Christopher McGowan | World's Most Evil Killers | Forensic Files

[audio logo] narrator: In the early hours of a cold autumn morning in 2021, the neighbors of young mother Claire Inglis
were awoken by her boyfriend. - He was shouting, saying she's fallen down the stairs,
she's fallen down the stairs. Help me. I need help. narrator: The good Samaritans found Claire
almost lifeless in her home. - The neighbors rush in, and they find Claire's partially
clothed body in the bedroom. She's obviously incredibly injured. narrator: Claire's parents were also
woken that morning to learn of an unfolding nightmare. Ian Inglis: I shouted at the first policeman
I seen at the top of the stairs, is she alive? He said, she was five minutes ago.
narrator: Claire's boyfriend was 26-year-old Christopher McGowan and his version
of events just didn't add up. - Falling down the stairs does not result in all of your injuries being
concentrated on your skull. It doesn't result in signs of strangulation. narrator: Christopher McGowan was lying,
and he would eventually be exposed as one of the world's most evil killers. [theme music]
♪ ♪ Despite a notorious and well-known history of criminality, in November 2021,
Christopher McGowan was released from prison and placed in the home of his girlfriend,
28-year-old Claire Engels. Howard Groves: She lives on her own. She's vulnerable. She has a young child.
McGowan, he was known to be taking drink and drugs. He's got convictions for domestic violence.
narrator: 26-year-old McGowan had convinced a Scottish court that the relationship would help
him change for the better. - I'm am absolutely astonished that this man was bailed
to this young woman's address. They'd only been in a relationship for a number of weeks, and this has got domestic abuse
written all over it. narrator: In the aftermath of her murder, Claire's family were left wondering
why a violent thug was bailed to their daughter's home. - It was just a horrible thought to think,
if things had maybe been done right, she would still be here. And that's hard to accept.
We just don't want another family going through even an ounce of what we've gone through.
narrator: This killer's story begins in the small city of Stirling in Central Scotland.
Christopher McGowan was born on the 18th of May, 1995. - I don't think he was maybe given the best chance in life.
Jane Monckton-Smith: He started offending really young. He had his first conviction at age 14.
And he would commit any kind of crime. Somebody who you might describe as absolutely lawless.
Sarah McMullan: There are three assaults, one incident of carrying a knife, one incident of dealing heroin.
There is also a conviction which is a breach of the peace with a domestic aggravation.
So quite a lengthy and varied criminal history. narrator: In 2011, 16-year-old McGowan started
dating a 14-year-old girl. They would eventually move in together. But it was a far from happy home.
McGowan's girlfriend twice reported him to the police for assault. - McGowan had quite a few convictions, one of which
was a domestic assault on his girlfriend. And we also know that an allegation had been made that he had actually kicked his girlfriend
on another occasion. But the police decided that there was insufficient evidence at that time for him
to be charged. narrator: Despite all this, the couple had a child together. But fatherhood did nothing to stop
McGowan's destructive behavior. Jane Monckton-Smith: So McGowan is misusing Valium, misusing alcohol,
drinking excessive amounts. narrator: McGowan's unstable behavior led to him receiving 39 convictions
for a wide range of offenses. Jane Monckton-Smith: We have domestic assaults, robbery,
attacking strangers for money, but also attacking a police officer with a knife.
So this guy does not care. He uses violence like his first language. Sarah McMullan: He was known locally as "Kicky" McGowan.
That was his nickname. He had a reputation in the town as someone who would cause
bother, cause disruption. narrator: Just a few streets away from Christopher McGowan
lived Claire Inglis, who was also born and bred in Stirling. - She was just such a good toddler.
She was a girly girl. She was always singing, dancing. And she just loved her granny and granddad.
And then Emma came along, and she was just a brilliant wee sister. She just, you know-- she just loved her.
- From everyone that I've spoke to during my time covering this case, they've all described Claire as fun
and bubbly. They said, you know, she didn't have a bad bone in her body. She would do anything for anyone.
- She went off to study childminding at university. To all intents and purposes, a wonderful young woman.
narrator: Claire had been in a loving relationship. And in 2014, when she was 20, she'd
given birth to a baby son. Ian Inglis: Claire's life was basically for Robbie when Robbie arrived.
Fiona Inglis: Oh, it was the making it. It really was. And everybody you speak to in Stirling,
she had him immaculate. She just-- her whole life was mapped around Robbie. narrator: But in 2017, tragedy struck the young family.
Sarah McMullan: When Claire's son was quite small, his dad passed away in some kind of road traffic accident.
[somber music] narrator: Claire and Robbie were left alone and had to make a new life for themselves,
with help from Claire's parents. - Basically, it was the three of us. I was, you know, like her best friend.
So she'd be down for a tea, maybe Tuesday, Thursday. Then Ian would come in on Friday.
I would get him sorted for the weekend, and I'd go up there and come back down on Sunday night.
She'd be going to her bed, and I'd be, right, I'm way down the road. narrator: Claire also had the support
of her friends, one of whom had just had a second child with her partner, Christopher McGowan.
Fiona Inglis: She went, they've had a wee baby. And I've got a parcel coming, and I'm going to go over.
This beautiful wee suit came, the wee sleep suit, the beautiful bag, and the card,
and away she went. So she came back and she went, oh, she says, I don't know why she's with him.
He's so bad, I tell you. She could do a lot better. So that was the very first of him ever getting
mentioned in Claire's life. narrator: Despite his growing family, McGowan's run-ins with the law were far from over.
In 2019, he was in trouble yet again. - McGowan is involved in a dangerous driving incident
where police are chasing him. narrator: McGowan was charged and bailed. Early in 2020, he was arrested for
a violent, unprovoked attack. - He had assaulted and beat up a man and stole his wallet.
narrator: Once again, McGowan was bailed. By August 2021, McGowan's relationship
with his former partner was over and he had his eye on someone new. - Claire encounters Christopher McGowan
in the street in Stirling in Scotland, where they live, and he yells at her across the street.
Fiona Inglis: She went, I was coming up the road with Robbie from the school and Christopher McGowan shouted on me.
narrator: McGowan had been involved in an incident that had resulted in him being injured.
Fiona Inglis: Chris has-- oh, he's done something on his leg. So he had this leg all strapped up.
And then she says, I was just mortified in front of Robbie. I couldn't wait to get away from him.
He's just a bad one. - And that's because she was familiar with who he was and some of the things that he'd done.
narrator: Claire and her mum spoke almost every day. And soon Fiona received a phone call
that she would never forget. Fiona Inglis: She went, I've actually got something to tell you. I'm in a relationship now.
So I'm saying, who? And she went, Christopher McGowan. And then I went, Kicky McGowan?
And she went, yeah. And I went, oh, be quiet. The way Claire was, she had a wicked sense of humor.
We both did. And then she went, Mum, I'm serious. I swear, in Robbie's life, I'm in a relationship.
And Ian just said, that's it then. That's it. Just hang up the phone. If that's who she wants as a father figure for Robbie,
that's it. narrator: Claire's parents were horrified their daughter was dating a man with such
a violent criminal history. Fiona Inglis: It was just devastating. Absolutely devastating.
Jane Monckton-Smith: She couldn't understand how that happened so quickly, but I think that McGowan had spotted
Claire, targeted Claire. - She was not the type of person that you'd have thought that would
have wanted to have been in a relationship with McGowan. They were chalk and cheese.
narrator: Fiona and Ian's concerns were valid, but they had no idea the relationship would
have such a tragic outcome. In just a few months, Claire Inglis would be lying on the floor of her own home,
fighting for her life. [tense music] narrator: By the late summer of 2021, 28-year-old Claire Inglis had begun a relationship
with serial offender Christopher McGowan in Stirling, Scotland. In early September, he was recalled to jail for breaching
his bail conditions. Despite this, Claire remained loyal to her new partner. [ominous music]
♪ ♪ Geoffrey Wansell: Claire's devotion to Christopher McGowan was so great that she visited him in jail.
narrator: On the 19th of September, 26-year-old McGowan was back in court and pled guilty to a 2019
dangerous driving charge, as well as a breach of bail conditions. With sentencing deferred for a month,
McGowan used Claire as an excuse to get himself released from jail. - He's got this relationship, very, very new relationship
with Claire, but he's already using that, leveraging that to say, look, I've got somewhere to go.
Fiona Inglis: She had a huge heart, and I think she thought she could change him.
I'll bring him in. He's homeless, and I'll make him part of my wee family. She was just looking for love.
narrator: McGowan's lawyer told the court he was motivated to reduce his drinking and drug taking.
- They said that McGowan was likely to become a reformed character, not wanting to take drugs and Valium because he
was in a stable relationship with Claire. But the reality of things is they don't normally work like that.
Everything that he's done since he was 14 till he was 28, 14 years, is she really
going to be the person that we can say is going to change his character the way he lived his life?
Highly unlikely. narrator: No arguments were put forward to oppose his release,
and McGowan was bailed to Claire's address. The couple had been in a relationship
for barely a month. - What on Earth were they thinking when they bailed him to that address with a young, vulnerable mum
with a young child, this seasoned career criminal with a violent past? narrator: She may not have known it,
but Claire was sharing her home with a ticking time bomb. Christopher McGowan was a violent man
trying to kick a drug habit. - When a person who is dependent on two substances promises to stay away from these substances,
the body would have gone into a severe withdrawal syndrome. We would have experienced agitation, anxiety,
hallucinations, paranoia. Nobody around him would be safe. narrator: There were growing signs that Claire had
entered a toxic partnership. Jane Monckton-Smith: The relationship with McGowan and
Claire started way too quickly, and this is a key predictor of coercive control.
Her friends also said around this time was that whenever she was with him, she changed.
She was quieter. She was more withdrawn. She was less bubbly. Geoffrey Wansell: She is buying him presents she can't afford.
She's running up debts that she also can't afford. Anything to keep him happy. - There were occasions when she would message her mum
and ask for money. And the thing that her mother found strange was the nature of the language used.
- When Fiona would text her, it would be McGowan texting back because he couldn't spell.
And Fiona would go, that's not Claire texting me back. - McGowan had gone in there like a vulture asset
stripping absolutely everything that Claire had. She was trapped at this point. She can't throw him out now.
And that's what he would have been looking for all along. narrator: Fiona's anxieties escalated
when she picked Robbie up from his boxing class. Claire had always kept her son looking smart.
Fiona Inglis: He had a wee vest top on. He had a pair of joggers that were filthy
and a pair of Welly boots, a pair of Wellington boots. And I said, where's all your--
your gym stuff? You know, Nana's taking you boxing. He says, Mummy says they're all in the wash.
narrator: Fiona pretended that the class had been canceled. Fiona Inglis: There's no way in this Earth
that I was taking him down to the boxing dressed the way he was. Absolutely appalling, absolutely appalling,
I could agree. narrator: This wasn't the only time Fiona noticed a decline in how Claire cared for Robbie.
Fiona Inglis: Any time he was coming down to us, she would always have his bag. And everything was all ironed and smelling lovely and his wee
teddy bear and everything. McGowan moved in, it was a carrier bag and the stuff was stinking as smoke.
Jane Monckton-Smith: What you want to do as a parent in this situation is to get on your white horse, be a hero,
run in, rescue the daughter, and take them home with you. The parents are left in a position where they've
actually got to be using covert tactics and playing the long game. - And we really thought us drawing
back for Claire would have been enough for her to think, oh, this is bad. And we really did think we'd get through to her that way.
narrator: But Claire became even more committed to her relationship. Geoffrey Wansell: By the beginning of October 2021,
Claire announced on Facebook she was in a relationship and it was with Christopher McGowan.
narrator: McGowan, on bail at Claire's flat, received his sentence for the high-speed police chase.
Howard Groves: He received a community payback order and a curfew that he should remain indoors
between 9:00 PM and 7:00 AM. And we know that on the 25th, social services actually attended the address
to carry out their inquiries. Sarah McMullan: We don't know if that visit was to speak to Claire or to speak to Christopher McGowan,
but they were acting on concerns that had been raised to them. narrator: There was no answer.
Claire continued asking her mum for money. It was always a request for 25 pounds.
- I found out this 25 pounds that she was always asking for, that is what a bag of Valium costs.
So she's obviously been getting the money from me, and that's when I stopped it.
narrator: Fiona drove to Claire's flat to confront her. Fiona Inglis: She came down to the car.
And of course, I'm shouting at her and saying, this has got to stop. Stop phoning me for money.
And then she's going, it's OK, Mum. Honestly, I swear I'll never ask for money again.
And she went, I love you. And I'm saying, I love you too. narrator: Claire walked back to her flat.
Fiona Inglis: And then she just turned and said, keep your money! I'm not interested in blah blah!
When I looked up at the flat, he's at the window. And I thought, that's for his benefit.
And this was the turning point where we knew she was being coerced. narrator: Fiona had no idea that this
would be the last time she would see her daughter alive. The following day, the 27th of November,
while Robbie had a sleepover with his grandparents, McGowan and Claire went for a night out in Stirling.
Sarah McMullan: Claire and McGowan had been out in town and having a few drinks.
McGowan was breaching the terms of his curfew and his bail conditions by being in different parts of Stirling
and being out past a certain time. narrator: They decided to take a taxi from the town center
back to Claire's flat. Howard Groves: At about 9 o'clock, a cab picks up McGowan and Claire.
Fiona Inglis: McGowan was in front with the taxi driver and Claire was in the back.
And the taxi driver was able to see the way he was talking to her in front of him
was quite disturbing. Jane Monckton-Smith: He was being awful to her, threatening and abusive.
- He was turning round and swearing at her. Howard Groves: And shouting at her. He's telling her, get me the alcohol.
She then goes to a local shop. At about 10 o'clock, she goes in, she purchases items which, to all intents and purposes,
are items that McGowan wants. And the CCTV shows her leaving the shop. They then go back to the home address.
narrator: These CCTV images are the last recorded images of Claire Inglis. Once inside Claire's flat, the young woman
was alone with her drunk, abusive boyfriend. - It's about 5 o'clock that morning
when a neighbor finds that there is McGowan knocking on the door. And he basically says, I think I've killed Claire.
- Two neighbors then ran with him across the street. He was shouting, saying she's fallen down the stairs,
she's fallen down the stairs. Help me. I need help. And when they eventually got into the house
and ran up the stairs, they found her in her bedroom, partially clothed and totally beaten.
- We see a collection of bruises. We see bleeding. We see injuries consistent with being
stricken with blunt force. And we see a lot of accumulated blood. We also see black eyes.
And we see petechial hemorrhages inside the eyes, which are very consistent with strangulation.
narrator: The bloody scene and her injuries didn't seem to match up with McGowan's story
that Claire had fallen down the stairs. And when the emergency services arrived,
he told them that Claire had taken an overdose. Sarah McMullan: One of the neighbors
then runs outside to confront him. Because he doesn't believe what he's told them,
and that she's fallen down the stairs, firstly, because she is up the stairs and
secondly, because she is so badly beaten. And the two of them then got into an altercation
outside the property while the other neighbor was trying to perform CPR. narrator: Back inside the house,
Claire was not breathing. As paramedics fought to save her life, they would soon discover that nothing about her condition
was accidental. It was becoming more and more obvious that Claire Inglis had been violently attacked.
[tense music] narrator: In the early hours of the 28th of November 2021, Claire Inglis' parents heard the first reports that
something had happened to their daughter, 5 miles away in Stirling. - At 10 past 5:00 in the morning,
I got awakened out of sleep. And it was the knock on the door. narrator: It was one of Claire's neighbors.
- She just came to the door and just said, look, you need to get up the road. And I said, why?
And she said, we think Claire's been murdered. narrator: Claire's young son, Robbie,
was staying with his grandparents at the time. - Put Robbie through a close neighbor next door.
I made sure he was safe. And we just said, look, Mum's poorly, we're just going up to see what's wrong.
narrator: Fiona and Ian's first thoughts went to Christopher McGowan, the boyfriend they
suspected of abusing Claire. Ian Inglis: We thought actually, it was going to be a good thing.
Thought he slapped her. She'll now know how bad he is. She'll come back to the family.
Everything will be fine. narrator: But as they approached Claire's flat, it became clear things were far more serious.
Ian Inglis: I jumped out the car, shouted at the first policeman I seen at the top
of the stairs, is she alive? He said she was five minutes ago. narrator: In fact, Claire's injuries were critical
and paramedics were battling to save her life. As they checked her airways, they discovered an obstruction.
Howard Groves: There was a wet wipe that was forced down Claire's throat, which meant that when the medical team were trying to render
assistance to her, they couldn't get the breathing apparatus in. - She was warm to the touch, so her heart
hadn't been stopped for long. narrator: As Christopher McGowan was led away from the scene, Ian and Fiona came
face to face with their dying daughter's toxic boyfriend. - Then they brought him out, and he walks towards me.
Fiona Inglis: Then getting taken away in the police car. And then we still had to sit for another 20 minutes.
As soon as the paramedic came out the flight and she was heading down to the car, we just knew it.
narrator: Watching the ambulance staff leave, the Inglis realized the fight for their daughter's life
was over. - Sadly, at 5:41 that morning, Claire Inglis is declared dead. - And I said to the policeman, I want to see my daughter.
I'm going up to see my daughter. He just went down on his knees and just went, it's cruel to be kind, but I'm not
letting you go up and see her. And that's it. I can't let you up and see it. narrator: Despite his claims that it was a tragic accident,
McGowan was arrested on suspicion of Claire's murder. Investigators began to gather forensic evidence
from the scene and the suspect. - Prior to the interview, the officers made him aware that they were going to be taking swabs.
Nikolas Lemos: Did he punch her? Did he touch her? Did he scrape her? Evidence from his hands need to be collected
so that we determine whether DNA was transferred between him and Claire. McGowan is well aware of the possibility of this transfer
of DNA, so he uses the blanket he has near him to wipe his hands, to try hard to remove any evidence of Claire on his body.
narrator: When questioned, McGowan had little to say about how Claire had come
by her devastating injuries. - During interview, he said he was only trying to save his girlfriend's life.
narrator: But as further witness statements were collected, they showed the variety
of different explanations McGowan had given to neighbors and paramedics. Geoffrey Wansell: He started saying,
oh, she'd fallen down stairs. Oh, she took an overdose of Valium. Nikolas Lemos: Falling down the stairs can be lethal.
However, it does not result in all of your injuries being concentrated on your skull or most of them.
You would have superficial bruises all over your body as you roll down the stairs.
And you will also have bleeding throughout your body. It doesn't resolve in signs of strangulation
and obviously not involving a wet tissue being shoved down your throat. This is a scenario that makes absolutely no scientific sense.
narrator: There were also signs of an extreme and violent struggle. Nikolas Lemos: Her acrylic nails
were found scattered around her body, and this suggests to me that Claire fought for her life
until the very end. narrator: At one point, McGowan claimed that he couldn't remember what had happened.
Howard Groves: The question I'd asked myself, which one is it? If you can't remember what happened,
then why have you given those other three, four accounts as to why she may have died?
It just didn't make sense. narrator: Detectives didn't believe Christopher McGowan's lies and promptly charged
him with Claire's murder. On the 30th of November, McGowan appeared at Falkirk Sheriff Court where he entered no plea
and was remanded in custody. In the meantime, Fiona and Ian had to break the news to Claire's seven-year-old son, Robbie.
Fiona Inglis: We just sat him down, and I just said, we've got really bad news. I said, Mum, didn't make it.
She died at the hospital. She's passed away. And then he went away up the room, slammed the door,
and he just broke his heart. narrator: With no straight answers from McGowan, detectives returned to the crime scene
to build a picture of what may have happened to Claire that night. - Looking at the flat, there was a lot of damage
that happened that night. - There was blood that was found on the ceilings, on the walls.
Geoffrey Wansell: There was blood on the fridge. There was blood on the skirting boards.
There was blood in the living room. - But there was also historical damage there.
Nikolas Lemos: There were some puncture holes on the walls, as well as dents on the refrigerator of the apartment,
of the flat. It's really important to understand this don't happen in normal life.
These are signs of aggression and violence. Sarah McMullan: There were cigarettes
stamped out in the carpet, and it was untidy and unkempt. But from speaking to Claire's parents and her friends,
she was very house-proud, kept her house and her and her son very clean, neat and tidy.
narrator: The next step in the investigation was a post-mortem which detailed the horrific injuries Claire had suffered
just before her death. - Claire had received 76 individual injuries, which would imply that it was a sustained and prolonged attack.
- There was practically no part of her body that was uninjured. Nikolas Lemos: The pathologist also
notes burn marks at her fingertips, on her nose, her ears. This is a person who's laying there
being tortured by her killer, being burned, as if somebody's saying, you see, you've deserved this.
- She had small marks on the outer of her skin and different parts of her body, which they thought
might have been caused by a screwdriver or something similar. Nikolas Lemos: We have a severity and
a number of injuries that suggest that our killer was really determined to make sure that Claire
does not walk away alive. It doesn't take 76 separate injuries to kill a person who is smaller,
shorter, and weaker than you. This killer was on a mission. narrator: While Ian and Fiona Inglis
tried to comprehend the loss of their daughter, investigators prepared their case
against Christopher McGowan. It would be two long years before he would be in the dock,
and no guarantee he'd be found guilty. [tense music] narrator: In the early autumn of 2023,
28-year-old Christopher McGowan's trial for the murder of his girlfriend, Claire Inglis, began
at the high court in Stirling. Sarah McMullan: The trial started on the 20th of September, and it had been an almost two-year
lead-up to the trial date. narrator: It was the first time the Inglis had seen Christopher McGowan since the night
of their daughter's murder. - I always want to jump that glass, and he's just sat in there.
And he did not once show any remorse. Geoffrey Wansell: McGowan, ever brazen, actually wore a designer watch that Claire
had given him in the dock. narrator: The prosecution called on the neighbors who tried to save Claire's life that night,
as well as the taxi driver who'd heard a drunk McGowan abuse and degrade her. Sarah McMullan: The character witnesses
who were called up to give evidence on how people had heard McGowan treat Claire
in day-to-day life, how he spoke to her. narrator: Evidence was offered to prove that McGowan was
financially coercing Claire. Howard Groves: He pawned the PlayStation that her son had,
as well as a watch that she was given as a 21st birthday present. Ian Inglis: We found out all the invoices that--
all boy stuff, you know, designer shoes, designer trousers, everything. narrator: A major part of the prosecution's case
against McGowan were the post-mortem results, which came as a shock to Claire's mother and father.
- Fiona and Ian Inglis didn't really know the full extent of what had happened to Claire prior
to going into trial, really. They had just been told it was head trauma. narrator: Fiona was undergoing chemotherapy during the trial,
and she was at home when evidence of Claire's injuries was presented. Fiona Inglis: My friend Maggie contacted me,
and she said, my heart bleeds for you. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. And I'm thinking, what?
And then I says, oh, I'm at home, Maggie. And she went, oh, well, don't click on the link.
narrator: Fiona's friend had sent her a link to a news article. Fiona Inglis: And then when I clicked on the link,
and of course, the front page was going to be Claire Inglis tortured and 76 injuries.
I went into a panic attack, and then Robbie said, what's wrong, Nana? And I went into the kitchen and I was physically sick
because that was the first day me knowing how bad it had been for her. To know how callous, how sadistic he's been,
and the things he's done to her, and nobody deserves it. I'm not saying anybody deserves to be,
but Claire certainly never. - Imagine her pain and fighting she was up doing when
she was fighting for her life. narrator: Not long into the trial, McGowan did something that almost caused
proceedings to collapse. Geoffrey Wansell: On the third day of the trial, he turns up intoxicated.
He isn't even prepared to take the trial seriously. - He came staggering in the door.
And I kind of looked, and I thought, he looks like he's drunk. narrator: McGowan had allegedly taken
at least double the amount of anxiety medication provided by Barlinnie Prison, but also may have accessed
drugs illegally whilst behind bars. Howard Groves: The case was adjourned for that day.
He could have said, well, I wasn't in any fit state and I didn't understand what was
being said during the trial. And that would have been even worse. He probably could have gotten off.
Ian Inglis: When they were taking him out, and that's when he turned and he went aha-ha right up to Ian
and I's faces. narrator: Once the prosecution had made its case, it was the defense's turn to present evidence.
They did not deny McGowan had played some part in the injuries Claire had sustained.
Nikolas Lemos: McGowan, at the time of the trial, offered a defense of self-defense.
Therefore, we had to assume that a smaller, more petite person, Claire, was attacking him,
and he felt threatened enough to have to defend himself by killing her. He has no defense injuries whatsoever
that would suggest that Claire tried to even attack him. narrator: But ahead of closing speeches,
the defense dropped the theory of self-defense and instead focused on McGowan's state of mind.
- McGowan decides that he is going to put forward a scenario as to why he turned to drink and drugs.
- I had to resort to alcohol and drugs to cope with the abuse in my childhood. - He's trying to say, again, none of this is my fault.
narrator: After a week-long trial, it took the jury just two hours to find Christopher McGowan guilty of murdering Claire Inglis.
Geoffrey Wansell: I shudder to imagine what Claire's last minutes were like. It was beyond sadistic.
McGowan has shown not a flutter of emotion, not a hint of distress, not a shadow of remorse.
It is a truly horrifying story. Howard Groves: On the 25th of October 2023, McGowan was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum
term of 23 years imprisonment. Fiona Inglis: He actually shuddered. He actually shook and shuddered.
And I thought, good, it's actually hitting you now that you're going away for a long time.
narrator: With no admission of guilt from McGowan, Claire's parents have been left wondering
why he killed their daughter in such a brutal and relentless attack. - I do honestly believe that Claire
was going to fling him out and this is why he's reacting. Jane Monckton-Smith: Looking at Christopher McGowan in a whole,
an early career criminal who uses violence like it's punctuation. He then kills somebody.
He then tries to blame that person. He's not going to improve in prison. He is going to get worse in prison.
Fiona Inglis: I don't think he's going to come out reformed. He's going to be in there until he dies.
That's what we're hoping. And hopefully, it'll be sooner rather than later. narrator: A vicious man had been removed from the streets.
But for Claire's family, many questions are still unanswered. - Claire's family have been seeking an independent review
into the circumstances as to how McGowan was allowed to be living at Claire's address.
Sarah McMullan: Claire's case raises a lot of questions. There are questions about how different
public systems communicate with one another. There are questions around people with lengthy criminal histories being released on bail.
There's a whole host of questions they feel need to be answered. Ian Inglis: And all I'm wanting is an independent inquiry
to find out. Because I've got everything back from the social and it doesn't sit with me right.
narrator: Four months after the trial, it was revealed that social services had raised a concern
that McGowan was living with Claire six weeks before her murder. - From my perspective as an SIO or even as a dad,
put it as simple as that, I would be frustrated that the powers that be had an opportunity to do a effective risk assessment as
to whether or not an individual should be remaining with someone else who is vulnerable.
And everything was there for them to see that that was not the right decision to be made.
Fiona Inglis: We just don't want another family going through even an ounce of what we've gone through.
If I think I could even just save one woman for going through-- or man for going through what we
have gone through, it's just-- it would make it all worthwhile. Sarah McMullan: The main reform that they're
calling for is for a review of bail conditions, and for anyone with any, sort of, violence conviction
to not be placed in the home of a child or a vulnerable person. They're also in favor of a domestic abuse register.
So anyone who has any kind of domestic conviction would go on a domestic abuse register.
narrator: As they continue their campaign for justice, Ian and Fiona still wish they could have done more to prevent
Claire's tragic murder. Ian Inglis: It's hard to accept, as well, getting told that I did the exact thing
that he wanted. He wanted to break the family away from-- - He did. - So he could just get her to herself.
And if I had did the opposite and just went in the house and just grabbed him, flung him out the house,
it could have been a totally different scenario. But I thought I was doing the right thing.
Fiona Inglis: I've got a memorial bench in Riverside for her as well, facing up to the Wallace Monument
because we had picnics there. So I just felt it was quite fitting, you know, have it in Riverside that you can sit in the bench.
And it's got the cherry blossom and each side is beautiful. So I go down-- we can go down there
and get a wee bit of a release just thinking she's at peace. narrator: The love with which Claire's family remember
her is in stark contrast to the impression left by her murderer. Nikolas Lemos: It takes a special kind of person,
distorted personality, deranged person to deliver such a sustainable, continuous, torturous attack
to a smaller person whose last few weeks and months in life were to help you. This person is a vicious, determined, evil killer.
narrator: A violent repeat offender who was no stranger to the courts or the prison system.
McGowan's final horrific act of violence against Claire Inglis revealed his true sadistic nature.
He took the life of an innocent mother and left her young child an orphan. There is no doubt that Christopher McGowan
is one of the world's most evil killers. [surging music] ♪ ♪ [audio logo]

When Claire began dating Christopher, she was unaware of his violent record. When he moved into her home under bail conditions, she became trapped in a dangerous cycle of control and fear that ended in tragedy.

An in-depth look at the lives and crimes of some of the world's most evil killers, including Jeffrey Dahmer, Richard Ramirez, Cary Stayner, Leonard Lake, Dorothea Puente and more.

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Brief Summary

Claire Inglis was murdered by her boyfriend Christopher McGowan, a violent criminal, raising questions about systemic failures in the justice system.

Key points

Claire's Tragic Fall. Claire Inglis was found almost lifeless in her home after a fall, but the circumstances were suspicious.
A Mother's Heartbreak. Claire's mother reflects on the devastating thought that her daughter might still be alive if things had been handled differently.
McGowan's Violent History. Christopher McGowan had a long history of violence and criminal behavior before meeting Claire.
A Toxic Relationship. Claire's relationship with McGowan quickly escalated, raising concerns among her family and friends.
The Night of the Incident. On the night of November 27, Claire and McGowan went out, leading to a tragic outcome.
Claire's Critical Injuries. Claire's injuries were critical, leading paramedics to battle for her life.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

He uses violence like his first language.

Describing McGowan's violent behavior and history.

5:21WatchJul 15, 2026

Tension

85/ 100High tension

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