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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Dan Warburton

Families given compensation over 'Morgue Monster' David Fuller murder case

Victims of morgue monster David Fuller are in line for compensation packages worth millions, it has today emerged.

Health chiefs have agreed to pay families for the harrowing trauma inflicted by double killer Fuller, 68, when he violated loved ones’ dead bodies in a hospital mortuary.

Insiders believe pay-outs for as many as 200 victims could total more than £6million.

Fuller is serving two whole-life sentences for murdering Wendy Knell, 25, and Caroline Pierce, 20.

He was arrested in December 2020 and detectives discovered he had filmed himself abusing at least 101 corpses, aged nine to 100.

David Fuller, a hospital electrician, murdered two women and abused over 100 corpses (PA)
He carried out the horrific attacks at two hospitals from 2008 and 2020 (PA)

Fuller was an electrician at Tunbridge Wells Hospital, then known as Kent and Sussex Hospital, and had unfettered access to the site’s morgue.

Solicitors have now won a fight for compensation after Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust agreed to fund a compensation scheme.

Last night the son of the oldest victim, Jane Knights, welcomed the move.

Mrs Knights died in March 2011 aged 100 and is thought to have been Fuller’s oldest victim.

Caroline Pierce was 20 when she was killed by Fuller (Kent Police / SWNS)

Her son, Alan Knights, 74, from Tunbridge Wells, said: “I would never, ever wish this on anyone else.

“This doesn’t take the pain away. It was never about the money but I just want justice for my old man.

“The worst part is that when you are awake you can control your thoughts, but when you sleep you can’t stop seeing the images of what Fuller did to my mum.

“The people I feel sorry for are those two girls who were killed in the 80s, their families have been through hell.”

Wendy Knell was 25 when she was murdered by Fuller (Kent Police / SWNS)

Ben Davey, legal executive at Dean Wilson LLP who is representing at least 80 victims, said: “It is a national scandal that David Fuller was able to perpetuate his offences on NHS property over such a long period of time.

“The families of each of the victims have had a difficult enough time as it is grieving for the death of a loved one.

“They have then had the additional trauma on top of this of learning that their family member’s corpse was abused whilst under the care of the NHS.

“I am pleased that this compensation scheme that has been agreed recognises that payments must be made to the family members, and makes appropriate provision for psychological treatment where it is reasonably required.”

David Fuller after being arrested and placed in custody (Kent Police / SWNS)

Fuller strangled and sexually assaulted Wendy and Caroline in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, in 1987, in attacks branded the Bedsit Murders.

After a DNA breakthrough in 2020, cops raided his home in Heathfield, East Sussex, and found hard drives with more than 14 million images of distressing sexual offences.

They included pictures of him abusing corpses in hospitals where he was an electrician.

These included a nine-year old girl, two 16-year-olds and a woman aged 100.

The married dad of four worked at Kent and Sussex Hospital, Tunbridge Wells, from 1989 then moved to Tunbridge Wells Hospital in 2010.

A spokesman for Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust said: “The Trust is pleased that a compensation scheme has now been agreed and approved by the Department of Health and Social Care for the families of the victims of David Fuller’s mortuary crimes.

“The Trust is grateful to the families for the input they have provided into the design of the scheme.

“The Trust wishes to apologise once again for the hurt Fuller’s horrendous crimes have caused the families and understands that no amount of compensation can lessen the pain they have suffered as a result of his actions.

“The Trust hopes that the agreed compensation scheme will provide a fair and swift process for victims’ families and ensure family members are able to access any additional support they may need.”

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