After almost a century, Daisy de Melker's name still comes up when one mentions women serial killers.
Daisy, like many other womenkillers, had a "caregiving" role — she trained as a nurse and knew how the body worked.
In 1923, when she was living in Johannesburg, she prepared Epsom salts for her first husband, William Cowle, adding a poisonous substance.
This became clear only after a second doctor had seen him — by which time Cowle was foaming at the mouth, turning blue, and screaming in pain if anyone touched him.
The doctor suspected strychnine poisoning but the death certificate — signed by another doctor — blamed chronic nephritis.
Daisy inherited £1,795.
Four years later, after she had married again, her husband Robert Sproat became violently ill after ingesting something she had prepared. His symptoms resembled Cowle's — but he survived.
A few weeks later, he drank some beer in Daisy's company, and died.
No autopsy was done, and Daisy inherited about £4,500.
After four years she struck again.
Now on her third marriage, to Sydney de Melker, Daisy bought arsenic from a chemist, claiming it was to kill a sick cat.
A week later, her 20-year-old son, Rhodes Cowle, fell violently ill after drinking coffee from a flask Daisy had prepared.
He died hours later. Daisy inherited a measly £100 from Rhodes's life insurance policy.
She was hanged on December 30 1932, having been convicted of the murder of her son.
Film's most memorable female psychos
Ian-Malcolm Rijsdijk, senior lecturer in film studies at UCT, says some of the most memorable female psychos from film are defined by their cold and seemingly rational calculations, and others by their wild irrationality.
Many are remembered even decades after the film has been released.
Basic Instinct: Catherine Tramell (Sharon Stone) is the sexually manipulative suspect in a murder who then has a torrid affair with the chief investigator.
Gone Girl: Amy Dunne (Rosamund Pike) is the gorgeous wife of a man who she frames as the prime suspect in her own disappearance.
Single White Female: Hedra Carlson (Jennifer Jason Leigh) is the creepy roommate who moves in and obsessively starts copying her new friend.
Fatal Attraction: Alex Forrest (Glenn Close) is the original 'bunny boiler' who became obsessed with a married man after having a brief affair with him.
Sunset Boulevard: Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson), a waning star, hires a young screenwriter but he soon finds himself at the dark end of her obsessions.
Monster: Aileen Wuornos (Charlize Theron) is a real-life character and sex worker who shot dead seven customers and waslater executed.
