Winnie Johnson, mother of Moors murder victim Keith Bennett, dies:
Mother of 12-year old boy murdered by Ian Brady and Myra Hindley in 1964 dies without knowing where her son is buried
The mother of Moors murders victim Keith Bennett has died without knowing where her son is buried.
Winnie Johnson's death, which was announced by her lawyers on Saturday, follows a long illness and renewed controversy over the location of the grave of her son, who was murdered by Ian Brady and Myra Hindley in 1964.
Brady's mental health advocate, Jackie Powell, was arrested after she told Channel 4 that she was aware of a letter from Brady to Johnson in which he tells her where the grave of her son can be found.
She was held on suspicion of preventing the lawful burial of a body but later bailed. Police also searched Brady's cell at the high security hospital at Ashworth, Merseyside but found no relevant documents.
Johnson, 78, has pleaded for years with Brady to be allowed to bury her son and experts suspect Brady has manipulated her and the media by promising information about the grave location and then withholding it.
Paddy Wivell, the producer of the Cutting Edge documentary which will be broadcast next week, said he was shocked to hear of Powell's letter and that she intended to return the letter to Brady. He suggested Powell felt a loyalty as she worked with the killer for so long and "apparently she took it back to him".
Powell said she received a letter of instruction and a sealed envelope from Brady via his solicitors. The letter of instruction said the envelope contained three letters – one addressed to Johnson.
The producers urged Powell to tell police about the letter, and when she declined they informed the police – who informed Johnson and began an investigation on 30 July.
Powell later told the Daily Mirror Brady doesn't want "to take his secrets to the grave", and the letter could afford Johnson "the means of her possibly being able to rest".
A quarter of a century ago, Brady returned with police to Saddleworth Moor, along with Hindley, who died in 2002. But police could only identify where Pauline Reade was buried.
Brady was jailed for life in 1966 for the murders of John Kilbride, Lesley Ann Downey and Edward Evans. Hindley was convicted of killing Downey and Evans, and with protecting Brady. She was jailed for life. They finally admitted killing Bennett and Reade in 1987.
guardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
Mother of 12-year old boy murdered by Ian Brady and Myra Hindley in 1964 dies without knowing where her son is buried
The mother of Moors murders victim Keith Bennett has died without knowing where her son is buried.
Winnie Johnson's death, which was announced by her lawyers on Saturday, follows a long illness and renewed controversy over the location of the grave of her son, who was murdered by Ian Brady and Myra Hindley in 1964.
Brady's mental health advocate, Jackie Powell, was arrested after she told Channel 4 that she was aware of a letter from Brady to Johnson in which he tells her where the grave of her son can be found.
She was held on suspicion of preventing the lawful burial of a body but later bailed. Police also searched Brady's cell at the high security hospital at Ashworth, Merseyside but found no relevant documents.
Johnson, 78, has pleaded for years with Brady to be allowed to bury her son and experts suspect Brady has manipulated her and the media by promising information about the grave location and then withholding it.
Paddy Wivell, the producer of the Cutting Edge documentary which will be broadcast next week, said he was shocked to hear of Powell's letter and that she intended to return the letter to Brady. He suggested Powell felt a loyalty as she worked with the killer for so long and "apparently she took it back to him".
Powell said she received a letter of instruction and a sealed envelope from Brady via his solicitors. The letter of instruction said the envelope contained three letters – one addressed to Johnson.
The producers urged Powell to tell police about the letter, and when she declined they informed the police – who informed Johnson and began an investigation on 30 July.
Powell later told the Daily Mirror Brady doesn't want "to take his secrets to the grave", and the letter could afford Johnson "the means of her possibly being able to rest".
A quarter of a century ago, Brady returned with police to Saddleworth Moor, along with Hindley, who died in 2002. But police could only identify where Pauline Reade was buried.
Brady was jailed for life in 1966 for the murders of John Kilbride, Lesley Ann Downey and Edward Evans. Hindley was convicted of killing Downey and Evans, and with protecting Brady. She was jailed for life. They finally admitted killing Bennett and Reade in 1987.
guardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
Comments