Hindley waits on `last-chance'

The High Court yesterday reserved judgment on a "last chance" bid by Myra Hindley, the Moors murderer, to overturn the decision that she must die in prison.

Lord Bingham, the Lord Chief Justice, sitting with Mr Justice Hooper and Mr Justice Astill, said the court hoped to give its ruling before the end of next week.

Hindley's QC, Edward Fitzgerald told the judges: "Effectively, this is the last chance for this applicant." Hindley, 55, has served 31 years since she was jailed in 1966 as Ian Brady's co-accused in the murders of Lesley-Ann Downey, 10, and Edward Evans, 17.

Her lawyers are challenging a decision of the former home secretary, Michael Howard, earlier this year - upheld recently by his successor, Jack Straw - to confirm the increase of a provisional 30-year minimum sentence imposed in 1985 to a "whole life" sentence.