Gale Benson
British model (1944–1972)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gale Ann Mildred Benson (née Plugge; 4 November 1944 – 2 January 1972), later known as Hale Kimga, was a British model, socialite and daughter of politician Leonard Plugge. She was a supporter of the black power movement through her relationship with the activist Hakim Jamal. Benson was stabbed and buried alive by associates of Michael X while she attended his compound in Trinidad and Tobago.
4 November 1944
Gale Benson | |
|---|---|
| |
| Born | Gale Ann Mildred Plugge 4 November 1944 London, United Kingdom |
| Died | 2 January 1972 (aged 27) |
| Other names | Hale Kimga |
| Occupations | |
| Known for | Victim of murder |
| Spouse |
Jonathan Benson
(m. 1964; div. 1970) |
| Partner | Hakim Jamal (1970–1972) |
| Parents |
|
Life
Benson was born on 4 November 1944 in Middlesex Hospital, London, alongside her twin brother Greville.[1] Her father, Leonard Plugge, was a millionaire, scientist and Conservative MP.[2] Benson once worked as a model.[2]
On 12 December 1964, Benson married Jonathan Benson.[3] The actor Corin Redgrave was their best man.[4] Her husband was a socialite film director and Benson developed a social conscience through interactions with his acquaintances.[5] Benson maintained friendships with film stars, business tycoons and international celebrities.[2]
Benson met Michael X and developed an infatuation with him.[5] She changed her clothing style from expensive frocks to scruffy jeans and attended black power demonstrations.[5] Benson provided secretarial and organisational assistance to Michael X in addition to helping him establish connections through her social network.[5] Jonathan described Benson's actions as "rebelling against her totally conformist English background."[5] Benson and her husband divorced in 1970.[5]
Benson was eventually spurned by Michael X once she no longer had any use to him.[5] She met Hakim Jamal through their mutual connection with Redgrave.[6] Benson was lonely and depressed at the time; she promptly fell in love with Jamal and subsequently experienced a resurgence of her confidence.[6] She helped to write Jamal's 1971 autobiography From the Dead Level: Malcolm X and Me.[6]
Benson converted to Islam;[2] she adopted the Muslim name Hale Kimga which was an anagram of his and her first names.[5] Benson was considered to be in worship of Jamal;[2] Jamal proclaimed to be a God which was believed by Benson.[6] Benson referred to herself as his handmaiden and said that he "created" her.[6] Their interracial relationship made them the target of threats and insults.[2]
At the end of 1971, Benson and Jamal arrived in Guyana where Jamal sought to establish a publishing house but the government refused to renew his visa.[5] On 9 December, the couple flew to Trinidad and visited the commune of Michael X which had been established earlier that year.[5] Benson and Jamal rented their own residence nearby but made almost nightly visits to the commune.[5]
Benson became a "familiar figure" in Arima where she stood out as one of its few white residents.[7] She was often adorned in an African-style dashiki and walked barefoot.[7]
Murder
Benson is believed to have died on the morning of 2 January 1972.[8] Her death was ordered by Michael X because she was causing "mental strain" to Jamal.[9] She was stabbed at least 10 times after she stepped into a grave that had been dug for her.[9] Benson was also partially strangled but there was evidence that she had been buried alive.[8]
Trina Simmonds was staying on the commune at the time of Benson's death.[5] She recounted that she had a conversation with Jamal that morning where he claimed that Benson had left him and had no awareness of her whereabouts.[5]
On 20 February 1972, Michael X's home was destroyed by fire in a suspected arson attack.[7] Police conducted a search for weapons that they believed to be buried on the grounds of the property.[7] On 22 February, they uncovered the body of 25-year-old local barber Joseph Skerritt.[7] Two days later, police discovered the body of Benson.[7]
Adolphus Parmassar, who was accused of involvement in the murders of Benson and Skerritt, had proceedings dropped against him to testify for the prosecution.[9] Steve Yeates was alleged to have inflicted the final wound to Benson before she was covered in the grave;[9] he allegedly drowned on February 10, 1972, although his body was never discovered.[10] Two men, Stanley Abbott and Edward Chadee, were sentenced to death for their involvement in her murder.[11] They claimed that they acted in fear of Michael X.[12]
In 1977, Abbott lost his last bid to escape the death penalty;[12] he was hanged in 1979.[12] Chadee's death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment.[12] Michael X was charged with Benson's murder but never tried; he was sentenced to death for the murder of Skerritt on 21 August 1972,[13] and hanged in 1975.[12]
In a March 1972 interview with The Daily Telegraph, Jamal said of Benson: "Knowing what Gale has done for black people, I find it hard to believe that any black man would have done her any harm. She was a saint to us, and the black people should see that a statue to her memory is erected in Hyde Park."[14] Jamal was murdered in the United States in 1973, just over a year after Benson's own death.[15]
Cultural references
The movie The Bank Job (2008) portrays Michael X as having been in possession of indecent photographs of Princess Margaret stored in a bank vault, and using them to blackmail the British establishment. Hattie Morahan plays Benson, whom the film portrays as a spy whose role is to find any additional photos or negatives Michael X may have.
Benson is a central character in Diana Athill's memoir of her friendship with Gale's lover, Hakim Jamal, Make Believe: A True Story.[16]