by Tom Wood
They represent all that is best in the Scottish Police Service. It was an honour to serve with them.
Tom Wood
Edinburgh
November 2014
Anna Kenny – disappeared on 5 August 1977, but her body was not found until 23 April 1979.
Mary Gallagher – murdered on 19 November 1978. Her size gave her an almost child-like appearance. Angus Sinclair was convicted of her murder in 2001.
Matilda McAuley – a hard-working mother killed on 2 October 1977.
Agnes Cooney – a warm and caring girl. She was killed on 3 or 4 December 1977.
Helen Scott and Christine Eadie, on either side of a friend. This picture was taken shortly before their deaths.
The World’s End lounge bar, October 1977.
The World’s End lounge bar, October 1977.
Artist’s impression of the typical 70s dress style of the men last seen with Helen and Christine.
Angus Sinclair: a small but powerfully built man.
Angus Sinclair as he looked in 1982 when he was arrested for a series of rapes and assaults on children.
Gordon Hamilton, an enigma of a man who left little behind to mark his life. This was the best picture we could trace.
Helen and Christine – the best of pals and hardly more than girls.
Helen Scott.
Christine Eadie.
The early Edinburgh Incident Room. The clutter of paperwork and files seem alien by today’s computerised standards. DC Stuart King, nearest the camera, DS David ‘Yogi’ Brunton and DC Eric Bowman still did a fine job. SCRAN.
Near the deposition site of Christine Eadie, October 1977. Primitive crime-scene management by today’s standards – no tape or barrier to protect the scene. SCRAN.
Searches at the deposition site of Helen Scott, haphazard by today’s standards – no protective clothing and the lack of a systematic approach makes this a scene from a bygone age. SCRAN.
Early publicity for the investigation. Detective Constable John Capaldi, a stalwart of the early enquiry, stands to the right. SCRAN.
A photofit of one of the men seen in the World’s End with Helen and Christine. It bears a good resemblance to both Angus Sinclair and Gordon Hamilton.
A reconstruction of the last known movements of Helen and Christine. Police cadets took the role of the girls.
The actual Toyota caravanette owned and used by Angus Sinclair at the time of the World’s End murders. We traced all its subsequent owners but found it had been scrapped a few months before our enquiry re-opened.
Eddie Cotogno – associate of Angus Sinclair. His death is still a mystery.
Press speculation made the links, just as we did.
The World’s End as it is today – a popular tourist pub, just as it was in 1977.
Tom Wood.
The best at their best. Detective Superintendent Ian Thomas and Detective Chief Inspector Allan Jones. Their persistence closed the case.
Angus Sinclair – murderer, rapist and paedophile – in 2004.
Frank Mulholland, QC, an able and tenacious prosecutor.
Angus Sinclair in 2014 – justice finally done. (Photograph copyright © Alan Simpson)