Sunday People

Fury at dig for lost Moors victim Keith

Bro blasts amateur sleuth

- By Phil Cardy feedback@ people.co.uk

THE brother of Moors murders victim Keith Bennett has called for the amateur sleuth who claimed to have found his grave to apologise.

Author Russell Edwards told police he had discovered a fragment of skull and an upper jaw with teeth, sparking a week-long search of Saddlewort­h Moor.

But on Friday Greater Manchester Police called off their excavation of the site, stating no human remains had been found.

Yesterday Alan

Bennett, 66, said he had been left with a “feeling of anger and pain”.

In a lengthy post on social media, he wrote: “I’m just left with a feeling of utter contempt for him and his actions and I know the rest of Keith’s family feel the same, along with anger and pain.”

He added: “Will he apologise for the anguish, anger, hurt and distress caused by his thoughtles­s publicity-seeking actions?”

Twelve-year-old Keith was one of five youngsters killed by evil Ian Brady and his partner

Myra Hindley in the 1960s.

Keith disappeare­d on June

16, 1964, while on his way to see his grandmothe­r in Chorlton-on-medlock,

Manchester.

In the angry post

Mr Bennett said: “Why would there only be a fragment of jaw bone left of Keith, considerin­g the condition of the other victims that were found?”

And he added: “Does he always have a camera crew and photograph­er with him? Or was it just by pure chance and coincidenc­e that they were with him on his supposed find? “What makes him think that a team of highly trained profession­al forensic archaeolog­ists, scene of crime officers, a botanist, a facial features expert, lab technician­s, another team of officers walking the moor both in front and behind of his supposed find searching the ground, drone operatives and the complete profession­alism and care to conduct a search thoroughly could not find what he is supposed to have found?” He also asked if he would be footing the bill for the search.

A spokesman for Mr Edwards said he “totally understand­s” Mr Bennett’s frustratio­n and anguish.

He added: “However, he remains convinced that he has found the true location of the grave and is commission­ing further scientific analysis of his evidence.

“Until he has concluded his ongoing research, he feels it would not be productive to continue debating

the issues in public.”

 ?? Picture: ANDY STENNING ?? VICTIM: Keith Bennett
ANGER: Brother Alan
INVESTIGAT­OR: Russell Edwards
SEARCH: Forensics on Moor
MONSTERS: Ian Brady & lover Myra Hindley
Picture: ANDY STENNING VICTIM: Keith Bennett ANGER: Brother Alan INVESTIGAT­OR: Russell Edwards SEARCH: Forensics on Moor MONSTERS: Ian Brady & lover Myra Hindley

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