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Scotland's Worst Killer: The Unseen Truth
6 Jun
Summary
- Peter Manuel was a prolific serial killer active in Scotland.
- His crimes predated the modern concept of a serial killer.
- Denise Mina's work explores his life and the complex Watt case.
Peter Manuel, a Scottish serial killer born in New York in 1927, terrorized towns southeast of Glasgow between January 1956 and January 1958. He is confirmed to have murdered nine people, though convicted of seven, earning him the moniker "the Beast from Birkinshaw." His criminal career began in childhood, escalating to sexual and violent offenses, leading to his first jail sentence at 15.
The murders of the Watt family in September 1956 marked a grim period in his spree. While William Watt was initially suspected, Manuel later contacted him and his solicitor after his release from prison. Manuel's killing spree concluded with five victims in five weeks over the New Year period.
His trial in May 1958 was sensational, with Manuel famously defending himself. He was found guilty of seven murders and hanged at HMP Barlinnie on July 11, 1958, becoming one of the last men executed in Scotland before the death penalty's abolition.
Crime writer Denise Mina, who first wrote about Manuel for a 2013 play, explored his story further in her 2017 novel 'The Long Drop.' This award-winning true crime work, now adapted for the stage at the Citizens Theatre, delves into Manuel's life and his peculiar connection with William Watt.
