Karen Kilgariff

While Ronnie and Reggie's rise to the top of London's underworld is swift, by 1966, tensions between the Krays and a South London group of gangsters called the Richardson Gang come to a head. While these two gangs typically steer clear of each other's business, Ronnie later claims that the Krays had spies inside the Richardson camp.

While Ronnie and Reggie's rise to the top of London's underworld is swift, by 1966, tensions between the Krays and a South London group of gangsters called the Richardson Gang come to a head. While these two gangs typically steer clear of each other's business, Ronnie later claims that the Krays had spies inside the Richardson camp.

And those spies eventually report back that one of the Richardson's gang associates... who was a guy named George Cornell who used to be in the firm. So he was like an ex-Craze gang member that went to the Richardson's gang. George had been talking about a plan to move into the Craze territory.

And those spies eventually report back that one of the Richardson's gang associates... who was a guy named George Cornell who used to be in the firm. So he was like an ex-Craze gang member that went to the Richardson's gang. George had been talking about a plan to move into the Craze territory.

Ronnie also admits, though, that this rift with their ex-colleague was very personal with this George Cornell. Because he says, quote, the trouble might still have been avoided, but then Cornell did the most stupid thing he'd ever done in his life. In front of a table full of villains, he actually called me a fat poof. He virtually signed his own death warrant. Yeah, you can't do that. End quote.

Ronnie also admits, though, that this rift with their ex-colleague was very personal with this George Cornell. Because he says, quote, the trouble might still have been avoided, but then Cornell did the most stupid thing he'd ever done in his life. In front of a table full of villains, he actually called me a fat poof. He virtually signed his own death warrant. Yeah, you can't do that. End quote.

You gotta be careful. Yeah. Like in front of everybody and to a person where it's just like, oh, okay, well, then there you go. Yeah. So as you can imagine, things escalate from there. On March 8th, 1966, members of the Richardson gang, including George Cornell, shoot up a pub that's frequented by members of the firm. Ronnie and Reggie aren't there, but one of their associates is killed.

You gotta be careful. Yeah. Like in front of everybody and to a person where it's just like, oh, okay, well, then there you go. Yeah. So as you can imagine, things escalate from there. On March 8th, 1966, members of the Richardson gang, including George Cornell, shoot up a pub that's frequented by members of the firm. Ronnie and Reggie aren't there, but one of their associates is killed.

So one night later, Ronnie's out drinking when he learns that George Cornell is posted up at a pub called the Blind Beggar that's also in the East End. And it's also in the firm's territory. So Ronnie walks over, walks up to George at the bar and shoots him in front of basically all the patrons that are in there. George Cornell dies later that night.

So one night later, Ronnie's out drinking when he learns that George Cornell is posted up at a pub called the Blind Beggar that's also in the East End. And it's also in the firm's territory. So Ronnie walks over, walks up to George at the bar and shoots him in front of basically all the patrons that are in there. George Cornell dies later that night.

After the murder, Ronnie says, quote, I felt fucking marvelous. Well, don't don't call him slurs then. I know. And certainly don't call him fat.

After the murder, Ronnie says, quote, I felt fucking marvelous. Well, don't don't call him slurs then. I know. And certainly don't call him fat.

You would just be fucking traumatized into infinity if you had to shoot somebody. Totally. Months pass. Ronnie faces zero repercussions for Georgia's murder because, again, no witnesses are willing to talk. About a year later, with the rivalry between the Krays and the Richardson gang continuing to build, Reggie brutally murders a low-ranking member of his own gang over basically a small debt.

You would just be fucking traumatized into infinity if you had to shoot somebody. Totally. Months pass. Ronnie faces zero repercussions for Georgia's murder because, again, no witnesses are willing to talk. About a year later, with the rivalry between the Krays and the Richardson gang continuing to build, Reggie brutally murders a low-ranking member of his own gang over basically a small debt.

This man's name was Jack the Hat McVitie. I'm going to start calling you the hat for sure.

This man's name was Jack the Hat McVitie. I'm going to start calling you the hat for sure.

The hat. You could just wear a little hat all the time. Always. Jack is baited into a basement. He's told there's a party down there that everyone's going to. You never go to a party. Especially in the basement. Yeah. When he gets down there, he instead finds Reggie and Ronnie waiting for him. Reggie pulls the trigger to shoot Jack. The gun jams. Come on. So Ronnie holds Jack down.

The hat. You could just wear a little hat all the time. Always. Jack is baited into a basement. He's told there's a party down there that everyone's going to. You never go to a party. Especially in the basement. Yeah. When he gets down there, he instead finds Reggie and Ronnie waiting for him. Reggie pulls the trigger to shoot Jack. The gun jams. Come on. So Ronnie holds Jack down.

Reggie pulls out a knife and repeatedly stabs him in the face, throat and chest until he bleeds out on the floor. And Jack McVitie's body is disposed of and never recovered. Wow. So that's where all the, like, glamour and glitz and kind of, like, superficial stuff really, really melts away for me. Where it's like, oh, that's cute and neat and Tom Hardy and hooray.

Reggie pulls out a knife and repeatedly stabs him in the face, throat and chest until he bleeds out on the floor. And Jack McVitie's body is disposed of and never recovered. Wow. So that's where all the, like, glamour and glitz and kind of, like, superficial stuff really, really melts away for me. Where it's like, oh, that's cute and neat and Tom Hardy and hooray.