The first edition of one of the earliest books ever published on the now-infamous Moors Murderers, Ian Brady and Myra Hindley.

I have two other rare first-edition books on the Moors Murderers from the same year for sale - “The Monsters of the Moors” by John Deane Potter (which was the first book ever published on the case) and my personal favourite of the three, “The Moor Murders” by David Marchbanks. Buy in bulk to save up to 15% off each item.

Blurb:

The Moor Murders Trial of Ian Brady and Myra Hindley for triple murder was the most terrifying criminal trial of the Twentieth Century.

In this book " Satan's Children" Judge Gerald Sparrow answers the question which the public have been asking: why did they do it? But this book goes much further, probing every aspect of the trial, which is vividly described, to come to grips with a large number of questions to which this unique crime leads us.

Could the prisoners in this case have conceived their diabolical plans, and carried them out with cunning and with torture, if they had not been insane?

Why does the law ignore perversion as a form of insanity? What part does sexual compulsion play in murder?

Why is it not possible for the lawyer and the psychiatrist to come together and agree on a new and up-to-date definition of the grades of mental instability and irresponsibility?

Was the long and elaborate trial of the accused in fact a charade answering the question which was never really in doubt, the question of guilt or innocence, but leaving the origin of these appalling murders unexplored or unexplained?

Does the Moors Murders trial suggest that Britain's whole legal system, involving Judges, lawyers, the Assize system and English law itself, is hopelessly out-of-date and in need of immediate and drastic reform?

The legal establishment will certainly disapprove of this book most strongly, but the ideas advanced in it are honest and challenging.

Gerald Sparrow is qualified to write this book having been a barrister, a judge, and, during the war, a prisoner.

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Foreword by The Rt. Rev. R. C. Mortimer, D.D. Bishop of Exeter.

This book includes four interspersed photo inserts (each with two pages), and the original red paper dust jacket. This has become slightly faded and frayed over time, but has been thoughtfully been preserved in a plastic sleeve. There are some scattered imperfections to the forepage edges, but otherwise it is in very good condition - uncommon for this specific edition of the book.

First-class UK shipping is included in the cost of purchase.