It was the terrible moment when the full horror of Ian Brady and Myra Hindley's crimes finally emerged.
A judge, all-male jury and even hardened police officers sat in tears as they listened to the terrifying final moments of 10-year-old victim Lesley Ann Downey.
The sickening 16-minute recording captured the sound of her pleading for her life as she was tortured by Brady and Hindley.
A recording of the terrifying final moments of Ian Brady's victim Lesley Ann Downey as she pleaded for her life shocked the nation after it was played at his trial in 1966
Lesley Ann was attacked and strangled at Brady and Hindley's home in Hyde near Manchester, which has since been knocked down
John Stalker, former deputy chief constable of Greater Manchester, who was then a detective sergeant, later said: 'Nothing in criminal behaviour before or since has penetrated my heart with quite the same paralysing intensity.'
Lesley Ann was heard whimpering for her mother and father, saying: 'I want to see my mummy… honest to God. I will swear on the Bible… I have got to go because I am going out with my Mama.'
She was heard urging Brady to spare her, saying 'let me go' and 'don't undress me' as she was attacked by the evil pair.
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Hindley told her to 'shut up' while photos were taken by twisted Brady, who wanted to record his victim's last moments. He threatened to 'slit' the youngster's 'neck'.
The murder took place on Boxing Day in 1964 and Christmas music including the song Little Drummer Boy was heard playing in the background during part of the recording.
Mr Stalker said of the recording: 'The song brings back terrible memories of having to listen to a tape of Hindley and her accomplice Ian Brady torturing a terrified little Lesley Ann Downey with that music playing in the background.
'When the 16-minute tape was played at the police station before the trial, I saw senior detectives and legendary crime reporters – hard men who had been through the war and seen terrible things – dissolve into tears.'
The recording captured the sickening sound of Brady and Hindley torturing the little girl
Brady, pictured on his way to the trial at Chester Assizes court in 1966. The horrific evidence heard by the jury made his crimes one of the most notorious in British history
Harrowing 16-minute tape recording of Lesley Ann Downey's final moments
A distressing tape recording of 10-year-old murder victim Lesley Ann Downey's final moments was played to a jury sitting atChester Assizes in 1966.
Those inside the court sat in silence as the 16-minute recording was played, according toThe Telegraph.
Sir Elwyn Jones QC, prosecuting, revealed that the voices which could be heard on the tape - which was played at 'full volume' - were those of Ian Brady and Myra Hindley.
Lesley Ann could be heard on the tape shouting 'I want to see my mummy' and begging the pair to 'let me go'.
At one point, Hindley said: 'Hush, Hush, shut up or I will forget myself and hit you one. I will hit you one.'
Lesley Ann said: 'Can I tell you summat. I must tell you summat. Take your hands off me for a minute, please… please, mum, please - I cannot tell you. I cannot breathe… please God.. why? What are you going to do with me?'
Brady said: 'I want to take some photographs, that is all.'
Lesley Ann: 'I want to see my mummy… honest to God. I will swear on the Bible… I have got to go because I am going out with my Mama. Please, please help me, will you.'
Brady: 'The longer it takes you to do this, the longer it takes you to get home.If you don't keep that hand down, I will slit your neck.'
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Lesley had been lured from a fairground to their home and, once inside the house, she was undressed, gagged and strangled.
The following morning Brady and Hindley buried her naked with her clothes at her feet, in a shallow grave on the moor.
Reports of what the jury had heard shocked the nation and have meant the moors murders remain among the most infamous crimes in British history.
In 1966, Brady and Hind'ey were jailed for life for the killings of Lesley Ann, John Kilbride, 12, and Edward Evans, 17.
They went on to admit the murders of Pauline Reade, 16, and 12-year-old Keith Bennett.
Brady escaped the hangman's noose as the death penalty was abolished just months earlier and was handed three life sentences.
Brady, centre, and Hindley, second right, are taken from court after the trial in Chester
John Stalker, a former deputy chief constable of Greater Manchester, said the recording 'penetrated my heart'
Glasgow-born Brady had been held at Ashworth High Secure Hospital since 1985 and died at 6.03pm yesterday. Hindley died in jail aged 60 in November 2002
Terry West, brother of Lesley Ann Downey, said of Brady's death: 'I poured myself a glass of wine when I found out - we've been waiting for this day for such a long time. It's closure for our family.
'But I really feel for Keith Bennett's brother Alan and the rest of his family - this probably means they'll never know where his body was buried.
'He's taken it to the grave. There's still one poor kiddie up there on the Moors. My heart goes out to Alan - at least I've got somewhere that I can visit our Les, he hasn't even got that.'
