Jack the Ripper, the world's first known serial killer

JACK the Ripper went on his killing spree 125 years ago - but we're still fascinated by the brutal murders. A forensic anthropologist says there's a lot we can learn from his behaviour.

IT'S 125 years since Jack the Ripper tore through London, terrifying the city with a number of brutal murders, becoming the world's first known serial killer.

The man who murdered prostitutes in a gruesome, brief killing spree was never found - and it's perhaps because of this his legend continues to grow.

Forensic anthropologist and Wanted presenter Xanthe Mallet has long been fascinated with the case.

She says while there's many reasons people are still interested in the murders, the brutal way the women were killed makes his story particularly interesting - as this is the first case where a criminal profile could be built.

"What he seemed to do was de-feminise the women he attacked. He attacked all the areas that make a woman a woman. He removed all sorts of things (for example a woman's uterus), and destroyed sexual organs. He also did lot of damage to the faces as well. That's what really marks him out as unusual. The anger and violence against women struck a chord."

That particular level of violence has led to a number of conspiracy theories as to who the culprit may have been - with some wild ideas taking hold.

Ms Mallet says the craziest theory she has ever heard was that Jack the Ripper was a member of the royal family.

"People have said he was being driven around in his carriage, and that's how he got away with it," she said.

But she believes there's little truth in this theory.

"I haven't seen any evidence that that's the case. But people want a good story. Newspapers back then were massive - they had a massive campaign at the time. There were huge fears in London. He would have made a great story."

She believes it's much more likely that the criminal couldn't form 'normal' relationships in his regular life, and that it's highly likely he was a psychotic person who couldn't just 'stop' his behaviour.

"People (with behavioural abnormalities) don't just stop these kinds of crimes. He was either arrested for something else, he died, or he moved on to a different location."

Picture shows: Filming Episode One of Ripper Street Photographer âEuro" Jonathan Hession © Tiger Aspect

The aftermath of the Jack the Ripper murders is explored in a new TV series Ripper Street, which is set six months after the last killing.

People in East London were still terrified - and the police leading the charge (and failing in their efforts to find him) were under huge pressure to make the community safe again.

Ms Mallet says that while it would be incredibly difficult for a killer like Jack the Ripper to get away with his crimes today (because of forensic evidence, CCTV, and better research methods), the show is still relevant.

"What it does do it shows that people haven't really changed. Fundamentally people haven't changed. Psychotic people are psychotic people. I think if this happened in a neighbourhood now - there'd still be a level of fear," she said.

Ripper Street will screen on Channel 10 from Sunday night at 8.30pm.

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