Episode 584: Peter Manuel: The Beast of Birkenshaw (Part 2)

Peter Manuel, known to law enforcement as an aggressive psychopath, showed a pattern of escalating violence throughout his criminal history, leading to the recognition that he would likely never change or be rehabilitated.

Manuel’s Persistent and Escalating Violence

Manuel's criminal activities began at a young age and became increasingly violent over time. He committed a series of crimes, including housebreaking, assault, and sexual assault. Despite being imprisoned multiple times, Manuel continually reoffended upon release, with each crime becoming more brutal and leaving behind more evidence. Several psychiatrists involved in his case have concluded that there is no chance for his recovery, while Dowdell went so far as to describe Manuel as the most vicious psychopath he has ever encountered.

Patterns and Recognition by Law Enforcement

Detectives recognized Manuel's pattern of escalating violen ...

Manuel's gruesome series of murders shocked the nation, with details and evidence highlighting the brutality and senselessness of his crimes.

Manuel confessed to murdering several individuals, including the Watt family, the Smart family, Isabelle Cook, and Sidney Dunn.

Manuel's confessions, supported by detailed knowledge of his victims' homes and crime scenes, and evidence presented at the trial, such as the murder weapons and pieces of Anne Neelan's skull, painted a graphic picture of his offenses.

Manuel broke into the Watt family's home and murdered the mother, Marianne, and her sister Vivian, shooting them at close range while they slept.

In the case of the Watt family, Manuel broke into their home without any signs of forced entry and executed Marianne and Vivian Watt while they were sleeping, shooting them in the head at point-blank range. Valuables left untouched at the scene suggested that robbery was not the main intent.

Manuel murdered the Smart family - Peter, Doris, and their 11-year-old son Michael - in their home, shooting them all execution-style, and then returned to the home for several days afterward to eat their food and relax in their living room.

Manuel went on to kill the Smart family—Peter, Doris, and their son, Michael—by breaking into their home through an open window and shooting them execution-style. Not only did he commit these heinous acts, but he also returned to the Smart home over several days to live among the deceased, taking time to feed their cats, eat their food, and relax in their living room.

Manuel abducted 17-year-old Isabelle Cook on her way to a dance, sexually assaulted her, and buried her in a shallow grave, where he later led police to discover her body.

The chilling case of Isabelle Cook involved Manuel abducting the 17-year-old on her way to a dance, sexually assaulting her, and then committing murder, burying her in a shallow grave—the same location where he had attacked another young woman years earlier.

Manuel murdered taxi driver Sidney Dunn, cutting his throat and shooting him in the head, though he did not steal anything from Dunn's cab.

The murder of taxi driver Sidney Dunn highlighted the random and brutal nature of Manuel's violence. Dunn's throat was cut, and he was shot in the head, with no valuables taken from the scene.

In each of the crimes Manuel committed, he left behind evidence and details known only to the killer but attempted to deflect blame and provide false alibis. His violent acts did not reflect a consistent victim profile, targeting various demographic groups without specification or pattern. The brutality and motivelessness of his crimes drew parallels to notorious serial killer Richard Ramirez, invoking a fear that nobody was exempt from becoming his next victim.

Despite his confessions, Manuel told inconsistent stories about the crime, at one point even suggesting that William Watt's family had been killed by someone else. William Watt himself testified that Manuel had implicated others in t ...

Superintendent Brown's relentless and strategic investigation tactics were instrumental in the eventual arrest and conviction of Peter Manuel.

Detectives, led by the methodical and relentless Superintendent Brown, closely monitored Manuel after his release from prison and eventually gathered enough evidence to arrest him.

Superintendent Brown was renowned for his meticulous approach to crime scene investigation and his deep understanding of criminal psychology. He masterfully played on Manuel's fears and loyalties by threatening to charge his father with a crime, forcing Manuel to turn on his own family. Brown's commitment to the investigation was unmatched; he even set up a bed in the Bothwell police station, deciding to live there to be ready to act on any new information immediately. His searching methods were thorough, and he did not shy away from stripping wallpaper off the walls if necessary to find evidence.

After Peter Manuel confessed, Brown astutely decided to remove him from the house, which resulted in his parents becoming less defiant and allowing the police to conduct an unhindered search. During this time, items related to several crimes were discovered, including a pair of men's gloves and a stolen camera. Additionally, the weapons used in the Smart and Watt murders were later found in the River Clyde after Manuel had disposed of them there.

Once arrested, Manuel initially pleaded not guilty and attempted to shift blame to others, but the overwhelming evidence against him eventually led to his conviction.

Despite Manuel initially pleading not guilty and attempting to shift the blame onto William Watt—the father of one of the murdered families—during the trial, the evidence against him was formidable. Witnesses provided damning testimonies; one witness recalled seeing Manuel with fresh scratches on his face following Anne Neelan’s murder and observed him removing bloody work boots. Glasgow bartenders identified Manuel as the man who spent new five-pound note ...