Vivian Frederick Teed was born in 1934 in Swansea, Wales, into a large family of nine children. During World War II, like many British children, he was evacuated to the countryside for safety. He would later join the Royal Air Force, but his time in service was short-lived due to being discharged for going AWOL (Absent Without Leave).

By his mid-20s, Teed was unemployed and had already accumulated two convictions for violent offences. At the time of the murder, he was living in Limeslade, a suburb of Swansea, with his girlfriend Beryl Doyle. He had a reputation as a compulsive liar. Teed was familiar with the Fforestfach Post Office, having previously performed construction work there.

On the night of November 15, 1957, Vivian Teed broke into the Fforestfach post office with the intention of committing a robbery. Wearing women’s silk stockings over his hands to avoid leaving fingerprints, Teed had expected the building to be empty. Instead, he was confronted by 73-year-old postmaster William Williams.

Panicking at the unexpected encounter, Teed bludgeoned Williams 27 times with a hammer he had brought with him. The attack was so violent that the hammer snapped during the assault. Teed then fled the scene empty-handed, unable to find the keys to the safe.

Shortly after the murder, Teed entered the Cwmbwrla Inn, a nearby bar, and casually confessed to Ronald Williams (no relation to the victim), saying: “I’ve done that Fforestfach job. I hit the man. I couldn’t find the safe keys and he was coming to, so I left him and didn’t take anything.” Due to Teed's reputation as a liar, the man did not believe him.

The next morning, Margaret John, a post office employee, discovered William Williams’ body. Police quickly found Teed’s footprints, one of the silk stockings he used as gloves, and the broken murder weapon. The hammer was traced to a toolbox belonging to Teed’s father. Blood from the victim was later found on Teed’s clothes and shoes, and within days, he was arrested and confessed to the killing.

Teed was officially charged on November 19, 1957, and his trial began in March 1958. The prosecution presented strong forensic evidence, along with a prison officer’s testimony that Teed confessed while on remand. His defense argued diminished responsibility, citing that he suffered from an abnormality of mind that impaired his judgment. The jury struggled with the case, failing to reach a verdict twice before ultimately finding him guilty of murder on their third deliberation.

While awaiting execution, Teed was examined by Home Office psychiatrists who found him mentally sound. His appeal was denied a month later, and Home Secretary Rab Butler refused multiple petitions for clemency. On the morning of May 6, 1958, at age 24, Vivian Frederick Teed was hanged. His execution marked the last judicial hanging in Wales.