Killer may want to be caught

A CLINICAL psychologist today warned the killer could choose his next victim indiscriminately, although he may want to be caught before striking again.

Clive Sims, based at St Clements Hospital in Ipswich, said the murderer was now almost certainly a “spree” killer, who could now spread his reign of terror beyond prostitutes.

Mr Sims also believes the perpetrator may need to maintain the high of killing and would not stop until he was caught.

He said: “Of course there is always the possibility that he might be awaiting the opportunity to strike again.

“Because the prostitutes are not out there it is possible he may mistake someone coming or going from a party for a prostitute or he may simply try to use force to drag someone into a car as opposed to the cases so far where, presumably, they have got in.”

Mr Sims said the location of the last two bodies in Levington suggested the killer may be looking to be caught as the bodies were probably found quickly and some forensics were likely to remain.

He added: “It almost looks like he is challenging the police and he may also be saying to them 'come and catch me'.

“Some of the work done by the FBI shows that serial killers, and I appreciate we are probably dealing with a spree killer here, very often want to be caught.

“They can't stop and they want someone to stop them - that is a possibility here.

“Quite often these people will actually kill themselves after they have 'completed their task' although that is not always the case.”

Mr Sims said too little information had been released by police for him to build a profile of the killer but he said he suspected the man was wither a regular customer of the women, or a drug dealer known to them.

He said it was also difficult to speculate on how the person would be acting around family, friends and workmates following the murders.

He added: “He might be gloating over his success and he might be goading the police, or feeling he has beaten the system.”

Dr Jackie Craissati, a clinical and forensic psychologist, said the killer may be showing signs of agitation as the police investigation hots up.

She said: “There could be differences in behaviour, but it would be a mistake to assume they will be showing visible changes in their behaviour at all.

“Some people may just carry on as normal and when caught it can come as a complete shock to those people who know the killer.”

Dr Craissati said the killer could also be enjoying the press attention.

She said: “He may be playing a cat and mouse game with the police, phoning them and talking about it to people. He may be collecting newspaper clippings in large quantities or he may be laying low and his killing spree will quieten down.”

But Dr Craissati gave a chilling warning.

She added: “I have come across a number of cases where the killer waits some time before his next spree. He may wait several months before his next set of offending but it is unlikely to be finished until he is caught or convicted for a different offence.”