 1281: 1277: 1276: 1275: 1273: 1272: 1271: 1207: 1206: 1194: 1189: 1188: 1178: 1176: 1165: 1161: 1151: 1149: 1139: 1130: 1120: 1118: 1107: 1106: 1099: 1085: 1083: 1068: 1067: 1063: 1053: 1051: 1031: 1030: 1026: 1016: 1014: 1009:. 11 May 2021. 999: 998: 989: 979: 977: 967: 963: 948: 944: 929: 925: 910: 909: 905: 888: 887: 883: 878:on 17 May 2011. 866: 865: 861: 851: 849: 837: 830: 820: 819: 812: 802: 800: 791: 790: 786: 776: 774: 765: 764: 760: 749: 740: 734: 727: 725: 714: 713: 696: 686: 685: 676: 665: 648: 643: 617:Tom Newton Dunn 608:Daily Telegraph 595: 528: 440: 386: 316: 257:Criminal charge 242: 218: 207: 204: 196: 192: 189: 183: 175: 171: 168: 142:1963–2015 129:Alma mater 101:Journalist for 85: 81: 64: 63:28 October 1943 58: 56: 55: 37: 28: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 1280: 1270: 1269: 1264: 1259: 1254: 1249: 1244: 1239: 1234: 1229: 1224: 1219: 1205: 1204: 1193: 1192:External links 1190: 1187: 1186: 1159: 1128: 1097: 1092:Newspapers.com 1061: 1024: 987: 961: 942: 923: 903: 881: 859: 828: 810: 784: 758: 738: 694: 674: 645: 644: 642: 639: 594: 591: 538:, paid for by 527: 524: 451:Roy Greenslade 385: 382: 340:Bootham School 315: 312: 293: 292: 289: 288: 285: 284: 281: 277: 276: 273: 269: 268: 264: 263: 258: 254: 253: 247: 239: 238: 232:murder-suicide 228: 224: 223: 220: 219: 216: 209: 208: 206: 205: 194: 190: 187: 186: 184: 173: 169: 166: 165: 162: 160: 156: 155: 148: 147:Notable awards 144: 143: 140: 136: 135: 130: 126: 125: 123:Bootham School 120: 116: 115: 112: 108: 107: 99: 95: 94: 84:(aged 77) 78: 74: 73: 52: 48: 47: 39: 38: 35: 26: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1279: 1268: 1265: 1263: 1260: 1258: 1255: 1253: 1250: 1248: 1245: 1243: 1240: 1238: 1235: 1233: 1230: 1228: 1225: 1223: 1220: 1218: 1215: 1214: 1212: 1203: 1199: 1196: 1195: 1174: 1170: 1163: 1148: 1144: 1137: 1135: 1133: 1116: 1115: 1110: 1104: 1102: 1093: 1081: 1077: 1076: 1071: 1065: 1050: 1046: 1042: 1041: 1035: 1028: 1012: 1008: 1007: 1006:The Telegraph 1002: 996: 994: 992: 976: 972: 965: 957: 953: 946: 938: 934: 927: 919: 918: 913: 907: 899: 895: 894:Press Gazette 891: 885: 877: 873: 872:Press Gazette 869: 863: 848: 847: 846:Press Gazette 842: 835: 833: 824: 817: 815: 798: 794: 788: 772: 768: 762: 754: 747: 745: 743: 724:. 13 May 2021 723: 722: 717: 711: 709: 707: 705: 703: 701: 699: 690: 683: 681: 679: 670: 663: 661: 659: 657: 655: 653: 651: 646: 638: 636: 632: 628: 624: 623: 618: 614: 610: 609: 604: 600: 590: 588: 584: 583:Friern Barnet 580: 576: 572: 567: 565: 561: 557: 553: 549: 545: 541: 537: 532: 523: 521: 517: 512: 510: 506: 502: 498: 494: 490: 485: 483: 482: 477: 476:Press Gazette 472: 470: 469:Press Gazette 466: 462: 458: 457: 452: 448: 447: 446:Press Gazette 439: 434: 432: 431: 426: 422: 421:Press Council 418: 417: 411: 409: 405: 401: 397: 393: 392: 381: 379: 375: 371: 367: 361: 359: 358: 353: 349: 345: 341: 336: 331: 330: 325: 321: 320:Golders Green 311: 309: 305: 304: 299: 286: 282: 278: 274: 270: 265: 262: 259: 255: 251: 248: 245: 244:Conviction(s) 240: 237: 233: 229: 225: 221: 214: 210: 188:Mercedes Kay 185: 167:Harue Nonaka 164: 163: 161: 157: 153: 149: 145: 141: 137: 134: 131: 127: 124: 121: 117: 113: 109: 106: 105: 100: 96: 92: 91:Hertfordshire 88: 79: 75: 71: 67: 66:Golders Green 53: 49: 45: 40: 33: 30: 19: 1177:. Retrieved 1172: 1162: 1150:. Retrieved 1147:The Observer 1146: 1119:. Retrieved 1112: 1090:– via 1084:. Retrieved 1075:The Guardian 1073: 1064: 1052:. Retrieved 1038: 1027: 1015:. Retrieved 1004: 978:. Retrieved 975:The Guardian 974: 964: 956:The Guardian 955: 945: 937:The Guardian 936: 926: 915: 906: 898:the original 893: 884: 876:the original 871: 862: 850:. Retrieved 844: 822: 801:. Retrieved 796: 787: 775:. Retrieved 770: 761: 752: 726:. Retrieved 719: 689:The Guardian 688: 668: 634: 630: 625:criticising 620: 612: 606: 602: 596: 586: 570: 568: 556:kill himself 550:Congress in 539: 533: 529: 519: 513: 508: 504: 486: 479: 475: 473: 468: 460: 456:Daily Mirror 454: 444: 437: 435: 430:Daily Mirror 428: 414: 412: 407: 403: 390: 387: 377: 362: 355: 329:Evening News 327: 317: 301: 297: 296: 250:Manslaughter 102: 82:(2021-05-07) 29: 1222:2021 deaths 1217:1943 births 1114:Private Eye 803:9 September 777:9 September 404:The Journal 391:The Journal 370:pornography 366:black magic 1211:Categories 1049:CS68780429 797:Palatinate 771:Palatinate 641:References 575:Larry Lamb 497:Old Bailey 394:in nearby 378:Palatinate 357:Palatinate 314:Early life 230:Attempted 98:Occupation 80:7 May 2021 59:1943-10-28 1040:The Times 721:The Times 552:Blackpool 433:tabloid. 425:Falklands 416:The Times 396:Newcastle 275:Harue Kay 119:Education 93:, England 72:, England 1175:. London 1080:Archived 1011:Archived 917:BBC News 767:"Editor" 599:Hertford 489:BBC News 217:John Kay 111:Language 87:Hertford 36:John Kay 1200:at the 631:The Sun 603:The Sun 587:The Sun 573:editor 560:hanging 540:The Sun 520:The Sun 509:The Sun 505:The Sun 481:The Sun 461:The Sun 438:The Sun 408:The Sun 303:The Sun 272:Victims 267:Details 234:due to 203:​ 195:​ 191:​ 182:​ 174:​ 170:​ 159:Spouses 154:(twice) 114:English 104:The Sun 1179:17 May 1152:17 May 1121:17 May 1086:10 May 1054:10 May 1047:  1017:12 May 852:10 May 728:13 May 516:Iberia 384:Career 324:London 261:Murder 227:Motive 139:Period 70:London 980:9 May 593:Death 441:' 197:( 193: 176:( 172: 1181:2021 1154:2021 1123:2021 1088:2021 1056:2021 1045:Gale 1019:2021 982:2021 854:2021 805:2018 779:2018 730:2021 633:and 474:The 467:, a 344:York 283:1977 280:Date 77:Died 51:Born 613:Sun 571:Sun 548:TUC 342:in 335:née 1213:: 1171:. 1145:. 1131:^ 1111:. 1100:^ 1072:. 1037:. 1003:. 990:^ 973:. 954:. 935:. 914:. 892:. 870:. 843:. 831:^ 813:^ 795:. 769:. 741:^ 718:. 697:^ 677:^ 649:^ 562:, 536:QC 322:, 199:m. 178:m. 89:, 68:, 1183:. 1156:. 1125:. 1094:. 1058:. 1021:. 984:. 958:. 939:. 856:. 807:. 781:. 732:. 364:' 350:( 61:) 57:( 20:)

Index

John Kay (journalist, born 1944)

Golders Green
London
Hertford
Hertfordshire
The Sun
Bootham School
Hatfield College, Durham
British Press Awards
murder-suicide
nervous breakdown
Conviction(s)
Manslaughter
Murder
The Sun
British Press Awards
Golders Green
London
Evening News
née
Bootham School
York
Durham University
Hatfield College
Palatinate
black magic
pornography
Student Representatives' Council
The Journal

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