Thug who killed woman in mistaken identity case 'shocked' body still missing

07 March 2024 , 11:13

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Muriel McKay died in 1969 but her body has never been found (Image: PA)

The killer of Muriel McKay, who was kidnapped and killed in 1969, says he is "shocked" her missing body has never been found.

Muriel was kidnapped in 1969 after being mistaken for Anna Murdoch, the then-wife of Rupert Murdoch, and held to ransom for £1million at a farm in Hertfordshire by brothers Arthur and Nizamodeen Hosein. When police swooped in and arrested the pair, Ms McKay, 55, vanished and her body has never been found.

The brothers were convicted of Ms McKay's murder and kidnap in September 1970. Arthur died in 2009 but his brother was deported to his native Trinidad after serving 20 years and the BBC reported he "expressed disbelief" her body was not found decades ago.

Now officers have travelled to the Caribbean country to quiz him on the location of Muriel’s body. Det Supt Katherine Goodwin said Metropolitan Police had "reviewed” information gathered by Ms McKay’s family.

She said: “We understand how frustrating and difficult this is for Muriel's family. We recently met to speak to them and gather information obtained during their visit to Trinidad. We are grateful for their time and assistance.

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The farm where Muriel died and vanished in 1969 (Sky News)

"In order to help us further, officers have flown to Trinidad to make further inquiries. We remain in contact with the family and will keep them updated."

Last month it was reported Det Supt Goodwin met Muriel’s daughter, Dianne, 84 who showed her footage of a meeting with her killer Nizamodeen Hosein, 76. In the tape Hosein showed the family on a map where he claimed he buried Muriel at Rooks Farm, in Stocking Pelham, Hertfordshire.

Arthur Hosein died in 2009

Nizamodeen Hosein was surprised Muriel's body was never found

The officer told the family: “What you have come back with is compelling and is making me question whether we have reached the threshold of whether this is good enough [to start digging]. "I feel from what we’re seeing [Hosein] is being quite specific [about the location of the body]. We will now review and assess this information to determine the next steps in our investigation. We understand how difficult this matter has been for Muriel’s family and are still working to recover her remains.”

Hosein had earlier spent years refusing to reveal what happened to Ms McKay but now seems suddenly willing to not just talk but help her family. It was reported he now claims that she collapsed and died of a heart attack at a remote, rented farm in Hertfordshire where the brothers were holding her. The convicted murderer claims he panicked and buried her body under a dung heap behind the farmhouse.

Antony Clements-Thrower