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Moors Murderer Ian Brady says insanity was 'method acting' Moors Murderer Ian Brady says insanity was 'method acting'
(35 minutes later)
Moors Murderer Ian Brady has told a mental health tribunal he used "method acting" to be classified insane.Moors Murderer Ian Brady has told a mental health tribunal he used "method acting" to be classified insane.
Brady, speaking publicly for the first time in 47 years, claimed he put on the act to get transferred from prison to Ashworth Hospital.Brady, speaking publicly for the first time in 47 years, claimed he put on the act to get transferred from prison to Ashworth Hospital.
He is now fighting to be found sane so he can return to prison, though he accepts he will never be freed.He is now fighting to be found sane so he can return to prison, though he accepts he will never be freed.
Hospital staff believe Brady, who has fought for the right to kill himself, is mentally ill and should stay there.Hospital staff believe Brady, who has fought for the right to kill himself, is mentally ill and should stay there.
Brady, now 75, and Myra Hindley tortured and murdered five children.Brady, now 75, and Myra Hindley tortured and murdered five children.
The pair buried some of their victims' bodies on Saddleworth Moor in the Peak District.The pair buried some of their victims' bodies on Saddleworth Moor in the Peak District.
Brady spoke earlier at the final day of the tribunal, which is sitting at Ashworth high-security psychiatric hospital in Maghull, Merseyside, where he has been held since 1985.Brady spoke earlier at the final day of the tribunal, which is sitting at Ashworth high-security psychiatric hospital in Maghull, Merseyside, where he has been held since 1985.
Eleanor Grey QC, counsel for Ashworth, asked Brady if he was mentally ill when he was transferred to Ashworth.Eleanor Grey QC, counsel for Ashworth, asked Brady if he was mentally ill when he was transferred to Ashworth.
He replied: "Have you heard of Stanislavski?He replied: "Have you heard of Stanislavski?
"If you knew who Stanislavski is... have you heard of method acting? Does that make it clear to you?""If you knew who Stanislavski is... have you heard of method acting? Does that make it clear to you?"
Brady, who has finished giving his evidence, also said: "I am not psychotic."
'Not eating anything''Not eating anything'
Brady's legal team say he has a severe personality disorder but is not mentally ill and could be treated in prison rather than hospital.Brady's legal team say he has a severe personality disorder but is not mentally ill and could be treated in prison rather than hospital.
But staff at Ashworth say he remains a paranoid schizophrenic who should stay at the hospital.But staff at Ashworth say he remains a paranoid schizophrenic who should stay at the hospital.
Brady is said to have been on hunger strike since 1999, but doctors at Ashworth can force-feed him through a tube in his nose under mental health law.Brady is said to have been on hunger strike since 1999, but doctors at Ashworth can force-feed him through a tube in his nose under mental health law.
A nurse earlier told the tribunal that Brady makes himself toast every day and eats other food offered to him "most days".A nurse earlier told the tribunal that Brady makes himself toast every day and eats other food offered to him "most days".
When asked about this, Brady replied: "According to whom? I'm not eating anything."When asked about this, Brady replied: "According to whom? I'm not eating anything."
As to why he wanted to leave Ashworth, he said he hated it because "the regime has changed to a penal warehouse".As to why he wanted to leave Ashworth, he said he hated it because "the regime has changed to a penal warehouse".
"They give you false drugs and turn you into a zombie," he added."They give you false drugs and turn you into a zombie," he added.
But Brady refused to answer a question from his own lawyer about whether he wants to kill himself if he is declared fit to return to prison.But Brady refused to answer a question from his own lawyer about whether he wants to kill himself if he is declared fit to return to prison.
"I have been asked the question repeatedly. I have answered hypothetically from all angles."I have been asked the question repeatedly. I have answered hypothetically from all angles.
"In prison you are a monkey in a cage being poked with a stick. How can you pretend to be omnipotent?"In prison you are a monkey in a cage being poked with a stick. How can you pretend to be omnipotent?
"You cannot make plans when you have no freedom of control, movement or anything."You cannot make plans when you have no freedom of control, movement or anything.
"You cannot talk sensibly about anything with a question like that," he said."You cannot talk sensibly about anything with a question like that," he said.
Brady called Britain a "psychopathic country", referring to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and described himself as a "comparable petty criminal".Brady called Britain a "psychopathic country", referring to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and described himself as a "comparable petty criminal".
Public opinionPublic opinion
He said he will never be released because the British public wanted him to stay in custody.He said he will never be released because the British public wanted him to stay in custody.
"Whatever I want, the public and the press want the opposite," he said."Whatever I want, the public and the press want the opposite," he said.
"That's my experience in the last 50 years.""That's my experience in the last 50 years."
As he started to give evidence Brady did not look up and spoke carefully in a soft and quiet Scottish accent.As he started to give evidence Brady did not look up and spoke carefully in a soft and quiet Scottish accent.
Proceedings are being relayed to the press and public on TV screens at Manchester Civil Justice Centre.Proceedings are being relayed to the press and public on TV screens at Manchester Civil Justice Centre.
He said his resistance at Ashworth began in 1999 after he said he was assaulted by a group of riot-gear clad warders who were moving him from one unit to another.He said his resistance at Ashworth began in 1999 after he said he was assaulted by a group of riot-gear clad warders who were moving him from one unit to another.
Asked how he had spent his time in prison over the years, he said he had studied psychology and German and had worked on Braille texts.Asked how he had spent his time in prison over the years, he said he had studied psychology and German and had worked on Braille texts.
He said he had also worked as a barber at Wormwood Scrubs before he was sent to Ashworth.He said he had also worked as a barber at Wormwood Scrubs before he was sent to Ashworth.
Brady said he had mainly stayed in his room for the past 10 months because of "negative, regressive, provocative staff that I am avoiding" and disputed that this was because of paranoia about other patients.Brady said he had mainly stayed in his room for the past 10 months because of "negative, regressive, provocative staff that I am avoiding" and disputed that this was because of paranoia about other patients.
The serial killer, who said he had mixed down the years with the Kray twins and IRA terrorists, added: "Only the authorities call it paranoia - the prisoners say it is sensible suspicion."The serial killer, who said he had mixed down the years with the Kray twins and IRA terrorists, added: "Only the authorities call it paranoia - the prisoners say it is sensible suspicion."
The judgement of the panel will be released at a later date yet to be fixed.The judgement of the panel will be released at a later date yet to be fixed.
The last time Brady was heard in public was in 1966 at Chester Assizes, where he denied the murders.The last time Brady was heard in public was in 1966 at Chester Assizes, where he denied the murders.
He was eventually found guilty of three of the murders and jailed for life. He and Hindley later confessed to the other two. Hindley died in prison in 2002, aged 60.He was eventually found guilty of three of the murders and jailed for life. He and Hindley later confessed to the other two. Hindley died in prison in 2002, aged 60.