We will fight on for Winnie

WINNIE JOHNSON: her 50-year search for her son’s body ended tragically at the weekend

Family’s vow after tortured mum dies without knowing where evil Brady buried her son

WINNIE Johnson, the mother of the last missing Moors murder victim Keith Bennett, has died without finding out the location of her son’s remains.

But her family has vowed to fight on in her memory.

Winnie (78) died in the early hours of Saturday without seeing an end to the 48 years of torture she endured, wanting only to find out where her son lies buried on the Saddleworth moors and to give him a proper burial.

Keith (12) was snatched on June 16, 1964, on the way to see his grandmother, and killed by murderers Ian Brady and Myra Hindley.

Evil Brady (74) has steadfastly refused to give police details of the location of Keith’s body, despite pleas from his family and now, tragically, Winnie, despite almost five decades of tireless campaigning, will never know.

Her death came within hours of a dramatic development in the search for Keith’s remains, when police arrested Brady’s legal advocate, Jackie Powell, on suspicion of preventing the burial of a body without lawful excuse. She told a Channel 4 documentary due to be broadcast tonight that Brady had given her a sealed envelope revealing Keith’s whereabouts with strict instructions she was to give it to Winnie only after his death.

The move sparked a 10-hour police search of Ms Powell’s South Wales home, from where they took away bundles of documentation, and also of the secure unit at Ashworth Hospital where Brady is being held.

Ms Powell was reported in yesterday’s Sunday Times as criticising police for raiding her home and the manner of her arrest, saying she had told them two weeks ago about sealed letters given to her by murderer Brady but they showed little interest.

Winnie’s lawyer, John Ainley, senior partner at Oldham-based solicitors, North Ainley Halliwell, said she died peacefully at a hospice.

“Winnie was convinced Brady knew where her son was buried and she told me she wanted the search to continue to find Keith.

“Brady has persistently ignored the wishes of a tragic, grieving mother.”

Winnie died not knowing of the letter’s possible existence.

Her family refused to raise their hopes in case Brady was merely playing “mind games.”
Alan Johnson, who was eight when 12-year-old Keith disappeared, has a website keeping people up to date with the campaign to find the body of his murdered brother.

“I have a very deep fear that Keith may become just a picture in a newspaper,: he said.

“He was a son, a brother, a friend and should have been a father, grandfather and maybe a great-grandfather. He should have been whatever he wanted to be.”

The existence of a letter reportedly given by Brady to Ms Powell still remains cloudy.

Over the weekend it was reported that a letter addressed to Winnie Johnson has been returned to Brady - but police say their search of Ashworth Hospital didn’t establish if the letter exists or where it is.

Martin Bottomley, head of Greater Manchester Police’s cold case uinit, said: “Our thoughts are with Winnie’s family at this very difficult and sad time.”

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