Search for Muriel Mackay resumes
The Met Police say new searches will focus on a previously unsearched part of a Hertfordshire farm, after detectives flew to Trinidad to speak to the man convicted of her murder
A fresh search for the remains of Muriel McKay will take place after detectives flew to Trinidad to speak to the man convicted of her murder, the Metropolitan Police said.
Ms McKay, the wife of a newspaper executive, was kidnapped and held ransom for £1 million by a pair who had mistaken her for Anna Murdoch, the then-wife of media mogul Rupert Murdoch.
The 55-year-old was the wife of Mr Murdoch's deputy Alick McKay, who like Mr Murdoch was Australian.
She was abducted in December 1969 and her body was never found.
In March the investigation team visited Nizamodeen Hosein in Trinidad, where he was deported after serving his jail sentence, to speak to him in person following his offer to show her family where she was buried.
A Met statement said: "The investigation team visited Hosein in Trinidad to speak to him in person. He volunteered to help and was interviewed over the course of three days, with officers carefully considering their approach and strategy to achieve the best information possible.
"On their return they analysed all the information gathered over time to come to the conclusion that a further search will be carried out."
Metropolitan Police Commander Steve Clayman said the search would concentrate on the area where a manure heap on the farm was once piled, as it was not fully searched in the previous attempts in 2022.
He said: "I'd like to thank Muriel's family for their patience while we have taken time to really carefully consider all the information gathered in relation to this case. I know it has been a frustrating time for them.
"We have decided we will carry out a further search at the Hertfordshire farm where it is believed Muriel's remains may be. We carried out an extensive search there in spring 2022 but unfortunately it was unsuccessful.
"Our recent enquiries mean other areas have been highlighted as being of potential interest and it is these we will search. The main area is where a manure heap once stood - we know now this was probably larger than we previously thought and therefore that area was not entirely searched in 2022.
"While we have concerns about inconsistences in the account provided by Nizamodeen Hosei, for completeness, we want to do this.
"At this stage we have not set a date for the search to begin, but will keep Muriel's family updated and informed. The owners of the farm are fully aware and supportive and we thank them for their continuing help and co-operation.
"We all share a hope and desire to find Muriel's remains and bring some closure to her family after all these years.
"We sincerely hope the search is successful. However, we have informed the family that if Muriel's remains are sadly not found, it would not be proportionate to carry out any further searches or investigations.