Trupti Patel lost three babies to sudden infant death. Then she was accused of murdering them. In 2003, this British pharmacist stood trial at Reading Crown Court, her fate resting on testimony from Professor Sir Roy Meadow - the same expert whose flawed evidence had helped convict Sally Clark. But when Trupti's 80-year-old grandmother travelled from India to testify about five infant deaths in her own family, the case began to unravel. This episode examines the dangerous theory known as Meadow's Law, the systematic failures in investigating sudden infant deaths, and how one trial helped expose a pattern of wrongful accusations against grieving mothers…
Read moreForce & Frailty / Donald Burgess / PC Stephen Smith & PC Rachel Comotto
In the quiet corridors of a seaside care home, on an ordinary weekday afternoon, a 92-year-old man sat confused in his wheelchair, gripping a butter knife he'd been using to eat his lunch. Within minutes, two police officers would arrive at his door after being alerted that it was vital for them to attend the scene quickly, as someone’s life had been threatened…
Read moreThe Servant And Her Mistress / The Mysterious Death of Jane Roberts Humphreys
The landau driver stood outside Prestatyn railway station, watching the early morning commuters. His attention was drawn to a young woman darting down the high street. She stopped beside his carriage and asked him to take her to a nearby farm. Her behaviour was erratic, and William wasn’t sure he wanted to drive her anywhere until she told him, “My mistress is lying on the floor. She’s very ill”...
Read moreThe Assassination Of The Bedsit Barron
The sound of his neighbour’s gates opening piqued Graham’s curiosity. He got out of bed and went to the window to see the Raggetts’ blue Jaguar reversing into the drive. The house on Chester Close was bordered by high walls and had enough space to park several vehicles. As soon as Lew Raggett stepped out of the car, two figures emerged from the shadows carrying a baseball bat and a knife…
Read moreVictorian Poisoning Case / Edwin & Adelaide Bartlett
The sound of knocking on the front door roused Dr Alfred Leach from sleep. It had been just a few hours after he had celebrated the New Year. The doctor recognised the young woman waiting on his doorstep as a patient’s servant. Before Annie Fulcher had a chance to speak, Dr Leach groaned and wondered whether Edwin Bartlett was truly sick this time or if it was just another one of his “notions”. Annie replied, “I know nothing about it. Mrs Bartlett only tells me he is dead”...
Read moreCamden Town Killing / Emily Dimmock / Robert Wood
Camden Town in London is home to bustling markets, street food vendors and alternative clothing shops. It's popular with both locals and tourists alike. However, it was once known as a sordid area full of distilleries, pubs, and sex workers, not to mention being the location of a murder that still remains unsolved over a hundred years later…
Read moreGetting Away With Murder - Part 2 / The Confession Of Donald Hume
Donald Hume was charged with the murder of Stanley Setty. However, once the evidence had been presented at the trial, jurors could not reach a verdict. Hume would subsequently admit his guilt on a charge of accessory to murder and was sentenced to 12 years, but only after a second jury were instructed to return a verdict of not guilty to the murder charge. The prosecution felt it was not in the “interests of justice” to proceed. Yet, this is not where the story ends, far from it… (Part 2 of 2)
Read moreGetting Away With Murder - Part 1 / The Killing Of Stanley Setty
The torso of an adult male was discovered by an unsuspecting hunter in the marshes. Who was the unfortunate victim? And will the perpetrator be punished?… (Part 1 of 2)
Read moreOrkney Abuse Scandal - Part 2
November 1990. South Ronaldsay in Orkney. Seven young children are taken into care by social services under ‘Place of Safety’ orders. At that time, their father — a sadistic tormentor — was behind bars. He had been convicted of abusing his children years earlier. However, following questioning from social workers, some of the youngsters had supposedly disclosed that they were now the victims of ritualistic abuse by members of the local community…
Read moreOrkney Abuse Scandal - Part 1
Within three months, 16 children were removed from their homes in a small island community and taken into the care of social services. The media explained the reasoning behind the removal; they claimed the children had been victims of satanic abuse. Three decades later, the Orkney child abuse scandal remains one of the most notorious child protection failures in the United Kingdom… (Part 1 of 2).
Read more