David Ferguson (murderer)

Infobox Criminal
subject_name = David Ferguson


image_size = 200 px
image_caption =
date_of_birth = birth date and age|1969|9|26|mf=y
place_of_birth =
date_of_death =
place_of_death =
alias =
conviction = Murder
penalty = Life - 20 Years Minimum
status = Imprisoned at HMP Whitemoor
occupation = Shift Manager
spouse =
parents =
children =

David E. Ferguson is a British killer who murdered Susan Kent (aged 33) on 24 November 1999. He was found to have had fetishes of rape and murder of women, spending time on the internet before his crime researching how to commit murders undetected. He was arrested in late 2000 and put on trial for the murder of his ex-girlfriend after police found DNA evidence of him on victim Susan Kent, who was stabbed to death in her Gillingham home. Before his arrest police led a reconstruction of events in order to stimulate the memories of neighbours, and to encourage them to bring forth eyewitness accounts. [" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/545607.stm "BBC News"] " Murder appeal follows victim's last steps 1 December, 1999] The reconstruction was due to be shown on BBC's Crimewatch before police withdrew after arresting Ferguson. [" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/559117.stm "BBC News"] " Mother's murder - man arrested 14 December, 1999]

Biography

Life Before the Murder

After leaving school at 16, David worked in the print trade, working as a Shift Manager at the time of his arrest. He was and remains a heavily tattooed man, with a large custom piece covering his back and upper arms, his tattoos including Bruce Lee, multiple dragons and tigers, Nordic symbols and a Yin Yang symbol.

He was a physically fit man, taking part in many sports, including swimming and para-gliding. He ran a Karate club for 4 years.

Internet Activity

According to evidence given by Detectives in the case, six days before he sexually assaulted and murdered Susan Kent he connected his telephone line to the internet in order to research murder techniques and his rape fetish.

He apparently visited pornographic sites which contained images of women being attacked and raped. He also visited internet chatrooms, communicating with others who shared his fantasies. Online, he described to them fulfilling his fantasy would make him a "true man", and he allegedly referred to women as "meat". [" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/954596.stm "BBC News"] " Killer 'researched perfect crime on net' 3 October, 2000]

Ferguson also logged on to sites about the law, forensic testing and "snuff" movies.

Cyber-Stalking

Detectives found that he had sent a number of e-mails to multiple women in America detailing his violent fantasies. In one, he described dragging a woman into a dark alley, raping and stabbing her through her breasts.

Evidence for this came as the emails were saved on the hard-drive of his computer, which was located in a call centre that he used to work in. [" [http://news.zdnet.co.uk/internet/0,1000000097,2082410,00.htm?r=2 "ZDNet.co.uk"] " Life sentence for Net murderer 6 November, 2000]

Trial

DNA Evidence

Ferguson was tried at Maidstone Crown Court by the Prosecution- Wendy Joseph QC, in front of Mr Justice Hidden.

The Prosecution claimed there was a 'One in a billion chance' that the semen found at the scene did not belong to Ferguson.

It was claimed: "Her throat had been cut with a knife a number of times. There were also quite a number of stab wounds through her breasts going considerable distance into her body.

Condition of Mrs. Kent

Mrs. Kent (a 33-year-old school dinner lady and part-time childminder) was found semi-naked and handcuffed in the bedroom of her home. She had been stabbed ten times in the chest.

The body was found by Iris Kent (Susan's mother-in-law) after the schools Headteacher reported to her that Susan failed to pick her child up from school earlier that day.

Mrs. Kent was the mother of an (at the time) 11 year old autistic son- Julian, and daughter Jessica.

entence

Ferguson pleaded 'Not Guilty' at the trial, but was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommended minimum of 20 years, which is expected to keep him in prison until at least 2019 and the age of 50.

Claims of Innocence

Ferguson has never admitted to the murder and cites that vital forensic evidence was withheld by the police during the trial. He claims that the real murderer is related to a senior-ranking police officer, he also claims to have a phobia to blood meaning he cannot stand the sight of blood.

Following his incarceration Ferguson studied for a degree in archaeology, pursuing his interest with Celtic mythology.

Due to his continued denial of the crime it looks unlikely that Ferguson will ever be released.

References