Derek Robinson

Derek and Jean Robinson were an elderly retired couple. Derek, aged 75, a former consultant paediatrician with a long medical career, and Jean, aged 68, a retired music teacher and community aid worker.

On the morning of 17 September 2004, they became the final victims of Daniel Gonzalez, the “Freddy Krueger Killer”.

Shortly after finishing breakfast, Gonzalez broke into their house around 8 a.m., having already murdered Kevin Malloy earlier that day, and stabbed both victims multiple times — Derek in the face, neck and abdomen, and Jean in the face, neck and chest — killing them at the scene. He later described the double murder as “orgasmic” in police interviews. 

A nearby decorator spotted the naked, blood-covered killer fleeing the property and raised the alarm, helping lead to Gonzalez’s arrest shortly afterwards at Tottenham Court Road Underground station. The innocent, law-abiding couple had no connection to their attacker, and their deaths, along with the rest of the spree, highlighted serious systemic failures in mental health support for Gonzalez despite his family’s repeated calls for help.

In March 2006 at the Old Bailey, he was convicted of four murders and two attempted murders and given six life sentences with a recommendation that he never be released.

Gonzalez had a history of mental health issues (including schizophrenia) and drug use. He had an English mother and Spanish father, he died by suicide in Broadmoor Hospital in August 2007 at age 27.

Rest in peace Derek. You will not be forgotten.