Maxwell Confait
Maxwell Confait
Maxwell Confait (full name Maxwell Thomas Berty Confait aka Michelle) was a trans 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 [1]. Re examination of the case in 1980 identified Douglas Franklin as a strong suspect, but he committed suicide before any prosecution [2].
Confait was born in the Seychelles on 20 December 1945. After a few years living in Kenya his mother took the family to England. He was known to his friends as Michelle. He had convictions for importuning and had served a five month sentence for importuning in 1971 [3]. Confait was buried on 2 August 1972 in Hither Green cemetery. His estate was valued at £2,205 [4].- ↑ Report of an inquiry into the circumstances leading to the trial of three persons on charges arising out of the death of Maxwell Confait and the fire at 27 Doggett Road, London SE6 (HMSO)(1977)
- ↑ https://lewishamheritage.blogspot.com/2018/08/the-maxwell-confait-murder.html
- ↑ Price, Christopher and Caplan, Jonathan; The Confait Confessions; 1977; Marion Boyars Publications, London {{ISBN 0-7145-2565-0)
- ↑ Probate London 26 September 1972
