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Moors murderer Ian Brady's legal advocate arrested Moors murderer Ian Brady's legal advocate arrested
(40 minutes later)
The legal advocate of the Moors murderer Ian Brady has been arrested for allegedly failing to reveal where the body of Keith Bennett, one of Brady and Myra Hindley's five young victims, is buried.The legal advocate of the Moors murderer Ian Brady has been arrested for allegedly failing to reveal where the body of Keith Bennett, one of Brady and Myra Hindley's five young victims, is buried.
Bennett was 12 and on his way to visit his grandmother when he was taken and murdered by the pair on 16 June 1964.Bennett was 12 and on his way to visit his grandmother when he was taken and murdered by the pair on 16 June 1964.
Like the other youngsters Brady and Hindley snatched – Pauline Reade, John Kilbride, Lesley Ann Downey and Edward Evans – he was killed and buried on Saddleworth Moor above Manchester.Like the other youngsters Brady and Hindley snatched – Pauline Reade, John Kilbride, Lesley Ann Downey and Edward Evans – he was killed and buried on Saddleworth Moor above Manchester.
Neither Brady nor Hindley, who died aged 60 in 2002, has ever revealed where Bennett's body was buried, despite repeated pleas from his mother, Winnie Johnson. Neither Brady nor Hindley, who died aged 60 in 2002, has revealed where Bennett's body was buried, despite repeated pleas from his mother, Winnie Johnson.
Police on Friday confirmed that Jackie Powell, who was appointed Brady's legal advocate under the Mental Health Act in 1999, has been arrested in south Wales on suspicion of preventing the burial of a body without lawful exercise. Police on Friday confirmed that Jackie Powell, who was appointed Brady's legal advocate under the Mental Health Act in 1999, had been arrested in south Wales on suspicion of preventing the burial of a body without lawful exercise.
Powell was apparently arrested after telling a Channel 4 documentary that Brady gave her a sealed envelope to pass on to Winnie Johnson in the event of Brady's death. Powell was apparently detained after telling a Channel 4 documentary that Brady gave her a sealed envelope to pass on to Winnie Johnson in the event of Brady's death.
In a statement, Greater Manchester police said they had recently received information that led them to believe that Ian Brady had finally disclosed details of the location of the body to one of his "long-term visitors" at Ashworth high-security hospital, where he is being detained. In a statement, Greater Manchester police said they had recently received information that led them to believe that Brady had finally disclosed details of the location of the body to one of his "long-term visitors" at Ashworth high-security hospital where he is being detained.
The force did not name the suspect but said the 49-year-old woman had been arrested in south Wales and remained in police custody for questioning. The force did not name the suspect but said the 49-year-old woman had been arrested in south Wales and remained in custody for questioning.
A Greater Manchester police spokesman added: "Officers in the cold case unit made inquiries to verify the accuracy of this report and have since had extensive contact with Ashworth hospital and Keith's close family. A Greater Manchester police spokesman added: "Officers in the cold case unit made inquiries to verify the accuracy of this report and have since had extensive contact with Ashworth hospital and Keith's close family. As a result, warrants obtained under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act were executed at Ashworth hospital and a private address in South Wales.
"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.""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."
Martin Bottomley, Head of Investigative Review of Greater Manchester police's Major and Cold Case Crime Unit, said: "The Moors murders cast a long and dark shadow over the history of our region but in 2009 we reluctantly concluded there was no longer any specific information to identify new search areas and the investigation to find Keith entered a dormant stage. Martin Bottomley, head of investigative review of Greater Manchester police's major and cold case crime unit, said: "The Moors murders cast a long and dark shadow over the history of our region but in 2009 we reluctantly concluded there was no longer any specific information to identify new search areas and the investigation to find Keith entered a dormant stage. However, we have always stressed this is a case we will never close.
"However, we have always stressed this is a case we will never close.
We have been, and always will be, open to pursuing any new lines of inquiry that arise from significant scientific advances or credible and actionable information."We have been, and always will be, open to pursuing any new lines of inquiry that arise from significant scientific advances or credible and actionable information."
He added: "I want to be explicitly clear about this: Ian Brady has not revealed to police the location of Keith's body. He added: "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.
"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. "Since Keith was so cruelly taken away all those years ago, our thoughts have always been with his family as they try to come to terms with what happened. All they want is to finally be able to lay Keith to rest. What I would ask is that the media respect their privacy at this time. Winnie herself is very ill and continued speculation about this letter will only cause the family more upset."
"Since Keith was so cruelly taken away all those years ago, our thoughts have always been with his family as they try to come to terms with what happened. All they want is to finally be able to lay Keith to rest. What I would ask is that the media respect their privacy at this time. The force later said the woman had been bailed for three months.
"Winnie herself is very ill and continued speculation about this letter will only cause the family more upset. The Guardian understands that officers seized documents from Powell's house, but believe there is no clear evidence that Brady has revealed the location of Keith Bennett's grave.
The force later said that the woman had been bailed for three months. It is thought that Johnson is not yet aware of the recent developments. Her lawyer, John Ainley, told Press Association: "Winnie has always believed that Ian Brady knew where her son was buried. She never thought anything else. 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."
The Guardian understands that officers seized documents from Powell's house, but that they currently believe there is no clear evidence that Brady has revealed the location of Keith Bennett's grave. Last December, Johnson said she wanted to hear face-to-face from Brady where her son was buried. She renewed her plea last month, saying in a letter to the 74-year-old killer that her dying wish was to know where Keith's body was.
It is thought that Johnson is not yet aware of the recent developments.
Her lawyer, John Ainley, told the Press Association: "Winnie has always believed that Ian Brady knew where her son was buried. She never thought anything else.
"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."
Last December, Johnson said she wanted to hear face-to-face from Brady where her son was buried.
She renewed her plea last month, saying in a letter to the 74-year-old killer that her dying wish was to know where Keith's body was.
The makers of the documentary said they had not seen the envelope.The makers of the documentary said they had not seen the envelope.
Documentaries commissioning editor and editor for Cutting Edge, Emma Cooper, said: "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. The documentaries commissioning editor and editor for Cutting Edge, Emma Cooper, said: "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.
"Winnie's poor health was foremost in our decision-making and this is why we have decided to bring forward the broadcast of the film and make the existence of the envelope public.""Winnie's poor health was foremost in our decision-making and this is why we have decided to bring forward the broadcast of the film and make the existence of the envelope public."
The film, Ian Brady: Endgames of a Psychopath, will be broadcast on Monday night at 9pm. The film, Ian Brady: Endgames of a Psychopath, will be broadcast on Monday at 9pm. In an interview she gave for the programme, Powell said she had received a letter of instruction and a sealed envelope from Brady via his solicitors. She explained that the letter of instruction stated the additional envelope contained three letters – one apparently addressed to Winnie Johnson.
In an interview she gave for the programme, Powell said she received a letter of instruction and a sealed envelope from Brady via his solicitors. Powell, who has professional obligations in her capacity as executor and her role as Brady's mental health advocate, told the documentary she has not opened the sealed envelope so cannot be certain of its contents. But she told the Daily Mirror Brady did not want "to take his secrets to the grave", adding that the document could afford Johnson "the means of her possibly being able to rest".
She explained that the letter of instruction states the additional envelope contains three letters – one apparently addressed to Winnie Johnson. Brady was jailed for life at Chester Assizes in 1966 for the murders of John, Lesley Ann and Edward. Hindley was convicted of killing Lesley Ann and Edward and shielding Brady after John's murder, and jailed for life. In 1987 the pair finally admitted killing Keith and Pauline.
Powell, who has professional obligations in her capacity as executor and her role as Brady's mental health advocate, told the documentary she has not opened the sealed envelope, so cannot be certain of its contents. But she told the Daily Mirror that Brady did not want "to take his secrets to the grave", adding that the sealed envelope could afford Johnson "the means of her possibly being able to rest". Both were taken to Saddleworth Moor in 1987 to help police find the remains of the missing victims but only Pauline's body was found.
Brady was jailed for life at Chester Assizes in 1966 for the murders of John, Lesley Ann and Edward. Brady was due to go before a mental health tribunal in July, but it was delayed after he suffered a seizure. The tribunal was to consider his application to be transferred to a Scottish prison and be allowed to die. He has been tube-fed since refusing food 12 years ago.
Hindley was convicted of killing Lesley Ann and Edward and shielding Brady after John's murder, and jailed for life. In 1987 the pair finally admitted killing Keith and Pauline.
Both were taken back to Saddleworth Moor in 1987 to help police find the remains of the missing victims but only Pauline's body was found.
Brady was due to go before a mental health tribunal in July, but it was delayed after he suffered a seizure.
The tribunal was to consider his application to be transferred to a Scottish prison and be allowed to die. He has been tube-fed since refusing food 12 years ago.