Buried spade with possible Moors murders link undergoes tests

It was hoped the tool would provide clues to the final resting place of victim Keith Bennett, whose mother Winnie Johnson died last month without ever knowing what became of his remains.

The 12-year-old was abducted and murdered by Ian Brady and Myra Hindley in 1964 and is the only one of the five young victims whose body has never been traced.

But Steve Kershaw, senior lecturer in forensic analytical science at Manchester Metropolitan University, who has been examining the spade, said he has been unable to trace its history.

He said: “It is very, very corroded. The metal in it appears to be a reasonable steel that pre-dates the start of recycling.

“There was some vegetation attached to it and was found in an area of peat.

“The handle had been broken off, but even if we had lots more time, and even if we had established that it was a spade from the 60s or pre-dated the 60s, we would not have necessarily established if it was anything to do with Ian Brady.

“The only way we would have been able to tell is if it had DNA on it and that is harder to tell with the handle gone, with it being so corroded.”

He said the spade has now 
been returned to its finders, members of Worsley Paranormal Group, who had been searching the area for signs of where Keith’s remains lie.

Brady, 74, who remains in prison after being locked up for life, 
had been urged by police to “at last do the decent thing” and finally tell Keith’s family where he buried him on Saddleworth Moor so he could be given a Christian burial.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said it did not have any information about the spade.