RedHanded Podcast: “Michael X - Part Two: The Murder of Gale Benson” | #446

Release Date: April 17, 2026
Hosts: Hannah McGuire & Saruti
Episode Focus: The unraveling life and crimes of Michael X after leaving the UK, the establishment of his Trinidad commune, the murder of Gale Benson, and the web of politics, myth, and deception that followed.

Episode Overview

This gripping episode is the conclusion to RedHanded’s exploration of Michael X—a revolutionary-turned-conman whose allure captivated Black Power movements in Britain before infamy found him in Trinidad. The hosts dive deeply into the realities behind the myth, focusing on the death of Gale Benson and the sordid aftermath, all while maintaining their signature sharp wit and irreverence.

Key Discussion Points & Moments

1. Context: British Racism, Class, and the Black Power Movement

Race & Class in Post-War Britain
- Migrants from British colonies—Black, South Asian, Irish—were assured “home” only to be ghettoized and treated as second-class citizens.
- “During this period of history…the concept of blackness wasn't about your ethnic background necessarily. Blackness was where you stood in the societal pecking order.” (Hannah, 03:08)
- Discussion of iconic racist slogans and the exclusionary rhetoric of the era.
Intersectionality of Discrimination
- Legislation like the 1971 Immigration Act directly targeted “those born with black or brown faces.” (Saruti, 04:05)
- The Black Power movement in the UK encompassed all oppressed communities—Black, Asian, Irish.
- Integration was a primary goal, not separatism.
Michael X’s Opportunism
- Michael exploited this context for personal gain: “A turbulent sea of civil unrest that Michael X made the most out of for his own gain until it spat him back out.” (Saruti, 05:13)

2. Michael X’s Trinidad Chapter: The “Commune” & New Entrants

Arrival and Establishment
- Michael returns to Trinidad expecting acclaim but lacks influence amid hardline local Marxists.
- Founds “Black House 2.0” at “Christina Gardens”—less a cult compound, more a suburban home with rotating petty criminals.
Key Personalities
- Stephen Yates: Troubled sidekick with a violent past.
- Stanley Abbott: Entrusted with Black House, later confesses against Michael.
- Joe Skerritt: Michael’s cousin, described as “a very unpleasant little man” (Saruti, 08:08), who raped a girl and was kept around via blackmail.
- Celebrity Guests: Even John and Yoko appeared—bringing a piano and a fat check.
  - “Just the sheer stupidity of these people. And also the vanity of it.” (Saruti, 08:38)
Atmosphere
- No Jonestown—anyone could leave; affluent suburb life.

3. Paranoia, FBI Surveillance, and Darker Turn of the Commune

Hakeem Jamal & CoinIntelPro
- Jamal (with girlfriend Gale) increasingly paranoid, stalked by the FBI; failure of his own commune project in Guyana shakes his faith.
- “His belief in his own godhead had been severely shaken by his failure in Guyana.” (Saruti, 10:33)
Obeah Ritualism
- Michael claims initiation in Caribbean folk magic for legitimacy: “He was just trying to carve out some legitimacy for himself as a magical refugee who had been too powerful for the British to handle.” (Hannah, 17:09)

4. The Blood Sacrifice and Gale Benson’s Murder

Lead up to the Killing
- Cult-like rituals: calf slaughter and blood drinking—different versions of people's involvement.
- Michael declares, “I want blood. That is the only thing that will keep us together.” (Saruti, 19:08)
Killing of Gale Benson [18:40–20:25]
- Gale tricked into a trap, attacked by Kidogo with a cutlass, dragged to a pre-dug grave, ultimately killed, and buried alive.
- Grim details: earth found in Gale’s intestines, a human fingernail lodged in her throat.
  - “That would imply someone was close enough to you to have their hand in your mouth. And that's not the story we have…” (Hannah, 23:31)
Aftermath
- Steve Yates, one alleged attacker, drowns under suspicious circumstances soon after.
- Discovery of bodies (first Joe Skerritt, then Gale) under suspiciously planted lettuce; Michael flees to Guyana.

5. Capture, Confession, and Trial

Michael’s Attempt to Evade Justice
- Tries to cross into Brazil, but blunders by bragging about who he is, and is turned over to Trinidadian police.
- “He is a rubbish cult leader. He truly is.” (Hannah, 25:50)
Trial Confessions and Conspiracy Theories
- Stanley Abbott turns state’s evidence, pinning chief blame for Gale’s murder on Steve Yates (conveniently deceased).
- Speculation: was Gale an MI6 spy? “VS Naipaul later wrote that Gale had suspected links to M10 or MI10…” (Hannah, 26:48)
The Case Against Michael X
- Convicted for the murder of Joe Skerritt, not directly for Gale. Authorities kept the Benson prosecution “in reserve.”
- John Lennon famously tries to fund a (legally incompetent) American lawyer for Michael’s appeal.
  - “No one pointed out to John Lennon or Michael X that Trinidad doesn't adhere to the same legal system as the United States.” (Saruti, 35:09)
- Last-minute clemency appeals are signed by a host of counterculture celebrities (Burroughs, Lennon, Cohen, etc.), but to no avail.
  - “He's too powerful. So that's why they have to imprison him... No, he's a murderer. Things can be two things.” (Hannah, 36:23)

6. Execution and Aftermath

End of Michael X
- Executed in May 1975, nearly alone. “No one watched. His lawyers didn't even know he had been executed until they heard about it on the radio.” (Saruti, 37:34)
Desiree’s Delusion
- Michael’s wife’s poetic remark: “When will he cause the flag to raise to light the fire?” (Hannah, 38:24)

7. Theories, Myths, and Unanswered Questions

Who Really Killed Gale Benson?
- Hosts suspect the story told at trial is full of holes—Steve Yates’ timely death, the bizarre wound evidence, Kidogo’s slippery escape.
- Notable speculation: “I think Hakim Jamal was directly involved. I think he murdered her.” (Hannah, 41:23)
The ‘Bank Job’ Myth [42:49–47:12]
- 2008 film “The Bank Job” merges Michael X with the Baker Street Robbery and phantom nude photos of Princess Margaret.
- “In real life, Michael X absolutely did not have pictures of Princess Margaret. If he did, he never would have kept that to himself.” (Saruti, 43:47)
Suspicious Deaths and Unfinished Business
- Gale’s twin brother travels to confront Jamal, dies en route; Jamal himself is soon shot dead in Boston.
- Was Kidogo a police or FBI plant? Why did so many involved escape justice?
Was Gale a Spy?
- Grounded speculation that Gale was MI6 or MI5 connected, possibly the only way for British intelligence to infiltrate Black Power spaces.
  - “To be a good spy…if you’re a woman, it is to convince everyone you are so stupid you would never be able to pull anything off. And that's what she does.” (Hannah, 51:25)
- Scotland Yard and MI5 did monitor, and occasionally infiltrate, Black Power groups.

8. Final Words on Michael X’s Legacy

“Michael X is the great pretender that time has forgotten because it's too embarrassing. He is the perfect illustration of why you shouldn't believe everything you read in the New York Times and how, as my grandma says, your sins will find you out in the end.” (Hannah, 54:12)
“He's just a con man and a race grifter.” (Saruti, 55:19)
“And a murderer. Or at least a murderer orchestrator.” (Hannah, 55:23)

Notable Quotes & Moments

“Race was the modality through which class was played out in British society in this moment.” (Hannah, 03:55)
“He did not hold any political sway on his home soil like he had expected. He couldn't hold his own against the very serious Marxists the recent failed coup had left behind.” (Saruti, 06:39)
On Michael X taking up Obeah: “He claimed his mother had taught him how to do it. I don't believe him. I think he was just trying to carve out some legitimacy for himself…” (Hannah, 17:13)
“Gail Benson had not only been stabbed multiple times with that cutlass, but that she had also been buried alive. And hauntingly, a human fingernail was found lodged in her throat.” (Saruti, 22:45)
“Hands to God, got sucked in by this in the first two years of my obsession with this case. Cause it is weird. Gail Benson…buried alive in Trinidad and you are led to believe that no one is ever charged with her murder. It all just goes away. It's not quite true.” (Hannah, 34:23)
On the myth-making: “When you read about does seem like he murdered her and was never brought to trial. But…walk free. He absolutely did not. No one seemed that bothered about Gale's death, though. It all just faded away.” (Hannah, 48:31)
“I think maybe…they got together initially and then I think she is turned by the Brits, because… infiltrating black power circles when you are a majority white government is quite difficult. So how are you gonna do it? You’re gonna send in someone like Gale…” (Hannah, 51:12)
“Michael X is remembered as a con man who was so good at the grift, he convinced the world that he was the leader of the Black Power movement without even being black.” (Hannah, 54:31)

Segment Timestamps

00:00–01:30 — Advertisements and Introductions
01:30–05:25 — Racial and political context in Britain post-WWII
05:25–08:55 — Michael X arrives in Trinidad, assembles his group
08:55–14:57 — The commune’s dynamics, celebrity visitors, Obeah, paranoia
14:57–20:34 — Decline of the commune; ritualistic killing, Gale's demise
20:34–27:09 — Aftermath, vast suspicions, police investigations
27:09–36:10 — The trials, confessions, and Michael X’s winding path to execution
36:10–41:48 — Last-minute appeals, execution, and myth vs. reality
41:48–55:36 — Analysis, lingering mysteries, debunking conspiracy theories
55:36–end — Wrap-up, final remarks

Conclusion

The episode dismantles the mystique of Michael X, exposing him as a manipulative figure who capitalized on civil unrest and left a trail of violence. The deaths of Gale Benson and Joe Skerritt are situated in a tangled web of personal ambition, paranoia, and exploitation. The hosts compellingly argue that Michael X's most enduring legacy is not as a revolutionary leader but as a cautionary tale of charlatanism, media myth-making, and the tragic cost of believing in “the great pretender.”

RedHanded Podcast: “Michael X - Part Two: The Murder of Gale Benson” | #446

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Moments

1. Context: British Racism, Class, and the Black Power Movement

Race & Class in Post-War Britain
- Migrants from British colonies—Black, South Asian, Irish—were assured “home” only to be ghettoized and treated as second-class citizens.
- “During this period of history…the concept of blackness wasn't about your ethnic background necessarily. Blackness was where you stood in the societal pecking order.” (Hannah, 03:08)
- Discussion of iconic racist slogans and the exclusionary rhetoric of the era.
Intersectionality of Discrimination
- Legislation like the 1971 Immigration Act directly targeted “those born with black or brown faces.” (Saruti, 04:05)
- The Black Power movement in the UK encompassed all oppressed communities—Black, Asian, Irish.
- Integration was a primary goal, not separatism.
Michael X’s Opportunism
- Michael exploited this context for personal gain: “A turbulent sea of civil unrest that Michael X made the most out of for his own gain until it spat him back out.” (Saruti, 05:13)

2. Michael X’s Trinidad Chapter: The “Commune” & New Entrants

Arrival and Establishment
- Michael returns to Trinidad expecting acclaim but lacks influence amid hardline local Marxists.
- Founds “Black House 2.0” at “Christina Gardens”—less a cult compound, more a suburban home with rotating petty criminals.
Key Personalities
- Stephen Yates: Troubled sidekick with a violent past.
- Stanley Abbott: Entrusted with Black House, later confesses against Michael.
- Joe Skerritt: Michael’s cousin, described as “a very unpleasant little man” (Saruti, 08:08), who raped a girl and was kept around via blackmail.
- Celebrity Guests: Even John and Yoko appeared—bringing a piano and a fat check.
  - “Just the sheer stupidity of these people. And also the vanity of it.” (Saruti, 08:38)
Atmosphere
- No Jonestown—anyone could leave; affluent suburb life.

3. Paranoia, FBI Surveillance, and Darker Turn of the Commune

Hakeem Jamal & CoinIntelPro
- Jamal (with girlfriend Gale) increasingly paranoid, stalked by the FBI; failure of his own commune project in Guyana shakes his faith.
- “His belief in his own godhead had been severely shaken by his failure in Guyana.” (Saruti, 10:33)
Obeah Ritualism
- Michael claims initiation in Caribbean folk magic for legitimacy: “He was just trying to carve out some legitimacy for himself as a magical refugee who had been too powerful for the British to handle.” (Hannah, 17:09)

4. The Blood Sacrifice and Gale Benson’s Murder

Lead up to the Killing
- Cult-like rituals: calf slaughter and blood drinking—different versions of people's involvement.
- Michael declares, “I want blood. That is the only thing that will keep us together.” (Saruti, 19:08)
Killing of Gale Benson [18:40–20:25]
- Gale tricked into a trap, attacked by Kidogo with a cutlass, dragged to a pre-dug grave, ultimately killed, and buried alive.
- Grim details: earth found in Gale’s intestines, a human fingernail lodged in her throat.
  - “That would imply someone was close enough to you to have their hand in your mouth. And that's not the story we have…” (Hannah, 23:31)
Aftermath
- Steve Yates, one alleged attacker, drowns under suspicious circumstances soon after.
- Discovery of bodies (first Joe Skerritt, then Gale) under suspiciously planted lettuce; Michael flees to Guyana.

5. Capture, Confession, and Trial

Michael’s Attempt to Evade Justice
- Tries to cross into Brazil, but blunders by bragging about who he is, and is turned over to Trinidadian police.
- “He is a rubbish cult leader. He truly is.” (Hannah, 25:50)
Trial Confessions and Conspiracy Theories
- Stanley Abbott turns state’s evidence, pinning chief blame for Gale’s murder on Steve Yates (conveniently deceased).
- Speculation: was Gale an MI6 spy? “VS Naipaul later wrote that Gale had suspected links to M10 or MI10…” (Hannah, 26:48)
The Case Against Michael X
- Convicted for the murder of Joe Skerritt, not directly for Gale. Authorities kept the Benson prosecution “in reserve.”
- John Lennon famously tries to fund a (legally incompetent) American lawyer for Michael’s appeal.
  - “No one pointed out to John Lennon or Michael X that Trinidad doesn't adhere to the same legal system as the United States.” (Saruti, 35:09)
- Last-minute clemency appeals are signed by a host of counterculture celebrities (Burroughs, Lennon, Cohen, etc.), but to no avail.
  - “He's too powerful. So that's why they have to imprison him... No, he's a murderer. Things can be two things.” (Hannah, 36:23)

6. Execution and Aftermath

End of Michael X
- Executed in May 1975, nearly alone. “No one watched. His lawyers didn't even know he had been executed until they heard about it on the radio.” (Saruti, 37:34)
Desiree’s Delusion
- Michael’s wife’s poetic remark: “When will he cause the flag to raise to light the fire?” (Hannah, 38:24)

7. Theories, Myths, and Unanswered Questions

Who Really Killed Gale Benson?
- Hosts suspect the story told at trial is full of holes—Steve Yates’ timely death, the bizarre wound evidence, Kidogo’s slippery escape.
- Notable speculation: “I think Hakim Jamal was directly involved. I think he murdered her.” (Hannah, 41:23)
The ‘Bank Job’ Myth [42:49–47:12]
- 2008 film “The Bank Job” merges Michael X with the Baker Street Robbery and phantom nude photos of Princess Margaret.
- “In real life, Michael X absolutely did not have pictures of Princess Margaret. If he did, he never would have kept that to himself.” (Saruti, 43:47)
Suspicious Deaths and Unfinished Business
- Gale’s twin brother travels to confront Jamal, dies en route; Jamal himself is soon shot dead in Boston.
- Was Kidogo a police or FBI plant? Why did so many involved escape justice?
Was Gale a Spy?
- Grounded speculation that Gale was MI6 or MI5 connected, possibly the only way for British intelligence to infiltrate Black Power spaces.
  - “To be a good spy…if you’re a woman, it is to convince everyone you are so stupid you would never be able to pull anything off. And that's what she does.” (Hannah, 51:25)
- Scotland Yard and MI5 did monitor, and occasionally infiltrate, Black Power groups.

8. Final Words on Michael X’s Legacy

“Michael X is the great pretender that time has forgotten because it's too embarrassing. He is the perfect illustration of why you shouldn't believe everything you read in the New York Times and how, as my grandma says, your sins will find you out in the end.” (Hannah, 54:12)
“He's just a con man and a race grifter.” (Saruti, 55:19)
“And a murderer. Or at least a murderer orchestrator.” (Hannah, 55:23)

Notable Quotes & Moments

“Race was the modality through which class was played out in British society in this moment.” (Hannah, 03:55)
“He did not hold any political sway on his home soil like he had expected. He couldn't hold his own against the very serious Marxists the recent failed coup had left behind.” (Saruti, 06:39)
On Michael X taking up Obeah: “He claimed his mother had taught him how to do it. I don't believe him. I think he was just trying to carve out some legitimacy for himself…” (Hannah, 17:13)
“Gail Benson had not only been stabbed multiple times with that cutlass, but that she had also been buried alive. And hauntingly, a human fingernail was found lodged in her throat.” (Saruti, 22:45)
“Hands to God, got sucked in by this in the first two years of my obsession with this case. Cause it is weird. Gail Benson…buried alive in Trinidad and you are led to believe that no one is ever charged with her murder. It all just goes away. It's not quite true.” (Hannah, 34:23)
On the myth-making: “When you read about does seem like he murdered her and was never brought to trial. But…walk free. He absolutely did not. No one seemed that bothered about Gale's death, though. It all just faded away.” (Hannah, 48:31)
“I think maybe…they got together initially and then I think she is turned by the Brits, because… infiltrating black power circles when you are a majority white government is quite difficult. So how are you gonna do it? You’re gonna send in someone like Gale…” (Hannah, 51:12)
“Michael X is remembered as a con man who was so good at the grift, he convinced the world that he was the leader of the Black Power movement without even being black.” (Hannah, 54:31)

Segment Timestamps

00:00–01:30 — Advertisements and Introductions
01:30–05:25 — Racial and political context in Britain post-WWII
05:25–08:55 — Michael X arrives in Trinidad, assembles his group
08:55–14:57 — The commune’s dynamics, celebrity visitors, Obeah, paranoia
14:57–20:34 — Decline of the commune; ritualistic killing, Gale's demise
20:34–27:09 — Aftermath, vast suspicions, police investigations
27:09–36:10 — The trials, confessions, and Michael X’s winding path to execution
36:10–41:48 — Last-minute appeals, execution, and myth vs. reality
41:48–55:36 — Analysis, lingering mysteries, debunking conspiracy theories
55:36–end — Wrap-up, final remarks

wavePod

Michael X - Part Two: The Murder of Gale Benson | #446

Summary

RedHanded Podcast: “Michael X - Part Two: The Murder of Gale Benson” | #446

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Moments

1. Context: British Racism, Class, and the Black Power Movement

2. Michael X’s Trinidad Chapter: The “Commune” & New Entrants

3. Paranoia, FBI Surveillance, and Darker Turn of the Commune

4. The Blood Sacrifice and Gale Benson’s Murder

5. Capture, Confession, and Trial

6. Execution and Aftermath

7. Theories, Myths, and Unanswered Questions

8. Final Words on Michael X’s Legacy

Notable Quotes & Moments

Segment Timestamps

Conclusion

Transcript

Summary

RedHanded Podcast: “Michael X - Part Two: The Murder of Gale Benson” | #446

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Moments

1. Context: British Racism, Class, and the Black Power Movement

2. Michael X’s Trinidad Chapter: The “Commune” & New Entrants

3. Paranoia, FBI Surveillance, and Darker Turn of the Commune

4. The Blood Sacrifice and Gale Benson’s Murder

5. Capture, Confession, and Trial

6. Execution and Aftermath

7. Theories, Myths, and Unanswered Questions

8. Final Words on Michael X’s Legacy

Notable Quotes & Moments

Segment Timestamps

Conclusion