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25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Bad Egg, 21 Jan 2004
By A Customer
Excellent book on the subject - clearly excellently researched. Bilton knows the story well. It makes fascinating reading and not only is it a document on the ripper investigation, it is also full of historical information on the history of Yorkshire policing.
It is also very sad and depressing. Lots of dreadfull accounts of the killings and the destruction of many families' happiness. There were premature deaths and failing health amongst those in the victims' families also and amongst the officers themselves - the head of the investigation for most of it, George Oldfield suffered a heart attack during it and died 5 years later at 61, while Dennis Hoban died suddenly in 1978 of diabetic problems at 51.Just a few minor things: Bilton says he wasn't remotely interested in Sutcliffe himself and that he could tell him nothing except that he was a sick and perverted murderer, but unfortunately and as disgusting as it sounds, you do have to look at sick perverted murderers themselves and interview them to look at their crimes objectively - that's what police have to do and Bilton was trying to look at things from a police perspective. He almost canonises the policemen as well. I know Dick Holland was a good policeman in many ways and worked hard, but no judgement was passed on him by the author for being ignorant and boorish towards a junior DC for trying to alert him to his suspicions of Sutcliffe a few years before he was apprehended - it's just another missed chance to get Sutcliffe. He was also a dirty cop at times - Bilton gives the impression he just cut a few corners here and there, but got results in the end. One small aside - what he failed to mention (and presumably he knew this very well) was that it was this same Dick Holland who arrested, helped intimidate a confession out of and stitch up Stefan Kiszco for the murder of 11-year-old Leslie Moleseed in the 1970's. Vital evidence that would have established Kiszko's innocence during the trial was also withheld by the police. Kiszco served 16 years before being cleared and his premature death in his early 40's from a heart attack a year later was, no doubt, caused by this as well. Holland faced criminal charges for this, but is still portrayed as a decent, honest bloke. He says about how heroic the police were getting Sutcliffe to confess - Sutcliffe volunteered his confession after just a few questions. There was little encouragement and no clever manipulation by the police. That said though, it was a difficult and nearly impossible job. They did try and problems and paperwork did snowball, which has to be taken into account. They are ALL portrayed as honest and decent men and in fairness, many were. This is despite what's mentioned above, several mess ups (most understandable, many not), the fact that orders were given to destroy evidence and that they tried to cover some things up afterwards. Also, he flogs that 'killing kit' thing to death at the end of the book. OK - it is a strange and bizarre revelation, BUT the lack of mentioning it at the trial isn't the sole reason that Sutcliffe got away with going to Broadmoor.
He says this proved premeditation - there was no need to prove this because he admitted premeditation himself - he said himself he drove around looking for victims.
He also says that it proves a sexual motive throughout, dispelling the madness plea, but Sutcliffe admitted himself that he was aroused and had sex with Helen Rytka while she was lying there dying of head wounds and before he finished the job off by stabbing her.
The judge and 10 of the jury certainly and some of the cops probably knew he was bad rather than mad anyway and rejected his story of hearing voices telling him to do it at the time.
Also, was it not the cops' mess up that he wasn't questioned about this killing kit after it was discovered? Or that it wasn't included in evidence? Or that wheoever overheard him telling his wife he would plead insanity wasn't called? Some of the transcripts in the appendix are dated after the discovery of this killing kit and it isn't mentioned in there at all. Also, in his initial interview, he talks about the people he's attacked as women at one point, rather than prostitutes, so it was inconsistent anyway. Despite these few faults it is a fascinating and gripping book and I recommend it highly. ESSENTIAL reading for anyone interested in the case, in criminal investigation and true crime. Good value too - it's a big book of over 700 pages packed with information.
For what it's worth I do believe he is right in saying Sutcliffe is bad and should be in jail rather than Broadmoor. Very sad business and dreadfull that one man could cause so much havoc for so many people in terms of life lost, health ruined and wasted time, money, effort and resources.
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