Farm where Muriel McKay is buried isn’t worth market value, family says – as body remains unfound

A murder victim’s family claim the farm where her killer says he buried her is not worth its true market value because her body still hasn’t been found.

Independent valuers believe the property is worth up to 50% less and would be difficult to sell anyway, according to reports seen by Sky News.

The family of Muriel McKay asked for the valuations and hope to use them to convince the owner he should allow another excavation of his land after two fruitless searches.

And they continue to press the police to allow the killer, freed from jail many years ago, to visit the farm and point out the burial site.

Muriel’s grandson Mark Dyer said: “The police did not do a proper excavation.

“I was expecting to see a Tutankhamun-style dig, with geologists scraping the soil away inch by inch, but they used a small mechanical digger for most of it.”

Mrs McKay, 55, was kidnapped and held for £1m ransom at the farm just before Christmas in 1969.

She was mistaken for the wife of media baron Rupert Murdoch.

Brothers Nizamodeen and Arthur Hosein were convicted and jailed for life in one of the first murder trials without a body. Arthur Hosein died in prison.

This year Muriel’s daughter Dianne and grandson Mark Dyer flew to meet Nizamodeen Hosein in his native Trinidad, where he was deported after serving his sentence.

Sky News filmed Hosein, 76, using old maps and photographs to show Muriel’s family where he buried her body near the farmhouse after, he claimed, she died of a heart attack.

Mr Dyer said: “There are not many people in Britain today who have this problem. They have a killer, someone who killed a member of their family who served life in prison and wants to show them where the body is.

“The police say no he can’t do it. That’s bonkers.”

Last week Muriel’s son Ian met Hosein at his home outside the capital Port of Spain and told him: “Just before you come over, if we can agree an area with your help, if we can narrow it down to 20 ft by 20ft, they can’t refuse us.”

Hosein replied: “I’m willing to help 100%. I’ve said I’m willing to go but nobody accepted. They think I’m kidding, I’m crazy, there’s something wrong with me. I could go to the grave now.”

Police have dug twice at Stocking Farm in Stocking Pelham, Hertfordshire, but found no evidence of a body.

Read more from Sky News:
Davina McCall diagnosed with rare brain tumour
‘Rain, sleet and snow’ forecast for UK
UN climate summits ‘no longer fit for purpose’

Mr Dyer said: “They didn’t dig everywhere that was relevant to the place where Nizam (Hosein) said he buried my grandmother.”

Mr Dyer commissioned three valuations of the farm, from two chartered surveyors and a property auctioneer.

In written reports, they advised him the property was below its true market value because of the ongoing uncertainty over whether Muriel was buried there and continuing media interest in the site.

One wrote: “In my view as an auctioneer, the current ongoing issue at the property will sterilise any chance of a sale for most buyers, until this is brought to a final resolution.”

The valuer added: “It would not be unreasonable in this circumstance to expect a sale as much as 50% less than would otherwise be achieved.”

Mr Dyer said: “I haven’t put this to the landowner yet, but he’s a reasonable bloke and I believe he wants an end to this. I hope he will say come and have a chat. We can organise it and do it without any police involvement.”

The Metropolitan Police said: “Officers are due to meet Muriel’s family to answer their questions about the final search for Muriel’s remains, which sadly failed to locate her.

“The eight-day search took place after an extensive review of all the information about the possible location of Muriel’s body, including officers interviewing Nizamodeen Hosein over three days in Trinidad.

“Officers are confident the searches conducted in 2022 and 2024 covered all the areas of the farm Hosein had previously referred to. Expert advice was sought throughout the searches and plans were shared in advance with the family.

“While we are aware the family has been further speaking to Hosein, it remains the case that we have concerns about the validity and reliability of his information and memory and it is not proportionate to carry out any further searches. Our investigation has concluded.

“Our thoughts remain with Muriel’s family.”

The landowner has been asked for his response to the family’s claims.