Charlie Kray – the elder brother of gangland twins Ronnie and Reggie – passed away at St Mary’s hospital at 20:50 on 4th April 2000.
The 73-year-old had been seriously ill after suffering a heart attack the previous month in Parkhurst Prison where he had been serving a 12-year sentence for cocaine smuggling. He died with his girlfriend Diane Buffini and 2 further friends at his bedside.
66-year-old Reginald Kray – who had been brought to Parkhurst from Wayland Prison in Norfolk to be at his brother’s side during his confinement – was not present during his last moments. However, Reg had been allowed visits on the previous 2 days before his death. This was the first time he had seen Charlie since the East End funeral of his brother Ron in 1995.
Reginald – the last surviving Kray brother – was to die on 24th October of that year in a Norwich hotel, having been released from prison on compassionate grounds.
Dapper former professional boxer Charlie was said not to like violence but was happy to play his part as the Krays built up their empire of extortion. As the brother with the business brain, he would have been aware that those not submitting to the twins’ demands would be viciously beaten.
Charles Kray had first been imprisoned in 1969 for helping to dispose of the body of Jack ‘The Hat’ McVitie. On his release in 1975, he claimed to have been unemployable because of his name and family’s reputation. However, Police believed him to have been a life-long criminal.
The detective who convicted all 3 Kray twins – Leonard ‘Nipper’ Read said of Charlie:
“He was well and truly part of the Kray firm. When the twins were in trouble, he was the first person they turned to.
Article continues below this advertisement “Charlie Kray was clever but never violent. All he had to say was that he was Charlie Kray. People looked over his shoulder and wondered where the twins were.”
