Mark Pettigrew

Occurring between 1963 and 1965, the murders committed by Myra Hindley and Ian Brady are notorious in British criminal history. Whilst the crimes were callous and coldblooded, their infamy is largely the result of the media's enduring and relentless preoccupation with Hindley herself. Although it has been nearly 20 years since her death, Hindley continues to appear as a news story even in 2022. This chapter will critically analyse the media discourses that surrounded Hindley from her trial, through the years of her imprisonment, to the time of her death. Particularly, it will assess the detriment of press coverage to her bids for freedom in the context of public opinion and its effect upon politicians who were responsible for the setting and review of her life tariff.

It is only relatively recently that necrophilic behaviour has been recognised as diverse in nature, the importance of which is directly linked to correct treatment options. The distinct paraphilic disorder of necrosadism, the sexual arousal derived from the mutilation of corpses, is presented in a case here to clarify existing definitions of the disorder, describe its manifestation in cases of homicide, and explore the psychology driving the behaviour. In so doing, it is hoped that the behaviour is more succinctly defined and better understood so appropriate and tailored treatment options for the disorder can be discussed and formulated.