March 29, 2001 11:43: FORMER East End gangster Reggie Kray talks about why he murdered Jack 'The Hat' McVitie and admits to being involved in one other murder in a deathbed confession screened on BBC 1.

The interview, conducted at Kray's request, was filmed at the Norwich and Norfolk Hospital last October, just a few days before the ailing gangster died of cancer.

He was released on compassionate grounds in August, after serving a 30-year sentence for the 1967 murder of McVitie.

Twins Ronnie and Reggie, who built up an East End criminal empire in the 1960s, are buried in the same grave at Chingford Mount along with their mother Violet and brother Charlie.

In the 60-minute documentary Kray was asked if there were other killings that influenced the decision not to parole him. He replies: "One one."

Scotland Yard's Leonard "Nipper" Read, the policeman who smashed the Krays' empire, said: "I should imagine that would be Teddy Smith he suddenly disappeared".

Edward "Mad Teddy" Smith was an occasional minder for the Krays.

Other participants in the documentary testify to the unpredictability of Ronnie who was imprisoned for the murder of George Cornell and the viciousness of both twins.

Reggie also reveals that side of his character as he gives a chilling insight into his state of mind when he murdered McVitie.

He said: "I didn't like the fellow McVitie. He did everything wrong. He was very uncouth, he was loud and aggressive ... a vexation to the spirit.

"I thought I was being pushed into it too quick it seemed common sense to wait a little bit longer I don't say you could prolong a thing like that forever but, see, it was getting a bit close it's still debatable. Even so I had a lot of frustration in me and anger, probably more anger that night than any other night in my life."

The former East End hardman also refused to apologise for some of the violence he meted out during his criminal career.

"It is very difficult to apologise in some cases but not in others. But I suppose if I've been a bit too violent over the years I make some apologies about it , but there is little I can do about it now, so again it's no good reflecting back. It's pointless. Negative."

Ronnie died in 1995 and elder brother Charlie in 2000.

Reggie Kray The Final Word will be screened on BBC 1 tonight (Thursday) at 9pm.