Dr David Birkett was an unassuming, quiet man, eminent in his fields of both Dermatology and Paleopathology, and well liked and respected by all who knew him. So when he answered a knock at his Middlesbrough door one night in February 1990, he couldn't for a second have considered that the figure stood before him meant him harm.

Harm was an understatement. It was the first action of an individual who is one of the strangest - and certainly most dangerous - we have come across on The True Crime Enthusiast Podcast, and whose story I bring here.

The episode contains details and descriptions of crimes and events, including descriptions of injury detail and with reference to animal cruelty, that some listeners may find disturbing, and or distressing, so discretion is advised whilst listening.

Music used in this episode: "The Descent" by Kevin Macleod. All music used is sourced from https://filmmusic.io/ and used under an Attribution Licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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Playlist Tracks

• The Murder Capital - Return My Head
• Just Mustard - Still

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References 

• Crimewatch Redux - The Murder of Doctor Birkett (1990)
• Crimewatch UK May 1990 
  
  

Murdertown S2E3 - Middlesbrough 

Assorted articles available from Newcastle Evening Chronicle; Newcastle Journal; Huddersfield Daily Examiner; Newcastle Sunday Sun – available from British Newspaper Archive 

 Killer Reginald Wilson who bludgeoned Middlesbrough doctor to death to be moved to cushy open prison | Daily Mail Online
Notorious murderer who bludgeoned doctor to death 'to be moved to open prison' - Teesside Live (gazettelive.co.uk)
The sadist who bludgeoned doctor to death then plotted to kill police officers - Teesside Live (gazettelive.co.uk)

• Brutal killer who murdered popular doctor finally caught because of a plastic bag - Mirror Online
• Murderer's 'whole life' sentence overturned | The Northern Echo
• Psychopath's "whole life" sentence overturned | The Northern Echo
• Notorious murderer who bludgeoned doctor to death 'to be moved to open prison' (msn.com)
• BBC NEWS | England | Tees | Hammer killer to serve 30 years
• BBC News - Teesside hammer killer refused Guardian interview
• 'If he ever gets out, I am sure he will kill again' | The Northern Echo
• I I Irii — “ Wm Sunday Sun Sunday 3 25 24 Sunday Sun Sunday June 3 1990 —4 I | Sunday Sun (Newcastle) | Sunday 03 June 1990 | British Newspaper Archive
• Downfall Of A Psychopath | Newcastle Journal | Friday 26 July 1991 | British Newspaper Archive
• 13 Aug 1990, 6 - The journal. at Newspapers.com
• https://history.rcplondon.ac.uk/inspiring-physicians/david-anthony-birkett
• https://academic.oup.com/book/8779/chapter-abstract/154921261?redirectedFrom=fulltext

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Remembering David.

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