BBC Radio Scotland MW

Morning Extra

Phone-ins

News

Graham Stewart takes your calls on the day's big news stories.

Graham Stewart takes your calls, texts and emails on the day's big news stories.

The biggest phone-in on Scottish radio, Graham Stewart takes your calls on the day's big news stories.

Morning Extra: The Investigation — Peter Manuel: Inside the Mind of a Psychopath

The Investigation — Peter Manuel: Inside the Mind of a Psychopath

16/02/2009

BBC Radio Scotland - Morning Extra, The Investigation — Peter Manuel: Inside the Mind of a Psychopath

David Miller uncovers new evidence on 1950s serial killer Peter Manuel.

David Miller uncovers new evidence on 1950s serial killer Peter Manuel. Graham Stewart takes your calls, texts and emails.

David Miller uncovers new evidence about the case of Peter Manuel, one of Scotland's most notorious serial killers.

Manuel confessed to eight murders and was executed in July 1958. However, a leading expert has claimed the authorities colluded to ensure Manuel was hanged, despite the fact that he was a known psychopath. This information could have prevented Manuel's execution because it would have allowed the High Court to accept a plea of diminished responsibility. 

Dr Richard Goldberg, of Aberdeen University's law school, has studied files held in the National Archives in Edinburgh which have been released following a request from BBC Scotland, made under the Freedom of Information Act. He said the files proved the legal and political authorities in 1958 knew Manuel was a psychopath, but sought to minimise that fact because of the widespread public outrage caused by his crimes. 

So was it right that Manuel suffered the ultimate punishment? Or should he have received psychiatric treatment?

Dr Goldberg believes the case still matters today because Scots law continues to have problems with people with psychopathic personality disorder.  Should someone who is a psychopath be able to plead diminished responsibility if they commit a crime?

Graham Stewart takes your calls, texts and emails.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Morning Extra

The Investigation — Peter Manuel: Inside the Mind of a Psychopath

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC Radio Scotland MW

About BBC Radio Scotland