Complex sentence: Hare made a full confession of all the deaths and, on 4 December, Rae decided sufficient evidence existed to secure a prosecution, and formal charges were lain against Burke and McDougal for the murders of Mary Paterson, James Wilson and Mrs Docherty.
Split into simpler sentences: Hare made a full confession of all the deaths and Rae decided sufficient evidence existed to secure a prosecution. On 4 December formal charges were lain against Burke and McDougal for the murders of Mary Paterson, James Wilson and Mrs Docherty.