Duncan Campbell – crime was his passion

Duncan Campbell, the renowned Guardian crime reporter, writer and broadcaster whose work highlighted police corruption, the shortcomings in the justice system and miscarriages of justice, has died aged 80. He reported on high-profile criminal cases of recent decades, including the Rosemary West trial and the Hatton Garden heist.

  Born 15 December 1944, no birth time, in Edinburgh, he  developed a fascination with crime during his days playing football against a prison side. At University, he failed every subject apart from criminal law and moved into journalism, editing the university newspaper, and running features on abortion and homosexuality, which were both illegal at the time.

In 2016, reporting on the Hatton Garden burglary, he said he feared crime reporting was “disappearing in a world of tweets, budget cuts and 24-hour news”. He spoke in favour of the release of the WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange, stating that his “main offence is publishing the shameful secrets of the US government and its armed forces”.

 He had a New Moon in fiery, outspoken and knowledgeable Sagittarius conjunct Mars. An Air Grand Trine of Neptune in Libra trine Venus in Aquarius trine Uranus in Gemini was formed into two Kites by Uranus in an impulsive and uncompromising opposition to Mars and Venus in a passionate opposition to Pluto. Having an Air Grand Trine would make him a thinker and a communicator.

 His long-time partner and wife, actress Julie Christie, 14 April 1941 Shillong, India, is a Sun Venus in Aries which fitted with his Sagittarius New Moon Mars; and his Venus in Aquarius was conjunct her Mars for attraction.  Their relationship chart had Jupiter inconjunct Sun Mercury, South Node – and Mars inconjunct Saturn. Not yods (well maybe with houses/axis) but a relationship that would require constant adjustment. Plus Venus square Saturn.

 What is intriguing is comparing his chart to Andrew Norfolk, the journalist who exposed the Rotherham grooming gangs story (see post below). AF’s Capricorn Sun was exactly conjunct DC’s South Node and DC’s Sun Moon in Sagittarius was conjunct AF’s South Node.  This would bring a deep sense of familiarity so each could relax in the other’s presence. Both had Sagittarius planets which would give them an impetus to communicate. DC’s Jupiter in Virgo was conjunct AF’s Mars – Virgo being another of the communication planets.