New claims have emerged that Beatles manager Brian Epstein was murdered by the American mafia, according to a biography by Philip Norman. Epstein, aged 32, was found dead at his Belgravia home in August 1967. A pathologist ruled his death an accidental overdose of a prescribed insomnia drug.
In his book 'Moonlight: Brian Epstein and the Making of the Beatles', Norman cites an interview with notorious gangster Reggie Kray, who suggested the mafia was responsible. Kray told a reporter in 1985: 'It's easy to kill someone and make it look like an overdose.' He hinted that the American mafia, with whom the Kray firm had links, carried out the murder.
Norman claims Epstein had made enemies after a botched licensing deal for Beatles merchandise in New York, which left him and the band with only around 10% of profits. An American associate of Epstein reportedly received an anonymous call weeks before his death, warning: 'You're going to hear soon that Brian Epstein has met with an accident.'
Reggie Kray also revealed that he and his brother Ronnie had planned to blackmail Epstein over compromising photographs, hoping to force him to sign over the Beatles. However, Epstein died before they could act. Kray insisted: 'It wasn't us.'
