Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I've heard just snippets of what happened to Mal Evans. One was that he was "murdered". The other was he was shot dead by LA police. What happened??

"January 4, 1976--At his Los Angeles motel apartment at 8122 West 4th Street, Mal Evans, long time friend and former roadie/bodyguard of the Beatles, is shot to death by police lieutenant Charles Higbie (of the LAPD robbery and homicide division). In a drunken stupor, Mal had become uncontrollably violent, appeared to be attempting suicide, and pointed a rifle at the officer, who, in self-defense, then shot him six times, four bullets hitting Mal. His new girlfriend, Fran Hughes, with whom he was living, found him upset and despondent, and when friends couldn't get Evans to release the unloaded rifle he was holding, they called police. Mal had recently separated from his wife, Lili Evans, who had reportedly asked him for a divorce just before Christmas. Mal was working on a book about his time with The Beatles, entitled Living with The Beatles Legend, which was scheduled to be delivered to the publisher, Grosset & Dunlap, on January 12. He was 40 years old. When John Lennon was told of Mal’s death, he broke down in tears."

Very sad indeed. God Bless you Mal.

Higbie's name comes up many times in LA Police history...he was involved in the arrest and detainment of Sirhan Sirhan, RFK's assassin, and was also the reporting officer in the infamous Eulia Love "gas bill murder" case in 1979.

I also seem to recall him involved in Jim Ellroy's mother's murder case, which was the basis for Ellroy's book, "My Dark Places". I'm not sure if Ellroy mentions Higbie by name, though...

What a mess the LAPD made of RFK's assassination. Dan Moldea wrote a pretty good book on that event. Although I felt he was setting us up for a big ending and then pulled the carpet out.

Paul, when I find out from that guy about the thing I'll let you know.

It's interesting to note that, according to verifiable legend, McCartney has successfully sued the penniless Lil Evans to prevent her from selling some lyric sheet at Sotheby's (I think it was Penny Lane) after she found it folded up in one of Mal's old books.

Ah Macca...the guy just warms your heart, doesn't he?

I don't think that is exactly true. He paid her quite a chunk of money for the lyrics. He prevented the auction, but she received a hefty sum for it.

From the London Times:

"Lily and Gary have met Paul twice to discuss the ownership of some Beatles lyrics Mal had tidied up, which she wanted to sell. Paul appears to have reached generous out-of-court settlements with her."

Sounds like she made out ok. I assume they were Paul's to begin with. Whatever the case may be she seems to have been rewarded.

I don't think that is exactly true. He paid her quite a chunk of money for the lyrics. He prevented the auction, but she received a hefty sum for it.

From the London Times:

"Lily and Gary have met Paul twice to discuss the ownership of some Beatles lyrics Mal had tidied up, which she wanted to sell. Paul appears to have reached generous out-of-court settlements with her."

Sounds like she made out ok. I assume they were Paul's to begin with. Whatever the case may be she seems to have been rewarded.

OoPS! Sorry for the double post. I guess I made myself clear!

Fascinating info! Thanks!

For the record, it was a pellet gun that Mal was holding. He was sitting in a chair. May Pang told me John was in pretty bad shape upon hearing the news.




Visit www.maypang.com

I just read in "Many Years From Now" that Mal was an honorary Sherrif's Deputy for LA County.

Also in the book (page 601) it states ...

" Mal was cremated in Los Angeles on 7 January, with Harry Nilsson and other friends in attendance. His ashes got lost in the post on the way back to England and were eventually recovered from the Lost Letter Office".

Reminds me of the movie "Brazil"...