Muriel McKay: Son returning from meeting his mother's killer

Ian McKay flew to Trinidad to get answers from his mother's killer about her disappearance

Ian McKay and Nizamodeen Hosein
Author: Zoe Head-ThomasPublished 9th Nov 2024

A son is today flying back from meeting his mother's kidnapper and killer in Trinidad, where he now lives.

Ian McKay has broken the silence this year since his mother Muriel McKay was murdered in 1969.

Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio, he said: "Throughout my life, since it happened, I've never really spoken about the matter to anyone.

"It's really only when I became more directly involved in since the beginning of July.

"I guess I spoke to people who were very aware of of what had actually happened, and therefore it was much easier to talk to them than somebody who knows very little and expects you to pour out the story."

Muriel McKay was kidnapped from her Wimbledon home in 1969 by two criminal brothers, Arthur and Nizamodeen Hosein.

The brothers served a life sentence for her murder in a landmark conviction as her body was never found.

Upon his release from prison, Nizamodeen was deported to Trinidad, where he still lives.

A barrister working with the family from Trinidad spent years building a trusted relationship with Nizamodeen, which led to crucial information on where she is said to be buried on a Hertfordshire farm being revealed.

In January, Muriel's daughter Dianne and grandson Mark Dyer (Dianne's son) flew to Trinidad to meet him for the very first time, where they were given compelling evidence.

This subsequently led to a third search for her remains at Stocking Farm in Stocking Pelham in July, ordered by the Met Police.

The dig was unsuccessful, and the family told Greatest Hits Radio being disappointed with the way the search was carried out.

Ian McKay said: "They seem to be unable to give us verification on signing off the searches that they've done in the past.

"They advised us in the past that in 2022, when they did a search, that they signed off on everything that had been agreed to be searched.

"Then subsequently, we found out in the 2024 search, just by accident, that it wasn't the case.

"Mark Dyer happened to remark to somebody on the site, and yet they had signed off on it as being complete, and we know as well now we've compiled our own information that they haven't completed the search in 2024."

In a statement, the Met Police said: "Officers are due to meet Muriel’s family to answer their questions about the final search for Muriel’s remains, which sadly failed to locate her.

"The eight-day search took place after an extensive review of all the information about the possible location of Muriel’s body, including officers interviewing Nizamodeen Hosein over three days in Trinidad. Officers are confident the searches conducted in 2022 and 2024 covered all the areas of the farm Hosein had previously referred to. Expert advice was sought throughout the searches and plans were shared in advance with the family.

"While we are aware the family have been further speaking to Hosein, it remains the case that we have concerns about the validity and reliability of his information and memory and it is not proportionate to carry out any further searches. Our investigation has concluded.

"Our thoughts remain with Muriel’s family."

The family is still hoping that another dig will be carried out at the site in Hertfordshire, with new information revealed to Ian by Muriel's killer.

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