Murderer Caught After Nearly 40 Years: Anthony Kemp Jailed
Anthony Kemp, 59, with no fixed address, was handed 15-and-a-half years at the Old Bailey on Thursday, 14 October. He pleaded guilty to the 1983 murder of 50-year-old Christopher Ainscough back in September. The cold case had baffled police for decades—until Kemp’s shocking confession in 2021.
Victim Found Dead After Brutal Attack
Christopher’s body was discovered in his NW2 flat on Shoot-Up Hill after officers forced entry on 5 December 1983. He had suffered a severe head injury. Despite an initial investigation, no suspects emerged, and the case went cold.
Kemp’s Night Out Turns Deadly
Fast forward to February 2021—Kemp walks into Chiswick Police Station and admits to the murder. He revealed he met Christopher by chance one early morning in December 1983 after a night out at a nightclub. They went to Christopher’s flat for a drink. About an hour later, something Christopher said infuriated Kemp. Though he couldn’t recall the words, Kemp snapped.
He grabbed a stone ashtray and hit Christopher over the head repeatedly before calmly leaving the scene.
Confession Backed by DNA Evidence
- Kemp washed his blood-stained clothes and stayed silent for nearly four decades.
- Following his confession, forensic experts tested preserved evidence from the original crime scene.
- A cigarette butt found at the flat matched Kemp’s DNA conclusively.
Faced with overwhelming proof, Kemp withdrew his attempt to retract the confession and pleaded guilty.
“No unsolved murder investigation is ever closed,” said Detective Inspector Maria Green from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command. “This case shows that even after nearly 40 years, justice can be served for the victim’s family and friends. Kemp finally did the right thing by confessing and will now face the consequences.”
A close friend of Christopher, who knew him for 17 years, said: “Losing Chris this way has haunted me. He didn’t die by accident or natural causes—he was taken by someone who meant nothing to him. Our lives were brighter with Chris in them, and his loss leaves a hole that never heals. I think of him often and miss him just as much now as on the day he was taken.”
