SEAN HEISS FROM KINGSTON SENTENCED FOR MULTIPLE MURDERS IN SPAIN AND UK
| Red Rose Database
Kingston Domestic Homicide
Sean Heiss, a man originally from Kingston, has been convicted and sentenced for committing multiple murders across different countries. The case first came to light when Heiss was linked to the tragic death of his mother, Margaret Sheehy, aged 58, at her residence in Kingston during June 2012.
According to court records, Heiss admitted to the act of killing his mother but argued that he should not be fully held responsible due to diminished mental capacity. The court heard that Heiss, who was unemployed and in financial distress at the time, had a motive rooted in anger rather than greed. The motive was linked to his mother’s decision to sell her flat, a plan she later abandoned.
Judge Gerald Gordon presided over the case at the Old Bailey and sentenced Heiss to a minimum of 27 years and three months behind bars. The judge emphasized that the killing was driven by emotional turmoil rather than material gain. At the time of the murder, Heiss was overdrawn by £200, which added to the context of his financial struggles.
Following the murder, Heiss stole his mother’s bank cards and used them to travel abroad. He took the Eurostar to France and subsequently moved to Spain. His criminal activities did not end there. In Barcelona, Heiss was later apprehended by Spanish authorities after he was involved in the stabbing death of another woman. The incident occurred when the woman disturbed him while he was sleeping rough, and he responded with deadly violence.
Heiss, who has a documented history of psychotic illness, did not deny that he was responsible for his mother’s death. However, he claimed that his mental health issues diminished his responsibility for the crime. The Spanish court sentenced him to 22 years for the murder committed in Barcelona. Subsequently, Heiss was extradited back to the United Kingdom, where he faced further charges related to his mother’s murder.
His case highlights a complex web of violence, mental health struggles, and international criminal activity, culminating in his current incarceration and lengthy sentences in both Spain and the UK.
According to court records, Heiss admitted to the act of killing his mother but argued that he should not be fully held responsible due to diminished mental capacity. The court heard that Heiss, who was unemployed and in financial distress at the time, had a motive rooted in anger rather than greed. The motive was linked to his mother’s decision to sell her flat, a plan she later abandoned.
Judge Gerald Gordon presided over the case at the Old Bailey and sentenced Heiss to a minimum of 27 years and three months behind bars. The judge emphasized that the killing was driven by emotional turmoil rather than material gain. At the time of the murder, Heiss was overdrawn by £200, which added to the context of his financial struggles.
Following the murder, Heiss stole his mother’s bank cards and used them to travel abroad. He took the Eurostar to France and subsequently moved to Spain. His criminal activities did not end there. In Barcelona, Heiss was later apprehended by Spanish authorities after he was involved in the stabbing death of another woman. The incident occurred when the woman disturbed him while he was sleeping rough, and he responded with deadly violence.
Heiss, who has a documented history of psychotic illness, did not deny that he was responsible for his mother’s death. However, he claimed that his mental health issues diminished his responsibility for the crime. The Spanish court sentenced him to 22 years for the murder committed in Barcelona. Subsequently, Heiss was extradited back to the United Kingdom, where he faced further charges related to his mother’s murder.
His case highlights a complex web of violence, mental health struggles, and international criminal activity, culminating in his current incarceration and lengthy sentences in both Spain and the UK.