Death of a killer

November 15, 2002 10:00 AM

Moors murderer Myra Hindley is dead The serial killer was serving her 36th year behind bars at nearby Highpoint Prison, Suffolk. Hindley and Ian Brady, 64, were jailed for life in 1966 for the sexual abuse, torture and murder of three youngsters. In 1987 they confessed to two more child killings.
posted by tomcosgrave (13 comments total)

She definitely wasn't punished enough. She should've been put to death immediately.
posted by statusquo at 10:10 AM on November 15, 2002

(above opinion reflects the opposite of my actual opinion, of course)
posted by statusquo at 10:15 AM on November 15, 2002

With perfect timing, too: the Huntley and Carr trial has been moved to the Old Bailey. So, just as the tabloids lose their Wicked Witch, systematically dehumanised over three decades, look to them to adopt Maxine Carr in her place.

Before the usual suspects jump on me, I wasn't one of those who wanted her released: driving the M62 to Manchester, you cross Saddleworth Moor, and there's something about the place to make you believe in ghosts. But the cultivation of Hindley's iconic status made it too easy to make her the Big Bad Monster, rather than a young woman who did terrible, evil things.
posted by riviera at 10:17 AM on November 15, 2002

This always creeps me out. I was in a suburb of Manchester in '87 when the case reawoke. Morrissey and the Johnny Marr's musical casting of the tale has always seemed to me to be an extremely moving, poignant piece and one of the band's most interesting compositions.
posted by jburka at 10:24 AM on November 15, 2002

Some background here. Awful, awful crime.
posted by KiloHeavy at 10:35 AM on November 15, 2002

I first heard of Myra Hindley two days ago while reading this article about British artist Marcus Harvey and his portrait of Hindley.
posted by snez at 10:40 AM on November 15, 2002

Good.
posted by Bletch at 10:48 AM on November 15, 2002

Good that this was posted to MeFi so now we can engage in a vigorous discussions, the pros and cons of serial killers. Yes, we can hear from the MeFi'ers who devoutly espouse the philosophies and ideas of serial killing and then we can hear the side of the detractors on why serial killing isn't all that.

I anxiously await the wide spectrum of thoughts that will hitherto be presented on this dire issue!
posted by xmutex at 11:01 AM on November 15, 2002

In other news, Karla Homolka will be released from a jail -- near my hometown! -- in about a year. She will not be under parole, and will be free to go wherever and do whatever she likes.
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 11:40 AM on November 15, 2002

Gosh, I haven't been this sad since Jeffery Dammer died.
posted by 2sheets at 11:41 AM on November 15, 2002

I was in a band that did a song about Myra Hindley. That is all.
posted by Fabulon7 at 4:31 PM on November 15, 2002

What riviera said, word for word.
posted by MiguelCardoso at 5:31 PM on November 15, 2002

Marcus Harvey recreated a mugshot of Myra Hindley using children's handprints, which was the most controversial exhibit when the Sensation art show from the Saatchi collection was unveiled in London in 1997. The painting was so controversial that two rival artists pelted it with India ink and eggs on two separate occasions. When the Sensation art show went to New York, Americans were largely oblivious to who Myra Hindley was. Instead, controversy surrounded Chris Ofili's Holy Virgin Mary instead, which Rudy Giuliani and conservative Christian groups viewed as blasphemous. Another bizarre Hindley connection is that Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders, participated in a punk group called the Moors Murderers under the name Chrissie Hindley. I think Malcolm McClaren, the founder of the Sex Pistols, also used to sell "Free Myra Hindley" T-shirts. Sorry if this is old news to the Brits on this board, but most Americans, except for true-crime buffs like me, have no clue who Myra Hindley is.
posted by jonp72 at 3:28 PM on November 16, 2002