The washing machine cycle

David Bain told the police that, on returning from his paper round at shortly after 6.40 am on the morning of the murders, he put on a load of washing on a full cycle, from "the very start of the super wash cycle". Constables Stapp, and Wyllie, who first entered 65 Every Street on the morning of the killings at 7.28 am, gave evidence that, despite straining their ears for any sound as they searched downstairs for bodies, they did not hear the washing machine running.

At a later date the Police tested the running time of the washing machine on the cycle that David had told them that he had used on the morning of the killings. These reconstructions were conducted by Constable Lodge and Mr. Preston (a washing machine repair serviceman). The cycle was found to last approximately one hour on a normal wash.

It is apparent from the testing carried out by the police that David Bain was lying and that the wash cycle was started earlier than he claimed, assuming it was the full cycle.