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Peter Manuel, often referred to as the Beast from Birkneshaw, remains one of the most notorious figures in Scottish criminal history. Born in New York on March 15, 1927, to Scottish parents, Manuel returned to Scotland in 1932. His criminal record began at age 11 with the theft of an offertory box, escalating to violent home invasions by age 15.
Between 1956 and 1958, Manuel engaged in a series of killings that prompted a major police investigation across Lanarkshire and Glasgow. While he was convicted of seven murders, some experts have suggested he may have been responsible for up to 18 deaths.
The series of killings began with the death of 17-year-old Anne Kneilands, whose body was discovered on a golf course in East Kilbride on January 4, 1956. Although Manuel was a suspect in the investigation, he was not convicted of her murder at the time due to a lack of evidence, though he reportedly confessed to the crime years later.
On September 17, 1956, Marian Watt, her 16-year-old daughter Vivienne, and Marian’s sister, Margaret Brown, were shot in their home. Following a period of incarceration for unrelated break-ins, Manuel was released in November 1957. Shortly thereafter, 17-year-old Isabelle Cooke went missing on December 28, 1957. Her body was later recovered after Manuel provided information to police.
The final known victims were Peter Smart, his wife Doris, and their 11-year-old son, Michael, whose bodies were discovered on January 6, 1958. Evidence indicated the family had been shot in their beds. Investigators found that Manuel had been using the family’s car and spending banknotes stolen from their home. He was arrested on January 14, 1958.
Following his arrest, Manuel confessed to eight murders in exchange for the release of his father, Samuel, who had been detained after stolen items were found in his bedroom. Manuel directed police to the location of Isabelle Cooke’s body and the weapons he had discarded in the River Clyde. He was also linked to the 1957 murder of taxi driver Sydney Dunn in Newcastle, though this was never legally proven.
Manuel stood trial at the Glasgow High Court in 1958. After a 14-day trial, the jury convicted him of seven murders. He was sentenced to death on May 26, 1958. Following a failed appeal, Manuel was executed at Barlinnie Prison on July 11, 1958.
Article and image source: dailyrecord.co.uk
