Thursday 17th of February 1600

Philosopher, mathematician and astrologer Giordano Bruno is executed by burning at the stake at the age of 52 in Campo de' Fiori, Rome, Lazio, Italy.

When the fire had died out Bruno's ashes were dumped into the Tiber river.

Friday 17th of February 1673

Playwright and actor Molière known for Le Misanthrope collapses on stage in a fit of coughing and haemorrhaging at the age of 51 in 40 Rue de Richelieu, Paris, IIe, Île-de-France, France.

Afterwards Molière collapsed again with another larger haemorrhage before being taken home where he died a few hours later.

Thursday 17th of February 1848

Executioner Albert Gustaf Anders Dahlman is born in Norberg, Västmanlands Län, Sweden.

Friday 17th of February 1854

Arms manufacturer Friedrich Alfred Krupp is born in Essen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany.

Sunday 17th of February 1856

Poet Heinrich Christian Johann Heine dies of chronic lead poisoning at the age of 59 in Paris, Île-de-France, France.

It had been suggested that Heine suffered from multiple sclerosis or syphilis.

Wednesday 17th of February 1909

Bedonkohe Apache leader Geronimo aka The One Who Yawns dies of pneumonia at the age of 80 in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, United States.

A few days earlier Geronimo was thrown from his horse while riding home and had to lie in the cold all night before a friend found him extremely ill.

Wednesday 17th of February 1909

Cop killer Irene Schroeder aka Trigger Woman aka Iron Irene aka Animal Woman aka Tiger Girl is born as Crawford in Benwood, West Virginia, United States.

Sunday 17th of February 1929

Actress Patricia Katherine Routledge known for her role as Hyacinth Bucket is born in Birkenhead, Tranmere, Cheshire, United Kingdom.

Saturday 17th of February 1934

King of Belgium Albert I dies in a mountaineering accident while climbing alone at the age of 59 in Rocher du Vieux Bon Dieu, Marche-les-Dames, Namur, Belgium.

Because King Albert I was an expert climber some questioned the official version of his death and suggested that the King was murdered (or even committed suicide) somewhere else and that his body had never been at Marche-les-Dames, or that it was deposited there. In 2016 DNA testing on bloodstained leaves collected from Marche-les-Dames concluded that King Albert I died at that location.

Tuesday 17th of February 1942

Founder of the Black Panther Party Huey Percy Newton is born in Monroe, Louisiana, United States.

Tuesday 17th of February 1970

27-year-old Presumed murderer Jeffrey Robert MacDonald presumably stabs his pregnant 25-year-old wife Colette Kathryn and his two daughters 5-year-old Kimberley Kathryn and 2-year-old Kristen Jean to death in a self-created Manson-inspired attack in 544 Castle Drive, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, United States.

Kimberley was found in her bed having been clubbed in the head and stabbed in the neck with a knife between eight and ten times. Kristen was found in her bed stabbed 33 times with a knife and 15 times with an ice pick. Colette, who was pregnant with her third child and first son, was lying on the floor of her bedroom. She had been repeatedly clubbed, both her arms broken and stabbed 21 times with an ice pick and 16 times with a knife. MacDonald's torn pajama top was draped upon her chest. On the headboard of her bed, the word "pig" was written in blood. MacDonald was found next to his wife alive but wounded. His wounds were not as severe nor as numerous as those his family had suffered, cuts and bruises on his face and chest, along with a mild concussion. He also had a stab wound on his left torso that a staff surgeon described as a "clean, small, sharp" incision that caused his left lung to partially collapse. He was released from the hospital after one week. MacDonald claimed he was awakened by Colette and Kimberly's screams. As he rose from the couch to go to their aid, he was attacked by three male intruders, one black and two white. A fourth intruder described as a white female with long blonde hair and wearing high heeled boots and a white floppy hat partially covering her face stood nearby with a lighted candle and chanted "Acid is groovy, kill the pigs." The three males attacked him with a club and ice pick. During the struggle he claimed that his pajama top was pulled over his head to his wrists and he then used it to ward off thrusts from the ice pick. Eventually he stated that he was overcome by his assailants and was knocked unconscious in the living room end of the hallway leading to the bedrooms.

Sunday 17th of February 1974

48 die in Zamalek SC and Dukla Prague football game stampede in Zamalek Stadium, Caïro, Al Qahirah, Egypt.

According to reports, up to 80.000 people tried to access the stadium despite the capacity at the time being just 40.000.

Tuesday 17th of February 1981

Heiress and media personality Paris Whitney Hilton is born in New York City, New York, United States.

Friday 17th of February 1984

81-year-old Sigurd Bessener is strangled by serial killer Waldemar Stepinski aka The Doorbell Killer in Berlin, Schöneberg, Berlin, Germany.

Sunday 17th of February 1985

Noise music band Club Moral play their 42nd concert at the Atonal festival in Ballhaus Tiergarten, Perleberger Straße 62, Berlin, Berlin, Germany.

Also played: Etant Donnes, Laibach, Test Department, GerechtigkeitsLiga, Art Deco, Zahgurim, The Anti Group/Clock DVA, Code Public, King of Therapie....

Monday 17th of February 1986

Spiritual leader Jiddu Krishnamurti dies of pancreatic cancer at the age of 91 in 1098 McAndrew Rd, Ojaj, California, United States.

Wednesday 17th of February 1988

Kidnap victim Natascha Maria Kampusch aka The Girl in the Cellar is born in Rennbahnweg 38, Wien, Donaustadt, Wien, Austria.

Wednesday 17th of February 1993

29-year-old Serial killer Paul Kenneth Bernardo aka The Scarborough Rapist aka The Schoolgirl Killer is arrested in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Monday 17th of February 1997

53-year-old Serial killer Charles Gurmukh Sobhraj aka Bad Blood is granted bail after spending two decades behind bars in New Delhi, Delhi, India.

Desperately trying to avoid extradition to Thailand, Sobhraj said he would not leave jail until he received his identity papers from the French embassy.

Tuesday 17th of February 2004

Presumed triple murderer Cameron Todd Willingham is executed by lethal injection at the age of 36 in Huntsville Prison, 815 12th Street, Huntsville, Texas, United States.

Willingham was convicted and executed for the murder of his three young children 2-year-old Amber Louise and 1-year-old twins Karmon Diane and Kameron Marie by arson at the family home in Corsicana, Texas on 23 December 1991. Since his execution significant controversy has arisen over the interpretation of the evidence that was used to convict him of arson and murder.

Thursday 17th of February 2005

Mass murderer Dennis Wayne Bagwell is executed by lethal injection at the age of 42 in Huntsville Prison, 815 12th Street, Huntsville, Texas, United States.

Bagwell was executed for the murders of his 47-year-old mother Leona McBee, his 24-year-old half-sister Libby Best, her 4-year-old daughter Reba Best and 14-year-old Tassy Boone on 20 September 1995 after Leona refused to loan him money. Bagwell's last meal request was for a beef steak, medium rare with A1 Sauce, three fried chicken breast, three fried chicken thighs, BBQ ribs, a large order of french fries, a large order of onion rings, a pound of fried bacon, a dozen scrambled eggs with onions, fried tatters with onions, sliced tomatoes, a salad with ranch dressing, two hamburgers with everything, peach pie or cobbler, ketchup, salt and pepper, milk and coffee, ice tea with real sugar.

Saturday 17th of February 2007

Prefect of Paris and Nazi collaborator Maurice Papon dies of congenital heart failure at the age of 97 in La Francilienne, 16 Avenue Hôtel de Ville, Pontault-Combault, Seine-et-Marne, France.

Friday 17th of February 2012

A closed shop in the gloomy evening light in Oostende, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.