In November 1995, Englishman John Martin Scripps was convicted of murdering South African tourist, Gerard George Lowe. Earlier that year Scripps had dismembered Lowe’s body and dumped the body parts into the Singapore River. He then used Lowe’s credit cards to withdraw cash and purchase various items.

A few days after the murder, Scripps left for Bangkok, where he was linked to the deaths and disappearance of two tourists, Sheila Mae Damude and her son, Darin Damude. Scripps was arrested at Changi Airport on his return from Bangkok. He was sentenced to death by hanging.

William was responsible for escorting Scripps to and from the courthouse during his trial. He recalled Scripps taunting the prison officers to hang him every day following his conviction. But on the day of his hanging, Scripps flipped. He put up resistance. “It was quite violent in the end,” recalled William.