Peter Manuel
| AKA | Beast of Birkenshaw |
| DOB | 13 Mar 1927 (Pisces) |
| Occupation | Various |
| Kill Total | 15 + |
| Kill Place | Glasgow |
| Kill Date | 1957 1958 |
| M.O. | Various |
| Victim | See here >> |
Using a Webley revolver, a Beretta pistol, an iron bar, and strangulation Manuel, killed at least seven people in and around Glasgow and the Lowlands of Scotland, police suspect he may have killer at least 15-people.
Born in New York, Peter Thomas Anthony Manuel's parents had moved from Scotland to New York, returning to Scotland when Peter was 5 years old. Manuel lived with his parents in Birkenshaw. His young days were spent in and out of approved schools and borstal for a string of petty crimes including theft and burglary, known to local police by the age of ten as a petty criminal. A loner who loved the dark, he was picked on and bullied at school due to his accent.
March 1946, at age-16 he committed a string of sexual attacks and spent nine years in HMP Peterhead. He was convicted of house breaking and rape.
He denied the charges and claimed it was a fantasy story 'Trumped up' by the police. He said he would not forget the name of the detective who 'Framed' him, Detective Muncie.
October 1952, Manuel was freed from prison and spends a while working for British rail, until his criminal past was discovered. he then worked with his father for The Scottish Gas board.
1955, Mary McLauchlan was walking home alone when approached by Manuel, he dragged her into a field and sexually assaulted her. He then kept hold of her telling her in graphic detail how he was going to kill her by decapitating her.
Manuel stood trial and conducted his own defence. At the trial Mary McLauchlan stated that she felt that Manuel got pleasure from seeing her fear. His defence was good, and he was acquitted.
The Chief detective on the case was Muncie, Manuel was not impressed.
from that day on he always sent Muncie birthday and Christmas cards.
2nd January 1956, Anne Kniekands was stalked by Manuel to East Kilbride golf course. He raped her then attacked her with an iron bar. He was questioned by police, but his farther provided an alibi. Although he was later charge with this murder the case was dropped due to lack of evidence.
17th September 1956, Marion Watt aged-45, her daughter Vivienne Watt aged-17, and her sister Margaret Brown aged-41, were all shot dead in their home in the Burnside area of Glasgow. Although Manuel was a suspect, police focussed their attention on Marion's husband William. Although he was away on a fishing trip at the time, it was argued he drove the 90 miles there and back to commit the crime. A witness even said they saw him during the night.
8th December 1957, Manuel was in England, in Newcastle looking for work. The body of 36-yerar-old Sydney Dunn was found on moorlands shortly after being visited by Manuel. By the time the body was discovered, Manuel was back in Scotland, and as it is a different legal jurisdiction, Manuel was never charged with this murder. Although once he was in custody an English Coroners court did find him guilty, the evidence being a button from Manuel's coat found in Mr Dunn's car.
28th December 1957, 17-year-old Isabelle Cooke was on her way to a dance when she disappeared. Manuel stalked her then raped and strangled her. He buried her in a near-by field. Once in custody he led police to the spot of the body.
1st January 1958, The Smart family were shot dead in their home in Uddingston, shot in the head at close range. Peter Smart aged-45, his wife Doris age-42, and son Michael aged ten had been celebrating Hogmanay. After the murders Manuel stayed in the house for a week, eating all the food, and stealing a large quantity of cash that had been stashed as savings. Eventually leaving, taking the family car. He even gave a lift to a local policeman investigating the Isabelle Cooke murder, Manuel suggested that the police were looking for the wrong man.
14th January 1958, Police had suspected Manuel but had little evidence, once some of the missing cash stolen from the Smart house turned up police acted. They arrested Manuel's father, which was enough for him to hand himself in, Manuel was arrested and charged.
Once in custody Manuel confessed to killing eighteen people, he would only be tried for the murders of eight people.
May 1958, Manuel was tried at Glasgow High Court, in front of judge Lord Cameron. He conducted his own defence, after sacking his defence team, and attempted a plea of insanity, by all accounts he did a good job, but to no avail. He was found guilty of seven of the eight murder charges.
Before his execution he confessed to all the murders, and even a few others that the police had not originally attributed to him. It is suspected that Peter Manuel was responsible for the death of at least 15-people.
8:00am 11th July 1958, He was hanged at HMP Barlinnie prison by executioner Harry Allen. Manuel's last words were, allegedly, "Turn up the radio and I'll go quietly".
It has been suggested in recent years that Manuel may have been a psychopath, and that authorities at the time should have conducted more in-depth psychological testing, which means he would have been jailed for life and would have avoided execution.
Born in New York, Peter Thomas Anthony Manuel's parents had moved from Scotland to New York, returning to Scotland when Peter was 5 years old. Manuel lived with his parents in Birkenshaw. His young days were spent in and out of approved schools and borstal for a string of petty crimes including theft and burglary, known to local police by the age of ten as a petty criminal. A loner who loved the dark, he was picked on and bullied at school due to his accent.
March 1946, at age-16 he committed a string of sexual attacks and spent nine years in HMP Peterhead. He was convicted of house breaking and rape.
He denied the charges and claimed it was a fantasy story 'Trumped up' by the police. He said he would not forget the name of the detective who 'Framed' him, Detective Muncie.
October 1952, Manuel was freed from prison and spends a while working for British rail, until his criminal past was discovered. he then worked with his father for The Scottish Gas board.
1955, Mary McLauchlan was walking home alone when approached by Manuel, he dragged her into a field and sexually assaulted her. He then kept hold of her telling her in graphic detail how he was going to kill her by decapitating her.
Manuel stood trial and conducted his own defence. At the trial Mary McLauchlan stated that she felt that Manuel got pleasure from seeing her fear. His defence was good, and he was acquitted.
The Chief detective on the case was Muncie, Manuel was not impressed.
from that day on he always sent Muncie birthday and Christmas cards.
2nd January 1956, Anne Kniekands was stalked by Manuel to East Kilbride golf course. He raped her then attacked her with an iron bar. He was questioned by police, but his farther provided an alibi. Although he was later charge with this murder the case was dropped due to lack of evidence.
17th September 1956, Marion Watt aged-45, her daughter Vivienne Watt aged-17, and her sister Margaret Brown aged-41, were all shot dead in their home in the Burnside area of Glasgow. Although Manuel was a suspect, police focussed their attention on Marion's husband William. Although he was away on a fishing trip at the time, it was argued he drove the 90 miles there and back to commit the crime. A witness even said they saw him during the night.
8th December 1957, Manuel was in England, in Newcastle looking for work. The body of 36-yerar-old Sydney Dunn was found on moorlands shortly after being visited by Manuel. By the time the body was discovered, Manuel was back in Scotland, and as it is a different legal jurisdiction, Manuel was never charged with this murder. Although once he was in custody an English Coroners court did find him guilty, the evidence being a button from Manuel's coat found in Mr Dunn's car.
28th December 1957, 17-year-old Isabelle Cooke was on her way to a dance when she disappeared. Manuel stalked her then raped and strangled her. He buried her in a near-by field. Once in custody he led police to the spot of the body.
1st January 1958, The Smart family were shot dead in their home in Uddingston, shot in the head at close range. Peter Smart aged-45, his wife Doris age-42, and son Michael aged ten had been celebrating Hogmanay. After the murders Manuel stayed in the house for a week, eating all the food, and stealing a large quantity of cash that had been stashed as savings. Eventually leaving, taking the family car. He even gave a lift to a local policeman investigating the Isabelle Cooke murder, Manuel suggested that the police were looking for the wrong man.
14th January 1958, Police had suspected Manuel but had little evidence, once some of the missing cash stolen from the Smart house turned up police acted. They arrested Manuel's father, which was enough for him to hand himself in, Manuel was arrested and charged.
Once in custody Manuel confessed to killing eighteen people, he would only be tried for the murders of eight people.
May 1958, Manuel was tried at Glasgow High Court, in front of judge Lord Cameron. He conducted his own defence, after sacking his defence team, and attempted a plea of insanity, by all accounts he did a good job, but to no avail. He was found guilty of seven of the eight murder charges.
Before his execution he confessed to all the murders, and even a few others that the police had not originally attributed to him. It is suspected that Peter Manuel was responsible for the death of at least 15-people.
8:00am 11th July 1958, He was hanged at HMP Barlinnie prison by executioner Harry Allen. Manuel's last words were, allegedly, "Turn up the radio and I'll go quietly".
It has been suggested in recent years that Manuel may have been a psychopath, and that authorities at the time should have conducted more in-depth psychological testing, which means he would have been jailed for life and would have avoided execution.