Moors murders
| Ian Brady and Myra Hindley | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Ian Duncan Stewart Myra Hindley |
| Also known as | The Moors murderers |
| Born | Brady: 2 January 1938 Hindley: 23 July 1942 |
| Died | Hindley: 15 November 2002 (aged 60) Brady: 15 May 2017 (aged 79) |
| Cause of death | Hindley: Bronchopneumonia caused by heart disease Brady: Complications from Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease |
| Conviction | Murder |
| Sentence | Life imprisonment |
| Killings | |
| Number of victims | 5 |
| Span of killings | 12 July 1963 – 6 October 1965 |
| Country | England |
| Date apprehended | Brady: 7 October 1965 Hindley: 11 October 1965 |
The Moors murders were carried out by Ian Brady and Myra Hindley between July 1963 and October 1965, in and around what is now Greater Manchester, England.
Victims
[change | change source]The victims were five children aged between 10 and 17. They were Pauline Reade, John Kilbride, Keith Bennett, Lesley Ann Downey and Edward Evans. At least four of them were sexually assaulted. The murders have this name because two of the victims were discovered in graves dug on Saddleworth Moor; a third grave was discovered on the moor in 1987, more than 20 years after Brady and Hindley's trial in 1966.
The body of a fourth victim, Keith Bennett, is probably buried there as well, but despite repeated searches it hasn't been found.
Police investigation
[change | change source]The police were initially aware of only three killings, those of Edward Evans, Lesley Ann Downey and John Kilbride. The investigation was reopened in 1985, after Brady was reported in the press as having confessed to the murders of Pauline Reade and Keith Bennett. Brady and Hindley were taken separately to Saddleworth Moor to assist the police in their search for the graves, both by then having confessed to the additional murders.
Trial
[change | change source]The trial was held over 14 days beginning on 19 April 1966, in front of Mr Justice Fenton Atkinson.
Brady and Hindley pleaded not guilty to the charges against them; both were called to give evidence, Brady for over eight hours and Hindley for six.
On 6 May, after having deliberated for a little over two hours,[1] the jury found Brady guilty of all three murders and Hindley guilty of the murders of Downey and Evans. As the death penalty for murder had been abolished while Brady and Hindley were held on remand, the judge passed the only sentence that the law allowed: life imprisonment. Brady was sentenced to three concurrent life sentences and Hindley was given two
Imprisonment
[change | change source]Brady was taken to Durham Prison and Hindley was sent to Holloway Prison.
Later lives
[change | change source]Hindley died of bronchopneumonia caused by heart disease on 15 November 2002 at the age of 60.[2] Brady died on 15 May 2017 from complications from Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at the age of 79.[3]
More reading
[change | change source]- Boar, Roger; Blundell, Nigel (1988), The World's Most Infamous Murders, Berkley, ISBN 978-0-425-10887-1
- Goodman, Jonathan (1986), The Moors Murders: The Trial of Myra Hindley and Ian Brady, David & Charles, ISBN 978-1-85813-539-7
- Hansford Johnson, Pamela (1967), On Iniquity, Macmillan, ISBN 978-0-684-12984-6
- Harrison, Fred (1986), Brady and Hindley: The Genesis of the Moors Murders, Grafton, ISBN 978-0-906798-70-6
References
[change | change source]- ↑ "Life sentences on couple in moors case", The Times, Times Digital Archive, 7 May 1966, retrieved 29 July 2009 (subscription required)
- ↑ Inquest tribute to Hindley's victims, BBC News, 18 November 2002, retrieved 1 October 2009
- ↑ "Moors murderer Ian Brady dies". ITV. 15 May 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2017.