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Ian Brady 'reveals location' of Keith Bennett's body Ian Brady 'may have revealed' Keith Bennett burial place
(about 1 hour later)
Moors Murderer Ian Brady has revealed information about where one of his victims, 12-year-old Keith Bennett, is buried, detectives believe. Moors Murderer Ian Brady may have revealed information about where one of his victims, 12-year-old Keith Bennett, is buried, detectives believe.
Police think Brady gave details to a visitor to his psychiatric hospital. Police are investigating whether Brady gave details to his mental health advocate, Jackie Powell, during a visit to his psychiatric hospital.
A woman arrested in south Wales on suspicion of preventing a lawful burial of a body was named by Press Association sources as his mental health advocate, Jackie Powell. Ms Powell was arrested in south Wales on suspicion of preventing the lawful burial of a body and has been bailed.
Brady and Myra Hindley murdered five children between 1963 and 1965.Brady and Myra Hindley murdered five children between 1963 and 1965.
Keith's is the only body never found.
They kidnapped, tortured and murdered the children, whose bodies were buried on Saddleworth Moor near Manchester.They kidnapped, tortured and murdered the children, whose bodies were buried on Saddleworth Moor near Manchester.
1987 confession Keith's is the only body never found.
He was abducted on his way to visit his grandmother in Manchester on 16 June 1964 and his mother Winnie Johnson, 78, has fought a long campaign to get Brady to reveal the location of her son's grave.
A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: "On 30 July 2012, Greater Manchester Police received information that led officers to believe that Ian Brady had recently given details of the location of Keith Bennett's body to one of his long-term visitors."
'Duty to investigate'
Martin Bottomley, from Greater Manchester Police's Major and Cold Case Crime Unit, said: "I want to be explicitly clear about this: Ian Brady has not revealed to police the location of Keith's body.
"What we are looking at is the possibility, and at this stage it is only a possibility, that he has written a letter to Keith's mum Winnie Johnson which was not to be opened until after his death.
"We do not know if this is true or simply a ruse but we clearly have a duty to investigate such information on behalf of Keith's family."
The police were alerted to the possibility of information about the location of Keith's remains by the makers of a documentary about Brady, who said Ms Powell had told them she had received letters from the killer, one of which was for Mrs Johnson.
The programme's editor Emma Cooper said after learning of the documents, she had informed police.
"No-one can verify the contents of the envelope and therefore what information it does or does not contain but given the enormity of the implications as suggested by Brady's letter, we felt we had a responsibility to inform the family via their family liaison officer," she said.
Brady, 74, was jailed for life in 1966 at Chester Assizes for the murders of Lesley Ann Downey, 10, John Kilbride, 12, and Edward Evans, 17.Brady, 74, was jailed for life in 1966 at Chester Assizes for the murders of Lesley Ann Downey, 10, John Kilbride, 12, and Edward Evans, 17.
He has spent the past 25 years at the high-security Ashworth Hospital in Merseyside and has been tube-fed since refusing food 12 years ago.He has spent the past 25 years at the high-security Ashworth Hospital in Merseyside and has been tube-fed since refusing food 12 years ago.
Hindley, who died in prison in November 2002, aged 60, was given a life sentence for the murders of Lesley Ann and Edward and for shielding Brady after John's murder.Hindley, who died in prison in November 2002, aged 60, was given a life sentence for the murders of Lesley Ann and Edward and for shielding Brady after John's murder.
In 1987 they admitted killing Keith and 16-year-old Pauline Reade, whose bodies had not been found. Both were taken back to Saddleworth Moor to help police find the remains of the missing victims but only Pauline's body was found.In 1987 they admitted killing Keith and 16-year-old Pauline Reade, whose bodies had not been found. Both were taken back to Saddleworth Moor to help police find the remains of the missing victims but only Pauline's body was found.
The director of public prosecutions at the time decided prosecuting Brady and Hindley for the final two killings would not be in the public interest.The director of public prosecutions at the time decided prosecuting Brady and Hindley for the final two killings would not be in the public interest.
Police abandoned the hunt for Keith's body in 2009 and officers said they would need fresh evidence to resume the search.Police abandoned the hunt for Keith's body in 2009 and officers said they would need fresh evidence to resume the search.
A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: "On 30 July 2012, Greater Manchester Police received information that led officers to believe that Ian Brady had recently given details of the location of Keith Bennett's body to one of his long-term visitors. 'Proper family burial'
"Officers in the cold case unit made inquiries to the accuracy of this report and have since had extensive contact with Ashworth Hospital and Keith's close family. Greater Manchester Police said warrants were executed at Ashworth Hospital and an address in south Wales on Thursday and searches of both locations were continuing.
"As a result, warrants obtained under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act were executed at Ashworth Hospital and a private address in South Wales.
"A 49-year-old woman has been arrested in South Wales on suspicion of preventing the burial of a body without lawful exercise and remains in police custody for questioning. Searches of both locations are ongoing."
Mother's campaign
Keith was abducted on his way to visit his grandmother in Manchester on 16 June 1964.
His mother Winnie Johnson, 78, has fought a long campaign to get Brady to reveal the location of her son's grave.
Last month Brady, who was born in Glasgow, was due to go before a mental health tribunal to consider his application to be transferred to a Scottish prison and be allowed to die. But it was postponed when he suffered a seizure.Last month Brady, who was born in Glasgow, was due to go before a mental health tribunal to consider his application to be transferred to a Scottish prison and be allowed to die. But it was postponed when he suffered a seizure.
Last December Mrs Johnson, from Longsight, Manchester, said she wanted to attend the planned hearing to face Brady, saying she had "never seen him face to face". Last December, Mrs Johnson, from Longsight, Manchester, said she wanted to attend the planned hearing to face Brady, saying she had "never seen him face to face".
But in the days leading up to the tribunal, before it was called off, she said it would be too traumatic for her to attend.But in the days leading up to the tribunal, before it was called off, she said it would be too traumatic for her to attend.
Mrs Johnson's solicitor John Ainley said she was not aware of the new developments, but said his client had "always believed that Ian Brady knew where her son was buried".Mrs Johnson's solicitor John Ainley said she was not aware of the new developments, but said his client had "always believed that Ian Brady knew where her son was buried".
"She never thought anything else," he said."She never thought anything else," he said.
"He had a dialogue with Winnie some years ago and she was certain that he could have provided information that would have given her closure in this harrowing case."He had a dialogue with Winnie some years ago and she was certain that he could have provided information that would have given her closure in this harrowing case.
"Her one and only desire is to give her son a proper family burial during her lifetime.""Her one and only desire is to give her son a proper family burial during her lifetime."