Family's Decades-Long Search for Answers
The family of Muriel McKay, a woman who was kidnapped and murdered in a case of mistaken identity more than five decades ago, have vowed to continue their fight to find her remains despite suffering a significant setback in the High Court.
Muriel McKay, then 55, was snatched from her London home in December 1969. In a tragic twist, she was mistaken for Anna Murdoch, the then-wife of media tycoon Rupert Murdoch. Her kidnappers, brothers Arthur and Nizamodeen Hosein, held her at Rooks Farm in Stocking Pelham, Hertfordshire, demanding a £1 million ransom.
Court Refusal for Garden Search
For years, Mrs McKay's loved ones have believed her body may be buried in the shared back garden of two properties on Bethnal Green Road in east London. However, their hopes for closure were dealt a blow when Mr Justice Richard Smith refused permission for a ground-penetrating radar survey to be conducted at the site, which is now home to flats and a bookmaker's.
The judge stated he was "not persuaded" by the claims about the location and criticised the family's representatives for their alleged methods in attempting to gain access to the private garden.
This legal refusal is the latest chapter in a long and painful saga for the McKay family. Last year, police spent several days digging up the grounds of Rooks Farm in Hertfordshire, but the search failed to locate Mrs McKay's remains.
New Evidence and Alleged Gangland Fears
The family's belief that the Bethnal Green garden holds the key is bolstered by a testimony from Hayley Frais, 64. She claims her father, who died in 2022, employed Arthur Hosein at his tailor's shop on Bethnal Green Road. Ms Frais alleges her father believed a former Polish WWII soldier he employed brought Mrs McKay's body to the yard behind the shop.
She recalled "a terrible stench" at the time but said her father was too frightened to go to the police because he "had a lot of dealings with the mafia," including the notorious Kray twins, Ronnie and Reggie.
Despite this, the police have stated that the current evidence does not meet the required threshold for them to excavate or survey the garden. However, officers indicated they would be "receptive" if new information emerged from an independent scan.
Family's Determination and Apology for Distress
Mrs McKay's daughter, Diane Levinson, 84, described the court's decision as "sad" but insisted the fight is not over. "We have done a lot of work, and it has taken a lot of years now," she said. "I feel strongly we have the best information that we have ever had in all these years since my mother disappeared. This is not the end. It is an ongoing saga, I am afraid."
She added a poignant note, saying, "I know my mother would not approve of her body being argued over in this way."
The family's pursuit has, however, caused friction with current residents. In a witness statement, Madeleine Higson, who lives at one of the properties, claimed the McKay family and their representatives had "unlawfully sought to gain access to my property through deception," leaving her "genuinely fearing for my safety."
She described incidents where individuals used false pretenses, including a man named "Ricardo" and a woman named "Jess," to request access to the garden. She also alleged persistent visits from a consultant at the law firm representing the McKay family.
Via their lawyer, Mrs McKay's family this week offered "their sincere apologies for the distress and inconvenience caused." Mrs McKay's grandson, Mark Dyer, encapsulated the family's simple, heartfelt wish: "We've been told she's there, most probably there, so we need to pick her up. She'd like to come home for Christmas... find a place where the family can visit, that's the right thing to do."
