Thomas McDowell

McDowell was born in Ballymena, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2004/sep/30/ukcrime1|title=Psychopath faces life for killing trainee rabbi|newspaper=The Guardian|date=30 September 2004|accessdate=10 December 2012|agency=Press Association}}

Hinz, a 37-year-old trainee rabbi, gifted linguist and German national had spent the night of 3 July 2002 drinking alone in the Black Cap, a gay bar in Camden, North London. After striking up a conversation with McDowell, he left the bar with him in the early hours and returned to McDowell's flat in Baynes Street, Camden.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2128028.stm |title=BBC News, Sunday 14 July 2002, Man charged over trainee rabbi's death|publisher=BBC News|date=14 July 2002|accessdate=10 December 2012}} Hinz had arrived in Britain in 2000 to begin his training to become a rabbi at the Leo Baeck College.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/three-held-after-dismembered-body-of-missing-trainee-rabbi-is-found-184106.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/three-held-after-dismembered-body-of-missing-trainee-rabbi-is-found-184106.html |archive-date=7 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Three held after dismembered body of missing trainee rabbi is found|website=independent.co.uk|date=13 July 2002|accessdate=19 September 2020}}{{cbignore}}

After knocking Hinz to the floor with a martial arts kick, McDowell proceeded to strangle Hinz before dismembering his body with a rip saw.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3704228.stm |title=BBC News, Thursday 30 September 2004, Killer of trainee rabbi gets life|publisher=BBC News|date=30 September 2004|accessdate=10 December 2012}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/best-law-firms/profile-legal/article/news-in-brief-3sqp05hc63d|title= News in Brief|work=The Times|date=1 October 2004|access-date=16 March 2021}} The body parts were wrapped in bin liners and put out onto a street near St Pancras Way for the rubbish collectors.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2100260.stm|title=Fears for missing trainee rabbi|website=news.bbc.co.uk|date=5 July 2002|accessdate=17 October 2020}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/6275754.police-rule-out-link-between-black-bin-liner-murders/|title=Police rule out link between 'black bin liner' murders|website=newsshopper.co.uk|date=2 January 2003|accessdate=11 July 2021}} Their subsequent decomposition exacerbated by summer heat led to a terrible smell and a cloud of flies that eventually led to their gruesome discovery.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2004/sep/15/ukcrime|title=The Guardian, Wednesday 15 September 2004, Rabbi 'dismembered by rent boy'|work=The Guardian|date=14 September 2004|accessdate=10 December 2012|location=London}}

Barbara Hinz, his mother, returned home to Ulm, Germany after flying to London the following week to appeal for help finding her son.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2123273.stm|title=Murder inquiry over trainee rabbi|website=news.bbc.co.uk|date=12 July 2002|accessdate=17 October 2020}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/6315736.student-charged-with-andys-murder/|title=Student charged with Andy's murder|newspaper=newsshopper.co.uk|date=17 July 2002|accessdate=19 September 2020}} His cousin Claudia Bobermin also flew with his mother to London in their appeal to find Hinz.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2002/jul/13/vikramdodd|title=Hate motive suspected in murder of trainee rabbi|website=theguardian.com|date=13 July 2002|accessdate=17 October 2020}}

McDowell briefly appeared in the Old Bailey on 2 December 2002 in relation to killing Hinz, and was remanded in custody until 14 February 2003.{{cite news|url=https://www.times-series.co.uk/news/251648.man-in-court-over-hinz-murder/|title=Man in court over Hinz murder|newspaper=times-series.co.uk|date=4 December 2002|accessdate=19 September 2020}}

At the trial of McDowell in September 2004, it was revealed that as a child he had been abused by a relative and grew up with a sense of hatred towards homosexuals, as well as suffering from a personality disorder.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1473077/Life-for-psychopath-who-killed-gay-rabbi.html|title=Life for psychopath who killed gay rabbi|publisher=telegraph.co.uk|author=Clough, Sue|date=1 October 2004|accessdate=16 March 2021}} McDowell was a medical student at the time of the murder and had also been working as a male prostitute.{{cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/incoming/the-notorious-mass-murderers-28097612.html|title=The notorious mass murderers|newspaper=belfasttelegraph.co.uk|date=4 July 2008|accessdate=17 July 2021}} McDowell admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, and was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment at Southwark Crown Court on 30 September 2004.{{cite news|url=https://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/527951.trainee-rabbis-killer-admits-manslaughter/|title=Trainee rabbi's killer admits manslaughter|newspaper=thisislocallondon.co.uk|date=16 September 2004|accessdate=19 September 2020}}

The trial judge spoke of his doubt as to whether it would ever be thought safe to release McDowell back into the community, and recommended that he should never be released.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/3702028.stm|title=Man guilty of murdering 'rabbi'|date=29 September 2004|accessdate=31 May 2012|publisher=BBC News}} He began his life sentence at Rampton Secure Hospital in Nottinghamshire.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2004/sep/30/ukcrime1|title=Psychopath faces life for killing trainee rabbi|newspaper=The Guardian|date=30 September 2004|accessdate=10 December 2012|agency=Press Association}}

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Category:1977 births

Category:British people convicted of manslaughter

Category:Criminals from County Antrim

Category:Date of birth missing (living people)

Category:Hate crimes in Europe

Category:Living people

Category:People convicted of murder by England and Wales

Category:People from Ballymena

Category:People from Northern Ireland convicted of murder

Category:People with personality disorders

Category:Prisoners from Northern Ireland sentenced to life imprisonment

Category:Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment by England and Wales

Category:Violence against gay men

Category:Violence against men in the United Kingdom

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