SCOTTISH SERIAL KILLER PETER MANUEL'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN GLASGOW AND EAST KILBRIDE

Peter Manuel, a notorious Scottish serial killer, was a man whose violent crimes shocked the nation and left a dark stain on Scotland’s criminal history. Born in New York City in March 1927 to Scottish parents who had emigrated in search of better opportunities, Manuel’s early life was marked by hardship and instability. The family struggled to find success in the United States, and following the economic downturn caused by the Wall Street Crash, they returned to their homeland in 1932, settling in Lanarkshire, Scotland.

Despite relocating to Scotland, Manuel retained a strong American accent, which reportedly made him a target for bullying among his schoolmates. His troubled childhood was characterized by early signs of delinquency. By the age of ten, he was already known to local police as a petty thief, and he frequently cycled through approved schools and juvenile detention centers. His probation officer later remarked that Manuel possessed the worst juvenile criminal record he had ever encountered.

As Manuel grew older, his criminal activities escalated in severity. By his mid-teens, he was involved in violent and sexual offenses. At just 15 years old, he broke into a house and assaulted the female occupant, who was asleep in her bed, beating her over the head with a hammer. Over the following year, he committed a series of sexual assaults, which resulted in his conviction and a nine-year sentence at Peterhead Prison. His criminal record continued to grow, including convictions for rape, before he embarked on a killing spree in 1956.

There is considerable debate regarding Manuel’s mental health. Some experts suggest he exhibited classic psychopathic traits—lacking empathy, showing no remorse, and denying the wrongfulness of his actions. Others have described symptoms such as fugue states, memory loss, and epilepsy, which complicate understanding his motives. Despite these conflicting assessments, it is clear that Manuel was a deeply disturbed individual.

What makes Manuel’s case particularly perplexing is the contradiction between his violent crimes and his personal relationships. He was known to be cruel to animals but also showed devotion to his family dog. He could not sustain romantic relationships with women, yet he considered himself a womanizer. Strangely, he doted on his mother, which adds to the complex and disturbing portrait of his psyche.

By the time of his arrest in 1958, Manuel had committed at least eight murders, making him one of Scotland’s most infamous serial killers. His killing spree spanned from 1956 to 1958, during which he left a trail of violence and death across various locations, including East Kilbride, Glasgow, and Uddingston.

The first known victim was 17-year-old Anne Kneilands. On January 2, 1956, under the cover of darkness, Manuel stalked her across a golf course near her home in East Kilbride, where he was working for the gas board. He subjected Anne to a brutal sexual assault and attacked her with an iron bar, leaving her with severe head injuries. Despite his known history as a sex offender, police questioned Manuel about her murder. His father, Samuel Manuel, provided an alibi, claiming Peter was with him at the time. With no other evidence, the case was dismissed, allowing Manuel to continue his killing spree.

Later that year, on September 17, 1956, Manuel broke into the home of Marion Watt, her daughter Vivienne, and Marion’s sister Margaret in the Glasgow district of High Burnside. He shot all three women in their beds and sexually assaulted 16-year-old Vivienne. The case initially misled investigators to suspect William Watts, Marion’s husband, who was away fishing at the time. William was arrested and jailed for two months before the charges were dropped due to lack of evidence. Meanwhile, Manuel was incarcerated at Barlinnie Prison for housebreaking.

After his release in late November 1957, Manuel resumed his murderous activities. His fifth victim was believed to be Sydney Dunn, a taxi driver from Northumbria, who was shot on December 8, 1957. Police, piecing together Manuel’s movements, found evidence suggesting he was in the North East at the time, although this was not conclusive. The following month, on December 28, 1957, 17-year-old Isabelle Cooke was murdered. She was on her way to meet her boyfriend near her Glasgow home but never arrived. Her body was later discovered, having been strangled with her own underwear. Manuel later confessed to her murder and led police to the remote location where her body was disposed of.

On New Year’s Day 1958, Manuel committed his most heinous act. He broke into the home of the Smart family in Uddingston, a suburb of Glasgow. Mr. and Mrs. Smart, along with their 11-year-old son Michael, were all asleep when Manuel entered and shot them in the head. Remarkably, he returned to their home over several days, feeding their cat and consuming their food, indicating a disturbing fascination with the crime scene. These murders marked the beginning of the end for Manuel.

The police faced significant challenges in solving the case. The murders appeared to have no clear motive, no apparent links to the victims, and lacked witnesses or substantial evidence. Manuel’s pattern involved either beating his victims to death or shooting them in their own homes. Despite suspicions among police and prison staff, concrete evidence was elusive for years.

Investigators eventually linked stolen banknotes from the Smart family’s home to Manuel. The notes, which were in a numbered sequence, were used by Manuel to buy drinks in Glasgow bars. Bar owners, aware of the ongoing murder investigation, contacted police. Additionally, letters written by Manuel to William Watts contained details only the killer would know, further implicating him.

On January 14, 1958, just over two years after Anne Kneilands’ murder, police finally arrested Peter Manuel at his family’s home in Birkenshaw. They had been searching for stolen items from the Smart family’s murder scene and also arrested Manuel and his father for housebreaking. During his detention, police left Manuel alone in his cell for nearly 24 hours, during which he called to offer assistance with “unsolved cases.”

Manuel confessed to multiple murders, including those of Anne Kneilands, the Watts family, Margaret Brown, Isabelle Cooke, and the Smart family. It is believed he did so partly to see his parents, with whom he maintained a close relationship, and possibly because he craved attention typical of psychopathic killers.

The trial commenced on May 12, 1958, at Glasgow’s High Court. Manuel, then 31, faced charges of eight murders. He chose to conduct his own defense, dismissing his lawyers and attempting to portray himself as innocent. Despite his confessions and prior criminal record, he retracted his statements in court, claiming he only confessed to police to protect his family. The court rejected his claims, and evidence was presented linking him to the crimes, including stolen banknotes and his own confessions.

During the trial, Manuel claimed he knew the Smart family and that Peter Smart had asked him to procure a gun. He also insisted he was at the cinema when Isabelle Cooke was murdered. However, the jury was unconvinced by his defense. After a trial lasting twelve days, they returned guilty verdicts on all charges except for Anne Kneilands’ murder, due to insufficient evidence. Manuel was sentenced to death by hanging.

In the days leading up to his execution, Manuel’s demeanor deteriorated. He initially tried to feign insanity to escape the death penalty but was ultimately unconvincing. His mother, witnessing his decline, lost her temper and slapped him, shouting, “You can’t fool me!”

On July 11, 1958, Peter Manuel was executed by hanging at Barlinnie Prison. His final words were reportedly, “Turn up the radio and I’ll go quietly.” He was buried in an unmarked grave within the prison grounds, ending a reign of terror that had gripped Scotland for years.