S06E05 | David Heiss | The Murder of Matthew Pyke

In the fifth episode of British Murders Season 6, I tell the story of David Heiss.

German-born David became obsessed with 21-year-old Nottingham-based student Joanna Witton after the pair met in 2007 through a war gaming website Joanna and her boyfriend, 20-year-old Matthew Pyke, had created.

Despite being rejected by Joanna, David persisted with his obsession. He even made two unannounced visits to the couple's Nottingham flat after flying to the UK from Germany in the summer of 2008.

Things grew so heated between the two men that David flew to the UK one more time in September 2008 and brutally murdered Matthew, stabbing him 86 times in the process.

David was handed a life sentence on May 11, 2009, by The Honourable Mr Justice Keith with a minimum term of 18 years.

Intro music:⁣

David John Brady - 'Throw Down the Gauntlet'⁣

https://linktr.ee/davidjohnbradymusic⁣

My recording equipment:⁣

Shure SM7B Vocal Microphone

Cloud Microphone Cloudlifter CL1

Focusrite Scarlett Solo USB Audio Interface

Rode PSA-1 Professional Studio Boom Arm

Recorded in:⁣

Hindenberg PRO

Edited in:⁣

DaVinci Resolve 17⁣

References:⁣

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Allen, K. (2008, September 25). German police arrest suspect in murder of Nottingham gamer. The Local Germany. Retrieved 3 July 2022, from https://www.thelocal.de/20080925/14531/

Criminal sentence - David M Heiss. (2009, May 11). The Law Pages. Retrieved 5 July 2022, from https://www.thelawpages.com/court-cases/David-M-Heiss-3207-1.law

Dolan, A. (2009, April 29). Pictured for the first time: The girlfriend of internet gamer stabbed to death by German love rival. Mail Online. Retrieved 3 July 2022, from https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1175100/Pictured-time-The-girlfriend-internet-gamer-stabbed-death-German-love-rival.html

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‘Heiss could not tell cyber world from the real one’. (2009, May 11). The Guardian. Retrieved 3 July 2022, from https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2009/may/11/david-heiss-psychological-profile

Judd, T. (2008, September 27). Man arrested in Germany over killing of British wargame fanatic. The Independent. Retrieved 3 July 2022, from https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/man-arrested-in-germany-over-killing-of-british-wargame-fanatic-944052.html

MacLeary, B. J., Amako, B. U., Slater, B. L., Tyers, B. A., & Titcomb, B. J. (2009, May 11). German officer worker David Heiss guilty of murdering student Matthew Pyke. The Telegraph. Retrieved 3 July 2022, from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/5307573/German-officer-worker-David-Heiss-guilty-of-murdering-student-Matthew-Pyke.html

Metrowebukmetro. (2009, May 11). Obsessed gamer jailed for ‘ferocious’ murder of love rival. Metro. Retrieved 3 July 2022, from https://metro.co.uk/2009/05/11/obsessed-gamer-jailed-for-ferocious-murder-of-love-rival-100925/

Pallister, D. (2009, May 11). Student’s obsessive killer jailed for life. The Guardian. Retrieved 3 July 2022, from https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2009/may/11/german-murder-british-student-internet

Reuters Staff. (2009, May 11). German’s Web obsession led to savage British murder. Reuters. Retrieved 3 July 2022, from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-webmurder-life/germans-web-obsession-led-to-savage-british-murder-idUSTRE54A3Z620090511

Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre & National Nature Reserve. (n.d.). Visit Nottinghamshire. Retrieved 4 July 2022, from https://www.visit-nottinghamshire.co.uk/things-to-do/sherwood-forest-visitor-centre-and-national-nature-reserve-p355601

Slate, M. (2009, April 30). My boyfriend was killed by man who fell for me online. Express. Retrieved 3 July 2022, from https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/97936/My-boyfriend-was-killed-by-man-who-fell-for-me-online

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Wargamer obsessed with woman murdered her boyfriend. (2009, May 11). The Guardian. Retrieved 3 July 2022, from https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2009/may/11/german-man-murder-wargame

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Wilkins, J. (2020, November 2). The Psycho-Gamer Who Stalked His Crush and Committed Murder. Medium. Retrieved 3 July 2022, from https://medium.com/crimebeat/the-psycho-gamer-who-stalked-his-crush-and-committed-murder-d50c3a09abe