HAMPSTEAD KILLER DAVID MULCAHY AND JOHN DUFFY: BRUTAL MURDERS AND RAMPAGE IN NORTH LONDON AND SURREY

In February 2001, the Old Bailey courtroom was the scene of a harrowing trial involving David Mulcahy, a resident of Hampstead in north London, accused of a series of heinous crimes that spanned over a decade. The proceedings revealed chilling details of the murders, rapes, and conspiracy to commit sexual assaults carried out by Mulcahy and his accomplice, John Duffy, also from Hampstead. The case, which had haunted the authorities for years, finally brought to light the full extent of their depravity.

Throughout the trial, graphic accounts emerged, based on the testimonies of John Duffy, who was convicted of multiple murders and sexual offenses. Duffy, known as 'the man with the laser eyes,' was deeply interested in martial arts, training with swords, knives, a quarterstaff, and a garotte. His fascination with Zen Budo, a martial art emphasizing leaving no witnesses, underscored his cold-blooded approach to crime. Duffy's low sperm count, revealed in 1982, fueled his irrational hatred of women, which he vented through violent and sadistic acts. His disturbing behavior included tying up his wife Margaret during sexual encounters and blaming her for her infertility, leading to their separation and, on one occasion, a brutal rape during her visit to collect her mail at his flat.

The first murder linked to Mulcahy and Duffy was that of 19-year-old Alison Day on December 29, 1985. Alison was en route to support her fiancé, who was working overtime at a printing shop near Hackney Wick station. Her delay caused concern, and her fiancé called out to her as she arrived, but tragically, she was already dead. Her body was discovered face down in the nearby River Lee, with her blouse cut into three pieces—one used as a gag and binding, and the third as a tourniquet around her neck, allegedly strangling her. Prosecutors stated that Mulcahy had grabbed her, and Duffy produced a knife, leading to her being raped and murdered. Evidence suggested Mulcahy feared she could identify them, prompting him to cut her blouse and use it to strangle her, with Mulcahy justifying the act as a necessary step to avoid being caught.

Three months later, on April 17, 1986, the duo murdered 15-year-old Maartje Tamboezer, a Surrey schoolgirl last seen riding her bicycle near East Horsley station. Her body was found in nearby woods, badly burned, with her watch stopped at 5:35 pm. The prosecution detailed how Mulcahy and Duffy lay in wait, tying fishing line across her path to trip her. After raping her, Mulcahy turned violent, striking her with a stone and strangling her with her own belt, with Mulcahy allegedly instructing Duffy to do his part. Mulcahy then attempted to wipe away fingerprints, indicating a calculated effort to evade detection.

Another victim, Anne Lock, a 29-year-old secretary returning from her honeymoon in the Seychelles, was murdered after she left her bicycle at Brookmans Park station in Hertfordshire on May 18, 1986. Mulcahy and Duffy reportedly hid her bike, ambushed her, and led her to a field where she was raped and murdered. Her decomposed body was found two months later, with her socks used as a gag and her body partially burned. Although Mulcahy was acquitted at the time due to insufficient evidence, he later admitted involvement and rape of Anne Lock.

Their reign of terror continued with numerous other attacks, including the rape of a 21-year-old woman clutching a teddy bear in October 1982, and assaults on women near Finchley Road, Barnes Common, and Hampstead Heath. The pair used a 'rapist's kit' comprising balaclavas, knives, and tape, with Mulcahy often playing a more dominant and sadistic role. Their crimes were characterized by a disturbing obsession with cruelty, power, and control, often involving threats, violence, and mutilation.

Despite their extensive criminal activities, Mulcahy and Duffy managed to evade capture for years. It was only after a chance encounter with a new suspect, Ted Biggs, and the re-examination of old evidence, including DNA testing and fingerprint analysis, that the net finally closed around them. A crucial piece of evidence was a fingerprint on tape used to gag a victim, which matched Mulcahy. This discovery, along with DNA evidence from victims' clothing, confirmed Mulcahy's involvement in multiple crimes.

Mulcahy was convicted of three murders, seven rapes, and five conspiracy charges after a lengthy trial that lasted over five months. The jury deliberated for nearly 20 hours before reaching their verdict. Duffy, who was convicted of two murders, five rapes, and other sexual assaults, later confessed to additional crimes, including the rape of Anne Lock. Both men received life sentences, with the judge condemning Mulcahy for acts of 'desolating wickedness' and emphasizing the depths of his depravity. Duffy, described as 'a predatory animal,' is now considered one of Britain’s most prolific rapists, with estimates suggesting up to 50 victims. The case remains one of the most disturbing chapters in British criminal history, highlighting the terrifying extent of their violence and the meticulous efforts of law enforcement to bring them to justice.