Brady’s sick taunts to cops over grave
Police files reveal his ‘puzzlement’ at search
In one interview about 12-year-old Keith’s final resting place, Brady mocked officers, saying: “My own puzzlement is why hasn’t it been located.”
Evil Brady was constantly evasive and obstructive and when he died last week he took the secret of Keith’s burial spot with him.
Det Chief Supt Peter Topping took Brady to Saddleworth Moor in July 1987 in the hope he could pinpoint where he buried the youngster.
It was in vain. Police visited Brady at Merseyside’s Ashworth Hospital before and after the search. The cat-andmouse interviews were uncovered by Moors Murders expert Darren Rae.
Brady’s accomplice Myra Hindley made a 700-page confession to the killings of Keith and Pauline Reade, 16 – revealed by the Sunday Mirror in March. But interviews with Brady were cut short when he refused to talk.
Topping told him: “Hindley has made a full confession... she has implicated you as being responsible.”
Brady replied: “I don’t wish to be interviewed formally but I’m willing to help on an informal basis.”
Frustrated Topping said: “You made a statement that you would be willing to visit the Moors to help find Keith Bennett.”
Brady refused to help, replying: “Again, I don’t wish to be interviewed formally.”
The officer said: “You were responsible for the murder of Pauline Reade and Keith Bennett? You are willing to go to the Moors, is that true? Yes?”
But after receiving no answer, he stated: “Are you avoiding responsibility, I’m puzzled why you’re not willing to be interviewed formally?”
Rae, who has spent 17 years on the crimes, said: “It’s clear Brady was playing
He played games with the police, it was so he could stay in control DARREN RAE MOORS MURDERS EXPERT
Brady with cop Topping in 1987 hunt Sketch of Brady, feeding tube in nose, at mental health tribunal games with the police. It was his way of being in control, getting the attention he craved. He continued his stance and position of either non-co-operation or co-operative disinformation.”
Another time, Brady refused to give a straight answer about Keith’s grave and blamed Hindley and her brother-in-law David Smith, saying: “Both Myra and Smith know that location on that slope.”
Brady then attempted to defend his trip to the Moors when they failed to locate the right area. He said: “I spent 12 hours looking for it. I’d been determined Cops on the Moors in 1965
to find it and point it out... I wouldn’t patrol that slope for 12 hours if I didn’t wish to locate him.”
As that interview progressed Brady noticed a tape recorder. When asked if he was responsible for the murder of Pauline, he replied “no”.
He said the same of Keith, then added: “That’s on the basis that you’re asking the question of me solely, whereas in fact there were other parties involved... but I am refusing to answer questions on a formal basis with that recorder on.”
A letter Brady wrote referring to five The five known victims of Ian Brady and his lover Myra Hindley, from top: John Kilbride, Lesley Ann Downey, Edward Evans, Pauline Reade and Keith Bennett
“happenings” – besides Pauline and Keith – was discussed. Asked if he was talking about five other murders, Brady said: “That’s correct”.
But Brady’s solicitor indicated his client didn’t want to incriminate himself. Irritated Topping ended the interview.
Brady and Hindley were jailed for life in 1966 for murdering Lesley Ann Downey, 10, John Kilbride, 12, and Edward Evans, 17. Years later they confessed to killing Keith and Pauline. Hindley, 60, died in jail in 2002.
phil.cardy@trinitymirror.com