Malcolm French

Silhouette image via Wikimedia Commons

Malcolm French, a violent male transvestite, was convicted of murder at the Central Criminal Court in London in June 2002. He received the mandatory life sentence for murder and told he must serve 9 years (minus time on remand) before early release provisions apply to him.

In September 2001, French, 52, stabbed his ex-wife Deborah’s new partner Christopher Loftus in the throat, killing him. French then inflicted injuries on himself and tried to claim self defence, despite bringing the knife with him when he visited his ex-wife’s home on a pretext.

During the attack, French shouted: “I am going down for this anyway, I might as well make it a good job” and (referring to his ex-wife) he also said, “If I can’t have you, no-one else will”.

The French’s marriage had ended when Malcolm French told his wife his problems stemmed from his transvestism and that he had secretly dressed in stereotypically female clothing for 40 years.

In common with how many violent, murderous men are portrayed in court, the trial judge descried French as “an emotionally vulnerable man” adding “He was not a violent man, being described by witnesses as hard working and of good character.”

Media reports

Get Surrey http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/local-news/transvestive-trial-love-rivals-death-4857528 archive 

Her Majesty’s Court Service archive http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110218200720/http:/www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/cms/144_10085.htm

News Shopper http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/6322121.Transvestite_convicted_of_murder/?ref=arc archive