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There was the voice of a killer on our airwaves this morning. A serial killer. It was the voice of Peter Manuel who, in the 1950's, confessed to the murder of eight people. He later denied making that confession but failed to convince a jury of his innocence while conducting his own defence at the High Court. He was sentenced to death.

It was while he was being held at Glasgow's Barlinnie Prison that Manuel was interviewed by a psychiatrist. The recording of that interview was obtained by reporter David Miller and producer Kathy Long as part of a Freedom of Information request. It was used in this morning's Investigation programme which went on to pose some interesting questions about the nature of psychopaths and how they are dealt with by the justice system.

were explored in the subsequent phone-in element of the programme and
in our news programmes throughout the day.

I was struck, however, by the sheer power of that interview with Manuel. He speaks in a matter-of-fact tone and in a style that belies the fact that it was recorded fifty years ago. Yet because we, the audience, know of his crimes and of his fate, that voice from the past takes on a chilling quality.

If you missed it this morning, you can listen by clicking here on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ iPlayer.

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