This is the story of a predator who selected male addicts as her targets.
Prosecutors described Kathleen McCluskey, resident in the famous university town of Cambridge, England, as bearing an “ambivalent attitude towards men.” She was charged of murdering four of them between 1999 and 2001 by manipulating them to overdose on methadone combined with alcohol. The woman who is described as always wearing black and “who encouraged friends to stroke a devil statue in her home” was described in the tabloid press as a “devil worshiper.”
Prosecutors described Kathleen McCluskey, resident in the famous university town of Cambridge, England, as bearing an “ambivalent attitude towards men.” She was charged of murdering four of them between 1999 and 2001 by manipulating them to overdose on methadone combined with alcohol. The woman who is described as always wearing black and “who encouraged friends to stroke a devil statue in her home” was described in the tabloid press as a “devil worshiper.”
Kathleen McCluskey was a drug addict and was prescribed
methadone by a government addiction program. She was well versed in the dangers
of overdose and dangerous drug combinations. In her Cambridge home, police
found a copy of the British National Formulary, the “pharmacists’ bible,” which
gives details of prescribed drugs and their effects.
McCluskey’s second alleged murder victim was Marvin Brodie,
32, a man who was “well-liked” but with a drink problem. She got to know him
through a friend and in June 2000 went with him and some other friends to see a
film. During the evening she was heard to say: “I don’t
want to go to prison - I’ll kill you like I killed the rest.” She provided the
man with a fatal concoction that ended his life.
Prosecutor Nigel Godsmark: “Four deaths is just too many to
be a coincidence - the common factor is this lady.” He added: “In each case the
defendant supplied the drugs or supplied the means of taking these drugs.”
A survivor of Catherine McCluskey’s toxic cocktail method is enlightening: “In November 2001 Peter Bakulinskjy came forward to report an incident which had happened on Christmas Day 1999. He had drunk methadone with an unknown additive at Mrs McCluskey’s home and was unconscious for five hours. McCluskey was later acquitted of administering a toxic substance - methadone - to him.”
A survivor of Catherine McCluskey’s toxic cocktail method is enlightening: “In November 2001 Peter Bakulinskjy came forward to report an incident which had happened on Christmas Day 1999. He had drunk methadone with an unknown additive at Mrs McCluskey’s home and was unconscious for five hours. McCluskey was later acquitted of administering a toxic substance - methadone - to him.”
On December 16, 2002, McCluskey was convicted Norwich Crown Court of two of the four homicides she was charged with – on the reduced charge of manslaughter. One hearing the verdict Kathleen flew into a rage, shouting: “This is f*****g ignorance.” When female guards were called to escort the convict to her cell, she was twice heard screaming “Ignorant b******s.”
On March 19, 2003, McLuskey was sentenced to 10 years in
prison for two manslaughter convictions: 4 years for killing Assali plus 6 year
for killing Brodie. During the hearing the sentencing judge admonished the
murderess: “You have had a sad life. I bear in mind the effect that drugs have
had on you. Nevertheless, although you have a borderline personality disorder,
I have to take into account that you have shown little compassion or remorse for
the deaths of these two men.”
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CHRONOLOGY:
April 1960 – Kathleen McCluskey, Born Kathleen Baxter in
South Yorkshire.
1976 – Left home at 16 and moved to Brighton.
1980s – Later moved to London and then Cambridge.
Dec. 1994 – Married James Wormold in Dec. 1994.
Aug. 1999 – Death of Mohammed Assadi.
Dec. 25, 1999 – Peter Bakulinskyj, 38, poisoned, survived.
Jun. 2000 – Death of Marvin Brodie.
Mar. 2001 – Death of Ray Diaz.
Sep. 2001 – Death of James McCluskey.
Oct. 2001 – Operation Falstaff launched.
Dec. 16, 2002 –
McCluskey convicted of 2 manslaughter charges.
Mar. 19, 2003 – sentenced to 10 years in prison (4 yrs. For
Assali; 6 yrs. For Brodie).
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4 SUSPECTED HOMICIDE VICTIMS:
Mohammed Shoja Assadi, 48, known as Martin, lived alone and
was a heavy drinker who was prescribed low level doses of methadone several
years ago, artist.
Marvin Brodie, 32, worked occasionally as a care assistant.
Ray Diaz, 48, was a friend of McCluskey’s.
James McCluskey, 44, was her second husband. They married in
September 2001, eight months after her first husband committed suicide using a
vacuum cleaner pipe attached to his car’s exhaust pipe. Prosecutors later
doubted the suicide ruling.
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Sources: [Steven Morris, Drugs woman ‘murdered four men,’ The Guardian (London, England), Dec. 3, 2002; modified Jan. 14, 2016] [John Troup, “Black widow killer uproar,” The Sun (London, England), Dec. 17, 2002] [Chris Summers, “Secrets of a sordid world,” Mar. 19, 2003, BBC News] [“Black widow' gets 10 years for drug deaths,” , March 19, 2003]
Sources: [Steven Morris, Drugs woman ‘murdered four men,’ The Guardian (London, England), Dec. 3, 2002; modified Jan. 14, 2016] [John Troup, “Black widow killer uproar,” The Sun (London, England), Dec. 17, 2002] [Chris Summers, “Secrets of a sordid world,” Mar. 19, 2003, BBC News] [“Black widow' gets 10 years for drug deaths,” , March 19, 2003]
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Still under the media radar and common history. Would not be surprised if it also has female, corporate counterparts as well.
ReplyDeleteI was there when Mohammed Shoja Assadi was murdered. I was his neighbor. If I hadn't let in Catherine's boyfriend, he might still be alive.
ReplyDeleteI was one of the witnesses in the murder trial.
I'm James brother Michael get in touch
ReplyDelete