John Martin Scripps

John Martin Scripps: The Garden City Butcher

Imagine a man who could turn from a model prisoner to a cold-blooded killer with just the flick of a switch. John Martin Scripps, known as the Garden City Butcher, was not your ordinary criminal. His story is one that sends shivers down the spine and raises questions about human nature.

The Early Days: A Troubled Past

John Martin Scripps (1959-1996) had a life filled with turmoil from the start. He left school at 15, embarking on a path of crime that included burglary and indecent assault. His troubled childhood set the stage for his later actions, but could anyone have predicted the depths he would sink to?

A Model Prisoner Turned Serial Killer

While in custody at HMP Albany from February 1992 to August 1993, John Martin Scripps transformed himself. He became a model prisoner, performing menial jobs and later being trained by professional butchers. This unexpected turn of events would prove crucial for his future crimes.

The Escape and Arrival in Singapore

After escaping from prison on home leave two days after being transferred to HMP The Mount in October 1994, John Martin Scripps used his mother’s $200 to travel overseas. He obtained a passport under another inmate’s name and arrived in Singapore from San Francisco in March 1995.

The Modus Operandi: A Tourist Among Tourists

John Martin Scripps posed as a tourist, befriending other travelers before striking them down. He targeted Caucasians because they were far away from home, making it less likely for him to be discovered. His method was brutal and efficient—striking their heads with a hammer and cutting up their bodies in their bathrooms.

The Victims: Gerard Lowe and the Damudes

Gerard Lowe arrived at Singapore Changi Airport on 8 March, where he met John Martin Scripps under an assumed name. They shared Room 1511 in the River View Hotel off Havelock Road. Martin forged Lowe’s signature, withdrew $6,000 from a bank, and bought items with his credit card.

Three days later, a pair of legs was found floating off Clifford Pier. A missing person report for Gerard Lowe was filed by his wife, Vanessa. The authorities decided not to inform the media immediately, fearing it might alert the suspected killer.

The Trial and Verdict

The trial of John Martin Scripps began on 2 October 1995 in the High Court of Singapore. Martin claimed self-defense but was found guilty by the judge. He was sentenced to death for Gerard Lowe’s murder, with similar charges pending against him for the deaths of Sheila and Darin Damude.

The Final Days: A Man of Contradictions

John Martin Scripps spent his final days in prison reflecting on his life. In a last message, he wrote, ‘Can I be a person again? Only time will tell me.’ He complained that in prison, ‘You are told every day that you are not a member of the human race.’ His mother, however, believed otherwise: ‘These bastards have no right to take my son’s life. I brought him into the world. I am the only person who can take him out of it.’

The Execution and Legacy

On 19 April 1996, John Martin Scripps was hanged in Changi Prison alongside Singaporean heroin traffickers Richard Low Gee Boon and Lee Meng Hong. He became the first Briton to be executed in Singapore since its independence from British colonial rule in 1959.

John Martin Scripps’ story is a chilling reminder of the depths some individuals can sink. His crimes, while horrific, also raise questions about rehabilitation and the justice system. As we reflect on his life, one cannot help but wonder: could anyone have seen this coming?