Maxwell Confait

Maxwell Confait

Maxwell Confait was a transvestite gay prostitute who was found dead in a burning house in Catford, London in April 1972. Three local youths were convicted of murdering Confait and setting fire to the house. However they were subsequently acquitted and the Home Secretary set up an enquiry under the chairmanship of Sir Henry Fisher to examine what happened in the case. Findings from the Fisher Enquiry were to have far reaching consequences, bringing changes to the way police dealt with suspects, and in particular youths and those whose mentally ability was in doubt. Confait was born in the Seychelles in 1945. He was known to his friends as Michelle. He had convictions for importuning and had served a five month sentence for importuning in 1971 .