91Èȱ¬

A 91Èȱ¬ Radio Scotland investigation broadcast today (Monday 16 February, 9.05 am) sheds new light on the case of notorious serial killer Peter Manuel – and broadcasts his voice for the first time.

Manuel was one of Scotland's most notorious serial killers, convicted of brutally murdering seven people in the late Fifties.

Manuel began his killing spree in Lanarkshire in 1956 and was hanged in Barlinnie two years later after conducting his own defence in his trial at Glasgow High Court.

Found guilty of seven murders, it's thought he may have been responsible for as many as 15.

Following detailed research work by Dr Richard Goldberg of Aberdeen University and a Freedom of Information Request from 91Èȱ¬ Scotland last year, new evidence has come to light that suggests the authorities knew that Manuel was a psychopath and that he should not have been subject to capital punishment.

The Investigation hears from experts who say that, 50 years on, Scotland's criminal justice system still has difficulties in coping with psychopaths like Manuel.

The documentary explores this new evidence which includes Manuel's own chilling notebooks from his trial, and broadcasts, for the first time, the voice of a killer who terrified the west of Scotland for two years.

Manuel's voice was recorded at Barlinnie Prison in 1958 and he can be heard talking about the crimes he was accused of.

Extracts from his notebooks give details of how he intended to defend himself in court.

JG2