Family of Muriel McKay allowed to fly her killer back to help in search for body in Hertfordshire

The family of a woman who was kidnapped and murdered 54 years ago say they're allowed to bring her killer back to the UK, to help with new searches for her body at a farm in Hertfordshire.

Muriel McKay was kidnapped in December 1969 and held for ransom for £1 million by a pair who had mistaken her for Anna Murdoch, the then-wife of media mogul Rupert Murdoch.

Her body was never found.

Mark Dyer, Ms McKay's grandson, and his family, have been working with the Home Office and the Met Police in a plea to search the grounds of Hertfordshire farm, where her killer Nizamodeen Hosein says he believes she is buried.

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.

Muriel McKay's family also flew to Trinidad to speak with Nizamodeen, ahead of Police arranging to meet with him.

Its just weeks after police confirmed Stocking Farm would be searched by police for a third time, in the hopes of finding Muriel McKay's remains.

In 1970, Arthur Hosein and Nizamodeen Hosein are were found guilty of Ms McKay's murder and sentenced to 25 years and 15 years respectively following a trial at the Old Bailey, in one of the first times a murder conviction had been brought without a body.

Nizamodeen's brother Arthur later died in prison.

What searches have taken place so far?

A previous search for Muriel's body in March 2022 proved unsuccessful, but her family have fresh hope after Hosein confirmed with them exactly where he believes she was buried.

Metropolitan Police Commander Steve Clayman have previously 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.

Speaking previously, Mark said it's been a lifelong search for answers, lasting 54 years.

With Hosein's information he believes it is the closest they have been to finding his grandmother's body.

"My grandmother must have been there, somewhere behind that barn because he was so definite about it, and he wanted no rewards.

"He kept saying 'I need closure'.

Mark and his mother Dianne visited Nizamodeen Hosein to speak with him about specific locations earlier this year, which prompted the Met Police's visit to Trinidad.

"When we arrived in Trinidad that Saturday morning, that was a day that Nizam Hosein was just like you and me. He was very pleasant, he got a little less confident as he was telling the truth."

What does the Met Police say?

Commander Steve Clayman 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 Hosein, 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.”

The owners of the farm would like to say:

“Our position has been consistent from the very first request of the family of the late Mrs McKay for a dig at our home. We have always said that this is a police matter – they are the experts in investigating evidence and determining its credibility. We have at all times provided the police with access to our land and granted permission to dig when requested by them, including when we have not been obliged to do so.

“We agreed to support the decision of the police, whatever it was. They have now made their decision, which we respect, although we understand from the police that this was a finely judged call considering the unreliability of the evidence provided by the murderer. In fact, the evidence is insufficient for the police to apply for search warrant. It now means that once this dig is concluded there will be a close to the debate and that no further searches on our land will happen.”

The Home Office has been approached for comment.

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