'Monstrous' double killer launches appeal against Sunderland murder conviction

A “monstrous” double killer has launched an appeal against his latest murder conviction.
By Gavin Ledwith
Published 22nd Jan 2020, 06:00 BST
Updated 22nd Jan 2020, 08:32 BST
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William McFall was one of two men jailed for life after they were found guilty by a jury of torturing and setting fire to a young mum on the edge of Sunderland.

The remains of Quyen Ngoc Nguyen could only be identified through dental records after they were discovered inside her torched Audi A4 in Success Lane, Shiney Row, in August 2017.

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McFall, then 51, and Stephen Unwin, 40, of St Oswald’s Terrace, Houghton, blamed each other when they stood trial together at Newcastle Crown Court in March 2018.

William McFall, left, was one of two men convicted of murdering Quyen Ngoc Nguyen, right, whose charred remains were found inside her car in Shiney Row, centre.William McFall, left, was one of two men convicted of murdering Quyen Ngoc Nguyen, right, whose charred remains were found inside her car in Shiney Row, centre.
William McFall, left, was one of two men convicted of murdering Quyen Ngoc Nguyen, right, whose charred remains were found inside her car in Shiney Row, centre.

But the jury took just four hours to convict the pair of murder after learning of their "violent, warped sexual fantasy and greed".

McFall, of Waterloo Road, Blackpool, was branded “an extremely violent man, capable of monstrous behaviour” by trial judge Mr Justice Morris.

As he was led away, he swore at the judge and shouted “I will appeal this”.

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McFall is now bidding to have this second conviction overturned at London’s Court of Appeal on Friday, January 31.

Murder victim Quyen Ngoc Nguyen.Murder victim Quyen Ngoc Nguyen.
Murder victim Quyen Ngoc Nguyen.

He was originally jailed for murder in 1997 after he admitted striking 86-year-old Martha Gilmore with a hammer at Station Road, Greencastle, Northern Ireland, in 1996.

Transferred to the United Kingdom mainland amid concerns that he was a target for other inmates, he met fellow killer Unwin.

Unwin was also serving a life sentence after admitting murdering 73-year-old Jack Greenwell by stabbing the cancer sufferer and setting fire to his Houghton home on Christmas Day 1998.

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The killers kept in touch after they were released and began working as handymen together.

Murderers Stephen Unwin, left, and William McFall.Murderers Stephen Unwin, left, and William McFall.
Murderers Stephen Unwin, left, and William McFall.

They then lured Miss Nguyen to Unwin’s home on the pretence of discussing maintenance work at properties she rented out before stealing her bank cards and launching their four-hour attack.

Justice Morris told them: “You have both murdered before. On this occasion you did so in a cold-blooded and callous manner, having deliberately lulled your victim into a trap.

“She suffered an unimaginable ordeal.”

Unwin also received an additional life sentence after he was convicted to raping 28-year-old Miss Nguyen, from Killingworth, near Newcastle. McFall was cleared of a similar charge.