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In the lead up to his trial in November 1975, 23-year-old Patrick Mackay, the drunk, the druggy,

the bully, and the petty-pointless thief, whom many said would amount to nothing, had become a celebrity.

Mackay was front-page news for almost a year, with his stage-managed photos under every headline.

His confession of, I killed 11 people, printed in bold.

His memoir repeated verbatim, his nickname cementing his legacy, and his name preceded by

maniac, monster, psychopath psychopath and now serial killer.

What began as a petty and pathetic series of half-witted robberies to fund his alcoholism

culminated in an 18-month campaign of violence and terror, with a bulk committed in the last

two months.

It wasn't planned, it wasn't neat, and possibly spawned from the accidental killing of

Isabella Griffiths in a short burst of rage as any of the 23-plus frail old ladies he'd

robbed and assaulted could have been.

The press bought the lie, as Mackay wasn't a thug, but a bright, erudite storyteller who sought infamy.

Questioned by Detective Superintendent John Bland at Brixton Prison in April 1975,

Mackay admitted,

All I want to do is to be frank and honest.

Having admitted to three proofable murders.

But before I start, I've got another murder I want to get off my mind.

Being the drowning of a homeless man at Hungerford Bridge,

and confessing or suspected of a total of eight,

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