More than 200 relatives of victims abused by necrophiliac killer David Fuller make compensation claims

17 July 2024, 15:19 | Updated: 17 July 2024, 15:30

David Fuller sexually abused the corpses of over 100 women and girls
David Fuller sexually abused the corpses of over 100 women and girls. Picture: Kent Police

By Flaminia Luck

More than 200 relatives of victims abused by the necrophiliac and double murderer David Fuller have made claims for compensation.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Fuller was jailed in 2021 after he was found to have abused the corpses of over 100 bodies of women and girls in two hospital morgues in Kent between 2005 and 2020.

The hospital electrician also murdered two women - Wendy Knell and Caroline Pierce - in Tunbridge Wells in the 1980s.

Fuller, 69, was given two whole-life tariffs for the two murders as well as a 16-year sentence for abusing bodies.

His shocking crimes related to necrophilia only came to light after he was arrested when police made the disturbing discovering in his home.

Wendy Knell and Caroline Pierce were killed at the hands of Fuller only months apart in 1987
Wendy Knell and Caroline Pierce were killed at the hands of Fuller only months apart in 1987. Picture: Kent Police

A search of Fuller's property by police revealed millions of indecent images and videos of children as well as extreme pornography on hard drives, floppy discs, DVDs and memory cards.

Two of the drives were hidden in a box screwed to the back of a chest of drawers and stuffed inside a wardrobe.

On these drives, officers discovered sickening footage Fuller had recorded of himself molesting corpses.

Read more: 'Why do they look... dead?': Horrifying moment police find images of ‘morgue monster’ defiling corpses

Read more: 'Morgue monster' David Fuller has jail sentence lengthened for necrophilia

Now, family members of his victims have applied for compensation through a voluntary scheme run by Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust and the Department for Health and Social Care.

Miles Scott, chief executive of the trust, said NHS Resolution was working through the claims.

He told a council committee some of the compensation claims had been resolved but a number were yet to be completed.

Kent Police bodycam shows raid of David Fuller's home

Mr Scott said: "Some families have chosen that they still want support and we will provide that but we've heard very loud and clear that some didn’t want to keep hearing from us.

"There’s a range of views about the scheme and we’ve worked very hard to make sure that we are supportive of the families."

The compensation scheme closed in April 2024.

Read more: Six people who died 'foaming at the mouth' in five-star luxury Thai hotel were poisoned by drinks laced with cyanide

Read more: Read in Full: King Charles's speech delivering Keir Starmer's vision for Britain

Kent Police video footage shows the moment David Fuller was arrested
Kent Police video footage shows the moment David Fuller was arrested. Picture: Kent Police

An independent inquiry found there were "missed opportunities to question Fuller's working practices" at the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, which manages the hospitals.

The inquiry found that hospital managers were aware of "problems" in the running of the mortuary from 2008.

Bosses had "little regard" to who was going into the mortuary with Fuller going in 444 times in a year, with his visits going "unnoticed and unchecked".

The inquiry made 17 recommendations to prevent "similar atrocities" taking place.

Those include putting in CCTV cameras in the mortuaries, making sure non-mortuary staff are always accompanied and staff do not leave corpses out of fridges overnight.

Read more: Families of dead women abused by mortuary monster David Fuller will get six-figure NHS payouts

Read more: 'Distraught': Wife of bedsit killer reveals horror at husband's sick crimes

'Shock and horror'

Inquiry chairman Sir Jonathan Michael said Fuller's crimes "had caused shock and horror across our country and beyond".

He told reporters on Monday: "Failures of management, of governance, of regulation, failure to follow standard policies and procedures, together with a persistent lack of curiosity, all contributed to the creation of the environment in which he was able to offend, and to do so for 15 years without ever being suspected or caught.

Fuller used the access his swipe card gave him to abuse bodies in the hospital mortuaries, a court heard
Fuller used the access his swipe card gave him to abuse bodies in the hospital mortuaries, a court heard. Picture: Kent Police

"Over the years, there were missed opportunities to question Fuller's working practices."He added that it was now time to work out who "should be held responsible" for the "serious failings".

"Had the measures that I am recommending been in place when Fuller was working at the trust, I firmly believe his offending could have been prevented," Sir Jonathan said.

The mother of one of the victims - Azra Kemal - said the findings showed hospital bosses' conduct was an "absolute disgrace".

Nevres Kamal previously told LBC: "It's bad enough losing your loved ones but to then be be told that they were abused in the mortuary on numerous occasions and it could have been prevented - I mean where do you go with that."

Mother of Fuller victim shares details of law proposals

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Prince William, President of BAFTA, operates a film camera as he visits the London Screen Academy in London, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, Pool)

William tries his hand at being a cameraman on visit to London film academy

President Donald J. Trump participates in a bilateral meeting with the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin during the G20 Japan Summit Friday, June 28, 2019, in Osaka, Japan.

Trump and Putin to 'start negotiations immediately' over ending war in Ukraine - as US president to visit Moscow

Street scene in Peckham, London, with red bus

Bus driver, 76, found guilty of killing passenger who was run over while attempting to board vehicle

Norward Road, Lambeth, the proposed LTN.

Council staff given 'wellbeing day' after attending 'stormy' neighbourhood meeting

United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, left, shakes hands with Britain's Defense Secretary John Healey prior to a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of a NATO defense ministers meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Wednesday, Feb.

Ukraine's NATO membership plans 'unrealistic' says US - as defence secretary claims US troops won't be peacekeepers

Jaysley Beck, 19, was found dead at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire

Officer accused of pinning down and trying to kiss soldier, 19, had been 'waiting for moment for them to be alone'

A public inquiry into the Nottingham attacks will begin 'within weeks'

Public inquiry into Nottingham attacks will begin 'within weeks', PM tells victims' families

Paul Allen.

Cagefighter guilty of Britain's largest cash robbery shot in neck in his kitchen in murder plot

Lucy Harrison

British woman, 23, dies after being shot dead at dad's US house as 'utterly heartbroken' family pays tribute

Ragley Hall, Warwickshire.

Earl sues parents over 'trauma' for not being gifted £85 million Warwickshire estate

d

Outrage as auction house flogs Nazi memorabilia including Göring's dinner plate, Luftwaffe dagger and Swastika bunting

An asteroid could hit earth in 2036.

NASA makes 'emergency' decision over asteroid the size of Big Ben that could strike Earth

German police officer in front of a crowd

German school on lockdown after 'armed teenager' targets female pupil - as police hunt suspect

Ali Harbi Ali was found guilty of murdering MP Sir David Amess

'Problematic' assessment of Sir David Amess' killer led to Prevent case being closed 'too quickly', review finds

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust has been fined £1.6 million after admitting it failed to provide safe care and treatment

'Avoidable and should never have happened': NHS Trust fined £1.6m over baby deaths in maternity care

Jessica Kitching

'I'll f*****g kill you': Mum who dragged rival parent to ground and repeatedly kicked her outside school avoids jail