Murder of Lynsey Quy
1998 murder in Southport, England
Murder of Lynsey Quy
Stamford Road, Birkdale, Southport
Born
England
Disappeared16 December 1998
Southport, Lancashire
StatusDiscovered on 8 June 2000
Died15 December 1998 - 5 February 1999
Birkdale, Southport, Lancashire, England
Cause of deathStrangulation
Body discoveredSouthport Pleasureland
CitizenshipBritish

Lynsey Quy (née Wilson) was a 21-year-old British woman from Southport, Lancashire who was murdered on 16 December 1998 by her husband Mitchell Quy. Following her reported disappearance Mitchell Quy pleaded his innocence and was involved in what was a highly publicised missing persons case for 18 months. Her decapitated and dismembered body was discovered in 2000 at Adventure Coast Southport. Mitchell Quy was convicted of the crime and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 17 years in prison.[1]

Background

Mitchell and Lynsey Quy lived in Southport with their son and her daughter from a previous relationship.[2][3] They had married in August 1995 when she was 17 and heavily pregnant with another mans child.[4] Mitchell Quy worked as a casino croupier and Lynsey was a barmaid.[5] The relationship was plagued by domestic violence.[4] She wrote in her diary about the turbulence of the marriage and how she wished for a divorce.[6]

Investigation

Southport Pleasureland where the body was discovered by police in June 2000

The reported disappearance of Lynsey Quy in December 1998 gained major media attention.[7] It was alleged that she had walked out on her children over Christmas.[8] The idea she had voluntarily left the family home on Stamford Road was disputed by her family.[9] Her husband was involved in a public appeal and the search for his missing wife.[10] Journalists had been invited into their home in the suburb of Birkdale.[11] He claimed that his wife had voluntarily ran off with another man.[3] Police searched the family home and gardens but found nothing of use to the investigation.[12] From the early days of the investigation police suspected she had been victim of marital violence.[13]

As was the prime suspect Mitchell Quy victimised himself.[14] He appeared on many television and radio broadcasts appealing for his wife to return home.[15] The family was offered support by Marie McCourt, the mother of Helen McCourt who disappeared in February 1988.[16]

Mitchell Quy was suspected by his behaviour during the public appeals. When asked by a reporter "did you kill Lynsey?" he replied "I’m not going to answer that. I’m not going to answer that question because I don’t need to".[17] In October 1999, he appeared on ITVs This Morning and was interviewed by Richard and Judy.[18] His body language was analysed by experts.[19]

In June 2000, body parts were discovered at Southport Pleasureland.[20] On 8 June 2000, police searched sites near the theme park attractions.[21] A torso buried in a shallow grave was identified as the missing woman.[22] She had been decapitated and dismembered by her husband, who had hidden body parts near a roller coaster.[23] Her arms and legs were found a day later dumped in bushes next to a railway line, but her head and hands were never located.[4] On 7 June, Mitchell Quy was arrested and he soon admitted his guilt.[24]

Trial

The trial began at North Sefton magistrates in June 2000.[25] The court heard that Mitchell Quy had murdered his wife between 15 December 1998 and 5 February 1999 before hiding her severed body in different spots around Southport.[26] She had been strangled to death prior to dismemberment while her children were asleep in another room.[27][28] Then, Mitchell Quy cut the body up in the bathroom while his brother Elliot held open bin bags.[29][30]

The defence argued manslaughter.[31]

Mitchell Quy sentenced to life imprisonment in January 2001.[4] His brother, Elliot Quy, was jailed for seven years for helping dispose of the body.[24] Their father, Michael Quy, was charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.[32]

Aftermath

In 2001, Lynsey Quy's brother Peter Wilson committed suicide by hanging.[33][34][35] Mitchell Quy's father, Michael Quy, died in 2013.[36]

In 2017, Mitchell Quy's parole claim was rejected.[37] In 2022, his third application for parole was rejected.[38] His bullying behaviour and drug use in prison was reported.[39] Quy had also completed intensive therapeutic and offending behaviour work.[40] In January 2023, a parole hearing rejected his application for release, again due to his behavior.[41][42][43] A petition was launched opposing his release.[44]

Lynsey's father, Peter Wilson, publicly opposed Mitchell's release, saying that he "wouldn't feel comfortable knowing he is on the streets. If he gets out, somebody is going to get hurt".[45]

The case was covered on the crime programme Encounters with Evil. It was also covered by 'Faking It: Tears of a Crime' on Investigation Discovery.[46]

References

  1. ^ Nicholson, Abigail (2023-02-20). "Family members who should have let justice take its course". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  2. ^ Roberts-Haslam, Benjamin (2023-01-02). "Sadistic wife killer Mitchell Quy to stay locked up". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  3. ^ a b "Our boy never got over his sister's murder; Inquest told Lynsey's father found his son hanged. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  4. ^ a b c d "Life sentence for wife killer". BBC News. 2001-01-16. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  5. ^ "Life sentence for wife killer". BBC News. 2001-01-16. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  6. ^ Shennan, Paddy (2013-05-08). "Murdered mum's tragic diary: To my babies, I love you". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  7. ^ Kirkham, Jenny (2018-09-20). "Violent murderer Mitchell Quy who could be released from prison". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  8. ^ "'Murder victims speak to me'". The Northern Echo. 2005-06-08. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  9. ^ Lally, Kate (2016-08-07). "Fury over possible early release of killer who cut up wife's body". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 2025-10-05.
  10. ^ Roberts-Haslam, Benjamin (2023-01-02). "Sadistic wife killer Mitchell Quy to stay locked up". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  11. ^ Kirkham, Jenny (2018-09-20). "Violent murderer Mitchell Quy who could be released from prison". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  12. ^ Thomas, Joe (2016-08-09). "Murderer Mitchell Quy should never leave prison says victim's devastated Dad". southportvisiter. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  13. ^ Siddle, John (2016-08-14). "Police chief: "I always thought Mitchell Quy was the one who killed his wife"". southportvisiter. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  14. ^ Bennetto, Jason (3 July 1999). "A missing young mother and the caring husband who denies killing her". The Independent. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  15. ^ "Life for croupier who dismembered his wife - The Telegraph". The Telegraph. 17 January 2001.
  16. ^ "Marie in new tragic mission". Lancashire Telegraph. 1999-07-09. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  17. ^ "Father gives chilling reply when asked if he killed his wife". Metro. 2017-01-06. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  18. ^ "KILLER ON TV SOFA; Richard and Judy's brutal liar gets life. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  19. ^ Lally, Kate (2017-01-06). "How Southport murderer Mitchell Quy's behaviour gave away signs he was lying". southportvisiter. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  20. ^ "BBC News | UK | Body found in murder hunt". BBC News. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  21. ^ "Father Of Murdered Woman Fears Family Will 'Get Hurt' If Her Killer Is Freed". International Business Times. 2021-06-20. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  22. ^ Chrisafis, Angelique (2001-01-17). "Casino worker cut up wife then claimed she left him". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  23. ^ Lally, Kate (2016-08-09). "Petition launched to keep killer Mitchell Quy behind bars". southportvisiter. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  24. ^ a b "Brother of wife killer jailed". BBC News. 2001-01-22. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  25. ^ Bunyan, Nigel (10 June 2000). "Man in court accused of wife's murder". www.telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  26. ^ "BBC News | UK | Body found in murder hunt". BBC News. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  27. ^ McMullin, Kate (2019-08-25). "Smiling killer Mitchell Quy made sick joke about burying wife's body part". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  28. ^ Lally-LE, Kate (2017-01-06). "Experts reveal how notorious murderer gave away he was lying". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  29. ^ Bunyan, Nigel (23 January 2001). "Seven years for brother in body parts case". www.telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  30. ^ "News in brief". www.telegraph.co.uk. 23 January 2001. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  31. ^ "Manslaughter admission by husband". www.telegraph.co.uk. 19 September 2000. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  32. ^ "BBC News | UK | Body found in murder hunt". BBC News. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  33. ^ "Our boy never got over his sister's murder". Liverpool Echo. 2001-12-05. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  34. ^ "Murdered wife's brother found hanged". www.telegraph.co.uk. 25 April 2001. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  35. ^ Bunyan, Nigel (5 December 2001). "Brother's suicide after murder". www.telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  36. ^ Echo, Liverpool (2013-05-03). "Wife killer Mitchell Quy's father Michael dies at home". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  37. ^ "Wife killer Mitchell Quy denied parole". ITV Granada. 23 March 2017.
  38. ^ Roberts-Haslam, Benjamin (2023-01-02). "Sadistic wife killer Mitchell Quy to stay locked up". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  39. ^ Lopez, Jamie (2018-12-18). "Evil killer who 'used drugs and bullied prisoners' in jail tries to win freedom". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  40. ^ Lopez, Jamie (2022-05-19). "Vile wife killer Mitchell Quy to stay in prison as third parole bid rejected". Lancs Live. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  41. ^ Roberts-Haslam, Benjamin; Heeds, Chantelle (2023-01-03). "Killer who strangled wife and scattered her body parts to remain in prison". Lancs Live. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  42. ^ "Killer Mitchell Quy to stay locked up". Dune Radio. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  43. ^ Duffy, Tom (2022-05-19). "Mitchell Quy to stay in prison over 'drug and violence' concerns". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  44. ^ Lally, Kate (2016-08-09). "Petition launched to keep killer Mitchell Quy behind bars". southportvisiter. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  45. ^ Lally, Kate (2021-06-19). "Evil killer will come 'back to Merseyside' for revenge dad fears". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  46. ^ Wellman, Alex (2017-01-06). "'Happy family' dad's chilling response when asked if he had murdered his wife". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 2025-09-25.

Further reading

  • A Murderer's Game: The Death of Lynsey Quy

See also

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