Muriel McKay's family cannot scan London garden for her remains, judge rules

"The family of Muriel McKay, who was kidnapped and murdered more than 55 years ago and whose remains have never been found, cannot perform a radar scan of a shared back garden in east London where they believe she is buried, a High Court judge has ruled. Ms McKay, the wealthy wife of newspaper executive Alick McKay, was kidnapped for a 1 million ransom in 1969 after being mistaken for Anna Murdoch, the then-wife of media mogul Rupert Murdoch."

"On Monday, barristers for two of her children, Ian McKay and Dianne Levinson, asked a judge to order that the homeowners of two neighbouring properties on Bethnal Green Road allow them to conduct a ground-penetrating radar survey of a shared back garden. The hearing in London was told that the family now believe Ms McKay's remains are buried at the site, following new information coming to light."

"In a ruling on Tuesday, Mr Justice Richard Smith said that while Ms McKay's kidnap and murder was an abhorrent crime, his role was to consider the case objectively and dispassionately. He said: The claimants have not established that such relief is needed now, or why the usual pre-trial procedures should not be observed. He continued: I was not persuaded that even if a survey was carried out, that it would be conclusive one way or the other, that it would produce incontrovertible data."

The McKay family sought a court order to allow a ground-penetrating radar survey of a shared back garden in east London where they now believe Muriel McKay's remains may be buried. Muriel McKay was kidnapped in 1969 after being mistaken for Anna Murdoch and was taken for a 1 million ransom; her remains have never been found. Homeowners of the neighbouring properties opposed the injunction and alleged repeated attempts to gain access and borderline harassment. The High Court judge ruled the family had not shown the relief was presently needed and expressed doubts that a survey would produce conclusive, incontrovertible evidence.

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