The brother of Keith Bennett – a young boy killed in the horrific Moors Murders in the 1960s – has posted a heartfelt tribute asking people to spare a thought for his sibling who went missing 56 years ago today.
Twelve-year-old Keith was on his way to his grandmother’s house in Longsight on 16 June 1964 when he was lured into a vehicle by Myra Hindley and Ian Brady.
Keith was then driven to Saddleworth Moor where he was sexually assaulted and murdered.
His body has never been found.
Keith was one of five children abducted and killed by Hindley and Brady, who were described by their trial judge as “two sadistic killers of the utmost depravity”.
ADVERTISEMENT
Both were given life sentences and died in prison.
Myra Hindley and Ian Brady
Keith’s brother, Alan, took to Facebook to reflect on the events of the dreadful day Keith vanished, encouraging people to remember the young boy who was “denied the life he should have lived and all he could have been.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Alan wrote: “It is, and always will be, very hard to accept that later that night the rest of us slept safe and sound in our beds. It was not until the following morning that we all discovered Keith had disappeared. When my gran got to my mother’s house the following morning, I heard the question ‘Where is Keith?’
“Neither my gran nor my mother had a telephone at home, my mother thought Keith had arrived at my gran’s, my gran had thought that Keith had changed his mind and had decided to stay at home.”
He continues: “I will never forget the confusion of that morning that quickly turned to complete panic and terror. We grew up with the terror, thoughts and fears of that morning and it was to be over 20 years until we discovered, or rather had confirmed, that Keith had been a victim of Brady and Hindley. Something the police and us as a family had always thought to be the case.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Alan ends his statement by asking readers: “Can I ask you to please, once again, spare a thought of remembrance for Keith today?”
RIP Keith Bennett.
News
Tribute paid to man ‘loved by so many’ stabbed to death in Levenshulme
Daisy Jackson
The brother of a man stabbed to death in Levenshulme has paid a heartbreaking tribute to him.
Zherko Rasul Osman was just 24 years old when he was fatally wounded in an incident on Chapel Street on Saturday evening.
Despite the best efforts of emergency services personnel, Zherko sadly died at the scene.
Now, his brother has paid tribute to him, saying he was ‘someone who was loved by so many’.
The touching tribute reads: “My brother was a kind, friendly and loving person who never looked for trouble or wanted to harm anyone.
“He was loved and respected by his friends, his mates and the neighbours in the community where he lived. He had a good heart and would always be remembered for the warmth and happiness he brought to those around him.
“His life was taken so suddenly and for no reason, leaving a pain and emptiness that words cannot describe. We are heartbroken that someone who was loved by so many is no longer here. He deserved to live his life and make memories with the people he loved.
“He will never be forgotten. His smile, his kindness and the memories we shared with him will stay in our hearts forever. We love you, and we will miss you every single day.”
Zherko Rasul Osman suffered serious stab wounds on Chapel Street in Levenshulme at around 7.06pm on Saturday 15 August.
A 23-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder, and he remains in custody for questioning. A 27-year-old man who had also been arrested on suspicion of murder remains on bail pending further enquiries.
Officers continue to make progress as the investigation continues. It is believed this was an isolated incident with no wider threat to the public.
Police are urging anyone who may have information to please report it through the dedicated online portal HERE.
Anyone in the Chapel Street area around the time of this incident, or who has mobile phone, CCTV, Ring doorbell or dashcam footage can contact police on 0161 856 9008 quoting the log number 2983 of 15/08/2026.
Alternatively contact independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Government launches £442m drive to get rough sleepers off streets before Christmas
Emily Sergeant
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has launched a £442m drive to get rough sleepers off the streets before Christmas.
Learning from ‘innovative’ approaches put into place during the pandemic, the Government has announced that new accommodation will be rolled out across England this winter, as well as offering practical help with housing, health, and other needs to support people to build a more stable life for themselves in the future.
The new commitment to offer everyone a route off the streets this Christmas, along with boosted funding, reflect the Andy Burnham‘s national drive to make ‘real change’ and get everyone playing their part in ending rough sleeping.
Not only will these plans change the lives of rough sleepers, but it’s also said they will have huge benefits for the country as a whole.
Research from homelessness charity Crisis suggests that by preventing 40,000 people from becoming homeless for a year, taxpayers could save around £370 million.
The Government has launched a £442m drive to get rough sleepers off the streets before Christmas / Credit: Number 10 Press Office | Jon Tyson (via Unsplash)
As well provisions to get people off the streets, and the intensive ‘wraparound’ support, the newly allocated funding will also help local areas deliver more than 1,000 ‘settled’ homes over the next three years, it has been confirmed.
Areas facing the greatest pressures will receive the largest share of support.
Working alongside councils, Mayors will play a leading role in driving local action to end rough sleeping, and will be tasked with making decisions that are right for their communities to deliver help where it’s needed most.
The Prime Minister says he ‘won’t accept’ rough sleeping any longer. He commented: “No one should have to bed down in a doorway or outside a station, but we’ve seen it for so long that it feels like Westminster has started to accept it.
“That’s why my first instruction as Prime Minister was to end rough sleeping, and it’s why today we’re getting started with a national drive to get everyone in for Christmas. We did it in the pandemic, we can do it again. But it needs all of us.
The Manc -
16th June 2020 
