why would a convicted murderer refuse to reveal where he hid the body?

Question

ian simm was convicted of the murder of helen mc court in 1988 (billinge nr wigan). even though her body has not been found to this day, the evidence against simm was overwhelming(her hair, blood and an ear ring she wore that day were found in his boot along with a spade).he has been refused parole twice and still claims to be innocent when clearly he is guilty. what reason could he have for not revealing where helens body is? maybe he is afraid of what else would be found ie. another body? is anyone familiar with this case?

king midas-there was plenty of evidence

ian mcinlay-the motivation is early release, he could have been out 5 years ago.

Answer 1

when you think of the heart ache and pain this monster has caused to the victim and the family you would think that the government would have some form of truth drug. but i suppose it would be against he's human rights wouldn't it.

Answer 2

The only problem is that without a body all of the evidence is circumstantial for murder; he may have been convicted of it but at a later date it can be overturned because of a number of things, not the least of which the body has never been found. What evidence they had indicated it was very probable that Ian did it, so they convicted him. As far as not telling where the body is it could be that:

A. He's really innocent, but protecting someone else (friend, brother, son?)
B. You're right and there's another body (or other compelling evidence) there.
C. He doesn't know, someone else did that.
D. He's acting under terrible advice from someone else
E. Something else happened that we don't no about

It would be in his best interests to tell about the body and let the family have closure, legally and otherwise. A lot of times I've heard that the ownership of guilt starts the process of rehabilitation, and parole boards would be more likely to hear from someone who's fessed up.

Answer 3

I remember this. I was in Manchester in 1988 and my mum was brought up in Billinge so I remember it.
aybe once you start on a path of lying about what happened there just is no way for him to come clean and no point. If he gets any visits from people trying to find out the truth that may sustain him in his lies. I'm sure Brady got kicks from being taken out to lead the police on another wild goose chase. And the media attention must also feed that need for being in the spotlight.

There could be something that he did that means if Helen's body were found he would be connected with other murders. It's very sad to say but it could also be that he doesn't know, either because he didn't do it (unlikely from what I recall) or because he cared so little and paid so little attention that he doesn't know.Seems unlikely but may be possible.

I think most likely is the sense of power and the attantion afforded by being the only one who knows.
Sad b*****d. Maybe he doesn't realise he's banged up and powerless. Uness he's the one asking the question and we're all pandering to his need for attention!

Answer 4

The legal system is not perfect, people can be found guilty because of the evidence against them, but that evidence can be planted or flawed. It is for the court to decide that.

If this person reveals the body he will remove any doubt whatsoever a parole board might have about an unfair conviction.

Answer 5

I suppose it could be the power of being the only one knowing where she is, and like you say, perhaps another body. The fact as mentioned above of being able to appeal on the fact there is no body or even the fact that he doesn't want people to see what he did to the body - maybe there is something that he is ashamed of. Maybe an accomplice and not he buried the body? A lot of killers can convince themselves that they are innocent and didn't commit the crime - could be this too. Whatever it is it's a horrible thing for the family, they have no closure.

Answer 6

The real catch 22 here is if we use any means possible to force a murderer to reveal information, are we then, any better than the criminal? This is a very voletile social issue, but I do believe like attracts like, and the experiences the victims had will then become the experiences of the criminals.

Answer 7

Not familiar with the case bu if a body turns up how would this reflect on his parole and as said is their anything else to hide.

It must be terrible on the parents,friends etc not to be able to put someone to rest.

Answer 8

It seems that he wants to hold on to the body's location. Everything else has been taken away from him. She is his last bargaining chip. He may reveal where he hid the body if he is offered parole or a lesser sentence. Otherwise, he will continue to keep the hiding place to himself.

Answer 9

Murders are different from the normal person. People who murder for sport get a kick out of the sense of power. It is his vindication for sitting in jail that they cannot figure out where the body is, so in his mind, he has still won.

Answer 10

Because he's amoral, like Myra Hindley and Ian Brady, who tortured and killed numerous children. Never telling the parents of the location of their dead child is a method of keeping control.