Nizam Hosein: Muriel McKay’s killer ‘poised to fly to UK’ for dig

The family of Muriel McKay said a meeting would take place with the Home Office today to ask if her killer could fly in from Trinidad to help unearth her body.

A police search for Mrs McKay’s remains began on Monday at Stocking Farm in Hertfordshire, where she was held hostage and murdered in 1969.

Her family said one of the two men convicted of her murder, Nizamodeen Hosein, told them where she was buried and was poised to travel to the UK to point out the spot.

The Home Office and Metropolitan Police have been contacted for comment.

Mrs McKay, 55, was held to ransom for £1m at a farm in Hertfordshire by two brothers who had mistaken her for Anna Murdoch, the then-wife of newspaper tycoon Rupert Murdoch.

She was taken to Rooks Farm – now Stocking Farm in Stocking Pelham, near Stanstead – where she later died.

Arthur and Nizamodeen Hosein were convicted of Mrs McKay’s kidnap and murder, and while Arthur died in prison, Nizamodeen was later deported to Trinidad.

The case appeared to be closed, but in 2021, Nizamodeen featured in a documentary seen by Mrs McKay’s family.

“Here was an opportunity – he seemed to be willing to open up”, recalled Mrs McKay’s daughter Dianne.

She flew to Trinidad with her son Mark Dyer and spoke at length with Nizamodeen, who pointed to the spot where he claimed she was buried.

Mr Dyer told the BBC that Nizamodeen “could be here any time – most likely on Friday”, and that he was making arrangements to bring him over to East Hertfordshire.

He said the family was also waiting on what the Met Police said about the situation.

Mrs McKay’s son Ian visited the farm for the first time on Tuesday, and told the BBC it was “a no-brainer” to bring Nizamodeen to Stocking Farm to attend the dig.

“The only element which is missing is Nizam,” he said.

“He should be at least trotted out, even if for two hours, and sent back to the airport.”

Police searched the farm in 1970 and again in 2022. They have not commented on the dig this week.

They visited Nizamodeen in Trinidad in March and despite concerns about “inconsistencies in his accounts”, said they would carry out this “final search for completeness”.

Cdr Steve Clayman previously said: “We all share a hope and desire to find Muriel’s remains and bring some closure to her family after all these years.”

In a statement about the search, the farm’s current owners said: “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.”