Police meet to plan search for Muriel McKay's body

Muriel McKay was mistaken for the wife of Rupert Murdoch in 1969 and held to ransom at a farm in Hertfordshire

Two police forces have met to plan a fresh search for the body of Muriel McKay, who was abducted and murdered more than 54 years ago.

Mrs McKay was mistaken for the then-wife of Rupert Murdoch in 1969 and held to ransom for £1m at a farm in Hertfordshire, but her body was never found.

In an email to Mrs McKay’s family, seen by the BBC, the Metropolitan Police said it had "a site visit planned with Hertfordshire Police” this week.

The force also told the family that although no date had been set, the search was likely to take place in July.

The email explained that the Met Police had held its first meeting with Hertfordshire Police, “who confirmed that they will be supporting the excavation with resources, staff and expertise”.

But the family of Mrs McKay are concerned that only her grandson Mark Dyer has been invited to Stocking Farm before the search commences “to agree the area to be excavated”.

They also want Dianne and Ian McKay, Muriel’s children, to be present, along with the man responsible for her death, Nizamodeen Hosein.

Along with his brother Arthur he was jailed for life, but Arthur died in prison while Nizamodeen was deported to his native Trinidad.

Herts Police will join the Met Police at Stocking Farm to plan the search for Muriel McKay's body

Mr Dyer has been driving a campaign to have the farm searched after he and his mother Dianne spoke to Hosein at length.

Mr Dyer said Hosein admitted kidnapping Muriel but claimed she died of a heart attack after seeing a TV appeal from her family.

They were also told in great detail which part of the farm Muriel's body was buried.

"It's success everywhere but the main success will be finding her [Muriel] and putting an end to all this," Mr Dyer said.

The decision to carry out another search of Stocking Farm, near Bishop's Stortford, came after detectives flew to Trinidad in March to interview Hosein.

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said: "While we have concerns about inconsistences in the account provided by Nizamodeen Hosein, for completeness, we want to do this."

Mark Dyer and Nizam Hosein met in Trinidad to discuss where Muriel McKay was buried

Met Police Commander Steve Clayman said: “I’d like to thank Muriel’s family for their patience while we have taken time to really carefully consider all the information gathered in relation to this case. I know it has been a frustrating time for them.

“The owners of the farm are fully aware and supportive and we thank them for their continuing help and co-operation.

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