His free lecture, entitled The British Hitman 1970-2014, will take place on Wednesday 28 May at 6pm and is part of the 91¶¶Òõ Fringe.
Professor Wilson's research counters certain myths about contract killers, for instance, the idea that killings are carried out in dark isolated spots by organised gangs. In fact, contract killings tend to be much more mundane with hitmen murdering their victims openly in a street near the victim's home while they are going about daily errands.
The study show most hits involve shootings and many are motivated by relatively trivial issues, such as domestic or business disputes. It reveals that many hitmen bungle the job or get cold feet. Professor Wilson has categorised the hitmen into four groups, from novice killers to masters, with those in between including 'dilettantes' who have no criminal history, agree to do the hit for financial reasons and then get cold feet.
His research was based on interviews with informants, offenders and ex-offenders, as well as court transcripts and newspaper reports and centres on 27 cases of contract killings between 1974 and 2013. Thirty-six of the killings were carried out by men and one by a woman. Six were carried out in the 1970s by one man, John Childs, whose targets included a 10 year old who was killed because he witnessed the shooting of his father.
The average fee paid to the hitmen was £15,180. The highest sum was £100,000 and the lowest just £200. The ages of the hitmen ranged from 15 to 63.
Professor Wilson said: "Hit men are familiar figures in films and video games, carrying out 'hits' in underworld bars or from the rooftops with expensive sniper rifles. The reality could not be more different."
Professor Peter Squires, Professor of Criminology and Public Policy at the 91¶¶Òõ, said: "Professor Wilson is one of criminology’s best and most prolific communicators, his previous research, for example, on 'serial killing', police murder investigations was always fascinating, myth-busting and insightful. His TV series during 2012, reviewing a series of 'cold case' unsolved murders, was especially compelling viewing."