Serial Killer

[4getmenot]

How many people does someone have to kill before they are a serial killer?

[chazza]

I seem to remember it's three. If you google "definition of serial killer" it will give you more information than I can!

[suffragette]

I believe it is three, but unfortunately tabloid, criminal psychologist and law enforcement definitions do not always agree. The situation is further complicated by related terms like mass murderer and spree killer, which are further sub sections within the whole nasty business.

[Miss Inquiry]

Good old Wikipedia:

"A serial killer is someone who commits three or more murders over an extended period of time with cooling-off periods in between"

[Miss Inquiry]

However, interestingly, same source:

A SPREE killer commits multiple murders in different locations over a period of time that may vary from a few hours to several days. Unlike serial killers, however, the spree killer does not take a long break or resume everyday life between slayings.

[4getmenot]

So really this would make the Suffolk man a spree killer

[vehelpfulguy]

It may not be one person doing it.

[4getmenot]

the police reckon to many similarities now for it to be different people

[mindhunter]

No 4getmenot this is not a spree kliller but a serial killer as he has killed many times before with long breaks in between.

This recent killings appear to be as a result of the Suffolk Police wrongly convicting Kevin Nunn for the murder of Dawn Walker. She was found dead in Feb 2005 next to the river Lark, by a footpath and 'displayed' for all to see. No obvious cause of death, no obvious sign of sexual assualt.

He was wrongly convicted three weeks ago at IPSWICH Crown Court.

See websete www.kevinnunn.webeden.co.uk for more info.

Remember this is not about sex, its about domination,power and control.
Unfortunately these girls are an easy target as they willing get into cars/vans etc.

[4getmenot]

I hadnt seen that story mindhunter, why did they accuse the other man?

[Miss Inquiry]

Mindhunter, if it is the same person the similarities are very very very slim, having just had a quick scout about the net for some basic info. Dawn Walker was found half clothed and badly burnt from being set alight. They had a very turbulent relationship and had been seen arguing 2 days before. She was also not a sex worker. I'm no expert, but it seems they are not connected.

[bounce]

Yeah I think the whole situation has to go into weather its serial killer situation or not. I would think its about how often they kill aswell?!
Why do serial killers usually die before they get caught. Alot of people have told me this, do usually people try and kill the serial killer coz of what they did or does the serial killer commit suicide?

Sorry 4getmenot I dont mean to nick your question space.

[Miss Inquiry]

A lot of them want to notiriety hence the suicide. When things like this happen you would be amazed at the amount of people who actually own up and havn't actually been involved at all. I did Criminology @ university and was shocked when studying psycopathy at just how many disturbed people come forward. Police witholding vital information often ensures that these people can quickly be eliminated from investigations.

Another possible reason is that they can't face up to what they have done, or can't face the prospect of a life in jail.

Or maybe their inner demons take over and tell them to end their lives....

[Octavius]

The term for a serial killer meaning people who kill on at least three separate occasions taking breaks between murders, is an American term and comes from the FBI Handbook (trust me I've read it).

In fact there is no true numerical attachment since 'serial' stems from the word series. So a serial killer is a person who attacks and kills victims one by one in a series of incidents (i.e. not all at the same time - mass murderer). However, I am sure we could safely assume that 2 could be a double-murder and any more would be a series.

[Miss Inquiry]

Octavius - how dose a SPREE killer fit into this, if you look at the Wikipedia definition?

[Octavius]

Without looking at wikipedia, I would understand a spree killer as someone who does the same as a serial killer but in a lesser time and with little or no serial or common pattern. Although any firm distinction between mass murderer and spree killer (even serial killer) is ambiguous. The name Michael Ryan (Hungerford 1987) springs to mind as a spree killer/mass murderer, but he wouldn�t really be classed as a serial killer.

http://www.murderuk.com/mass/michaelryan.htm

[mindhunter]

Miss inquiry you perhaps should read the website www.kevinnunn.webeden.co.k for more information on the case.
By the way the 'person' who allegedly 'saw' Dawn Walker arguing was unable to ID Kevin Nunn. He only saw the back of the man who he described as 'dressed in a suit.' CCTV footage shows Kevin Nunn in casual clothes less than an hour before the alleged arguement.
The prosecution claim it was a jealousy killing. If you have studied criminology you will understand that to leave a woman semi naked, 'positioned' in a humiliating and degrading manner, not concealed, no sexual assualt and no clear sign of a struggle or obvious cause of death.
She also had her a shaved/clippered prior to burning, which was of a 'flash' type. Infact very stricking similarities to the Ipswich Killings as I've heard today they had there hair cut!!

[mindhunter]

I therefore conclude Dawn Walker was not a jealousy killing.

[yolande]

I agree with Miss Inquiry, the similarities seem very scant from what I can see. The website you reference is hopelessly biased towards the defendant, and you have to hunt about for further information to get a balanced view in the story. While I admit the evidence to convict the defendant seems largely circumstancial, a jury and judge have dealt with this in court, and that is the justice system we live under.

[mindhunter]

Unfortunately it is the justice system we live under. Does
that make it OK to convict the innocent?

[4getmenot]

and who made the website kevinnunn, one of his mates perhaps?