Guenther Fritz Erwin Podola was born on February 8, 1929, in Berlin, Germany. He grew up during a time when Germany was heavily influenced by World War II. As a young boy, he became a fanatical member of the Hitler Youth movement. This group aimed to indoctrinate young people with Nazi ideals.

In August 1952, Podola moved to Canada. He settled in Montreal, where he began to encounter legal trouble. On March 1, 1957, he was convicted of burglary and sentenced to 10 days in prison. Soon after, on March 26, he faced charges for 11 additional counts of theft and burglary, resulting in a two-year prison sentence. He was released on July 25, 1958, but was deported back to West Germany following his release.

After returning to Germany, Podola moved to London on May 21, 1959. In London, he used the alias Mike Colato and pretended to be a gangster. 

On May 21, 1959, Guenther Fritz Erwin Podola moved to London and began using the alias Mike Colato. He broke into the home of an American model named Verne Schiffmann in Roland Gardens. Podola stole jewelry and furs valued at £2,000. He later contacted Schiffmann and offered to return her stolen items for £500. Schiffmann informed the police, leading to an attempted arrest on July 12, 1959, in Kensington.

During this arrest, Podola shot Detective Sergeant Raymond Purdy in the heart with a Radom 9mm semi-automatic pistol. After the shooting, Podola fled into a house at 105 Onslow Square. Police managed to apprehend him later. Podola claimed that he lost his memory due to police brutality during the arrest, while police stated he sustained only minor injuries when they forced their way into his hotel room.

His trial began on July 18, 1959, after a nine-day delay where a jury assessed his mental fitness to stand trial. The jury decided he was fit after deliberating for three and a half hours. When asked to enter a plea, Podola stated he did not remember the crime and could not respond to the charges. He was defended by Frederick Lawton QC. Two expert witnesses provided evidence at the trial. A neurologist and a psychiatrist discussed whether Podola's claimed condition was genuine.

After 38 minutes of deliberation, the jury found Podola guilty of murder. He was sentenced to death by hanging, a decision made by Mr. Justice Edmund Davies. Podola eventually admitted his guilt. His case was referred to the Court of Criminal Appeal but was upheld. The Attorney-General's decision not to allow an appeal to the House of Lords concluded the case.

Podola was executed at Wandsworth Prison on November 5, 1959, at 9:45 a.m. He was buried in the prison graveyard. His execution marked him as the last person to be hanged in the UK for killing a police officer, taking place five years before the last execution in the country and six years before the death penalty was abolished.