Malcolm Webster – Life, Crimes and Where He Is Now

Malcolm Webster was a Scottish nurse who murdered his first wife and attempted to kill his second wife by staging car crashes. His case gained international attention through the Netflix series The Widower. Despite recent claims, he remains in prison serving a life sentence.

The story of Malcolm Webster spans more than three decades, involving two marriages, two staged car accidents, and a lengthy police investigation that crossed continents. He was convicted in 2011 following the longest single-accused trial in Scottish legal history.

Public interest in the case has resurfaced in recent years, partly due to television dramatisations and partly because of renewed claims from his legal team. What follows is a fact-based account of who Webster is, what he did, and where things stand now.

Who Is Malcolm Webster?

• Webster’s murder method was highly premeditated: he staged car crashes to collect life insurance payouts.
• He attempted the same method on a second wife, which ultimately led to his conviction.
• The case spans over 25 years, from the first murder in 1994 to the final appeal rejection in 2016.
• Interest in the case was reignited by the Netflix series The Widower and recent legal claims.
• The 2025 miscarriage of justice claim has not been upheld by any court or official body.
• Webster worked as a nurse, which gave him access to the sleeping medication used in the crimes.

How Did Malcolm Webster Murder His Wife and Attempt Another?

Malcolm Webster married Claire Morris in September 1993 at the University of Aberdeen. Less than a year later, on 28 May 1994, she died in a single-car fire in Aberdeenshire. Webster had drugged her with sleeping pills and set the vehicle ablaze while she was unconscious. The death was initially ruled an accident.

After Claire’s death, Webster collected significant life insurance payouts. He then moved to Saudi Arabia, where he met Felicity Drumm in 1996. They married in New Zealand in April 1997. On 12 February 1999, Webster staged another car crash near Auckland, this time drugging Drumm and driving the car into a ditch. She survived.

What Was Webster’s Motive?

The driving force behind both attacks was financial gain. Webster insured his first wife for a substantial sum shortly before her death and stood to inherit. The attempt on Felicity Drumm’s life was also linked to life insurance policies. Prosecutors argued that Webster saw his wives as assets to be liquidated.

What Happened to Simone Banerjee?

In December 2005, while still married to Drumm, Webster began a relationship with Simone Banerjee in Oban, Scotland. He did not attempt to kill her, but the relationship was part of a pattern of deception. Banerjee later testified at his trial, providing crucial evidence about his behaviour and financial manipulations.

When Did the Crimes Occur and How Was He Caught?

The first crime took place in 1994, but it took over a decade for the full picture to emerge. The investigation was reopened in 2008 after New Zealand police shared details of the 1999 crash with Scottish authorities. The similarity between the two incidents was too striking to ignore.

The Investigation

Police in Scotland and New Zealand worked together to build a case. They uncovered evidence that Webster had purchased life insurance policies on both wives shortly before the crashes. They also found that he had been researching sedatives and car crash fatalities. In February 2009, he was formally charged with murder and attempted murder.

The Trial

Webster’s trial began on 1 February 2011 at the High Court in Glasgow. It became the longest single-accused trial in Scottish history. On 20 May 2011, the jury found him guilty of murder, attempted murder, arson, fraud, theft, drugging, and attempted bigamy. He was sentenced on 5 July 2011 to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 30 years.

Where Is Malcolm Webster Now and What Happened to His Appeal?

Malcolm Webster is currently incarcerated in a Scottish prison. He remains there under a life sentence with no release date. Despite periodic claims from his legal team, his conviction has not been overturned.

The Appeal Attempts

Webster appealed his conviction in 2013, arguing a miscarriage of justice. In December 2013, the appeal court quashed two minor fire raising charges but upheld the murder and attempted murder convictions. He dropped a second appeal attempt in March 2014.

In February 2016, the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission formally rejected his request to review the case, stating it had not been referred to the High Court. This effectively closed the door on further innocence appeals based on the grounds he presented.

The 2025 Claims

In recent months, some media outlets and online discussions have referenced a new miscarriage of justice claim from Webster’s legal team. As of 2025, no official court ruling or SCCRC referral has been made public. The claim remains unsubstantiated and has not altered his legal status.

How Accurate Is The Widower Compared to the True Story?

The ITV and Netflix series The Widower dramatises Webster’s crimes. While the show is based on real events, it takes creative liberties for storytelling purposes. The core facts—the staged car crashes, the use of sleeping pills, the financial motive—are accurate.

The series does not portray every detail of the investigation or trial. Some characters are composites, and timelines are compressed. For a fully accurate account, court records and news reports from the time remain the best sources.

When Did the Key Events in the Webster Case Unfold?

1. 1994 – Claire Webster dies in a single-car crash in Aberdeenshire. Initially ruled an accident.
2. 1999 – Second wife, Felicity Drumm, survives a staged car crash in Auckland, New Zealand.
3. 2008 – Police reopen the investigation into Claire’s death after the New Zealand incident emerges.
4. 2009 – Webster is charged with murder and attempted murder.
5. 2011 – Convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 30 years.
6. 2013 – Appeal court upholds the murder and attempted murder convictions; two minor charges quashed.
7. 2016 – Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission rejects review request.

What Is Certain and What Remains Unclear About the Webster Case?

What Does the Webster Case Reveal About Financial Motivation and Premeditation?

The Webster case is a textbook example of financially motivated murder. He insured his first wife shortly before her death and stood to inherit a significant sum. The attempt on Felicity Drumm’s life was similarly tied to insurance policies. The repetition of the same method across two countries underscores the premeditated nature of his actions.

Webster’s nursing background was instrumental. He had access to zopiclone, a sedative that he used to incapacitate both women before staging the crashes. The fact that he used the same method twice is what eventually connected the cases and led to his conviction.

The case also illustrates how long it can take for justice to catch up with a determined offender. The first murder occurred in 1994, but it was not until 2008 that the full picture emerged. The investigation required international cooperation between Scottish and New Zealand authorities.

Where Can You Find Reliable Information About the Malcolm Webster Case?

“Malcolm Webster is a Scottish-English convicted murderer currently incarcerated in the UK serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 30 years.”

— Wikipedia entry for Malcolm Webster

“Webster’s crimes spanned over a decade and involved staging car crashes to murder wives for life insurance money.”

— The Telegraph

“The Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission formally concluded its review in February 2016, stating the case had not been referred to the High Court.”

— Daily Record

For official records, the Scottish Courts and Tribunals website and the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission are the most authoritative sources. News reporting from BBC Scotland and reputable outlets such as the Daily Record and The Telegraph provides verified coverage of the trial and appeals. For more in-depth profiles of notorious criminals, you can read about Ronnie Biggs – The Great Train Robbery and Life on the Run.

What Is the Bottom Line on Malcolm Webster?

Malcolm Webster is a convicted murderer who killed his first wife and attempted to kill his second wife for financial gain. He is currently serving a life sentence in a Scottish prison. His attempts to overturn the conviction were rejected in 2013 and 2016, and no successful appeal has been recorded in 2025. The case remains a stark example of premeditated, financially motivated murder.

For more on related cases, you can read about Stephen Bear in 2025 – Life After Prison and Boxing Plans.

Frequently Asked Questions About Malcolm Webster