LICENCE TO KILL
Harold Shipman is considered one of the most prolific serial killers in modern history.
Over his 27-year medical career, the former GP was found guilty of killing 15 patients, but the actual tally of victims, mainly elderly women, is estimated to be around 250.
For years Shipman’s crimes went undetected.
Born in Nottingham, UK, Shipman studied medicine and began work as a GP in 1974 before setting up his own practice in 1993, registering 3000 patients.
Five years later he was arrested for the murder of Kathleen Grundy in September 1998. Authorities had been notified of the high death rate among Shipman’s patients and many cremation forms he had countersigned. However, police were unable to find sufficient evidence.
The horrific truth came to light when Shipman’s last victim, Grundy, was found dead at her home with Shipman being the last person to see her alive. He listed the cause of death as old age.
Grundy’s daughter Angela Woodruff was informed by a solicitor that an in authentic looking will apparently made by her mother, excluded Woodruff and her children and over half a million dollars was left to Shipman.
An investigation found traces of heroin, often used to treat terminal cancer patients, in Grundy’s body.
Shipman claimed Grundy was addicted to a drug similar to heroin and submitted his GP notes as evidence. By doing so he’d written his own prescription for a life in prison as police found the comments had been written on his computer after her death. It was also found his typewriter was used to make the forged will.
He was arrested and in 2000, Shipman was found guilty of murdering 15 patients resulting in his imprisonment for life with the recommendation that he never be released and struck off by the General Medical Council.
Shipman took his own life in prison in January 2004, the day before his 58th birthday.
‘Authorities had been notified of the high death rate’