26
My first column about the murder informed readers that the identity of the victim was unknown (at least to the Greater Manchester Police) and that the cause of death had yet to be established (although, I reflected, the gaping hole in his skull offered some clue). It put forward the novel theory that the killing could have been ritualistic in some way, and it cleverly linked the ritual idea to Black Magic, a subject which is always good for the sale of a few thousand extra copies of any provincial newspaper.
I added, for good measure, that the concrete slippers (I didn’t actually use this expression) could indicate a gangland hit, and that the other injuries might have been the result of t*****e during the course of the hit.
The press, at this stage, weren’t allowed near the area whe
