Harry Potter- Nearly Headless Nick

[iamnice50]

I was just wondering, in the Harry Potter series was Nearly Headless Nick a criminal? I mean they didn't cut off anyone's head for no good reason. I don't know if I missed something in the books, but I'm pretty sure he wasn't explained. What do you guys think? 

[woofgang]

My recall is that he was a highwayman, but don't know where I got that from

[amarillis]

If you go to www.jkrowling.com and click on 'extra bits' (the coffee cup) then on 'characters', there is a poem by Nearly Headless Nick that explains why his head was nearly chopped off.

[PunkyD20391]

I always thought that he was murdered, but I never really thought about it. Maybe there could be some secret behind his half be-heading. I don't know. That's something to think about...

[iamnice50]

Dear amarillis, I read the nearly headless nick song at  www.jkrowling, but the song only states how he was killed, not why.

[Glossopswift]

iamnice50, the start of the poem says (as I read it) that he was a wizard who was asked by Lady Grieve to straighten her teeth, but instead he caused her to grow a tusk. I think it's a bit harsh to (nearly) behead someone for this, and the publisher was perhaps right to insist on the poem being cut from the book, but at least we all now.