Double jeopardy is a legal principle that somebody cannot go on trial for the same crime more than once. The rule, over 800 years old, was put in place to protect the innocent against judicial misconduct that could see them convicted, even after being found not guilty. A pivotal shift occurred twenty years ago, with the UK's double jeopardy law undergoing a significant transformation through the Criminal Justice Act 2003. This introduced substantial reforms, particularly for serious crimes....

A couple living on a farm in Kempsey, Worcestershire, had been having issues with their septic tank for some time. Two maintenance companies had been employed to fix the problem, but frustratingly, it was still blocked. On July 12th, 2019, a third company sent out a worker to drain the septic tank on the 500-acre farm. While emptying the tank, the pipe suddenly became blocked. When the worker cleared the obstruction, he discovered a mass of human hair was causing the problem. He thought it...

At first glance, the Foster family possessed all the trappings of a picture-perfect life; a sprawling mansion worth £1.2 million nestled in the quiet expanse of Maesbrook, Shropshire, a privately educated daughter, and a fleet of luxury cars. In the summer of 2008, everything changed in an instant. As dawn broke on August 26th, an explosive eruption jolted the neighbourhood awake, drawing sleepy residents from their beds. Flames engulfed the Foster’s lavish home, and thick smoke penetrated...

Early on an autumn morning, the emergency services received a call that a teenager was unresponsive in Newtown, Wales. It was Saturday, October 10th, 2020. What the panicked woman on the other end of the line described was a far cry from the typical teenage weekend drinking sessions that ended with alcohol poisoning or injury. The caller was the motionless girl’s grandmother. She contacted the emergency services as she had received a call from her son, Alun Titford. Alun was panicked. There...

A milkman was going about his early morning rounds in St. Stephen’s Court in Bath. June 9th, 1984, was a day he would never forget. As he journeyed along his usual route, he noticed something on the ground. He followed what appeared to be a trail of blood, which led him to the source — the body of a teenage girl. She wasn't moving. She had been brutally stabbed a short distance from her home… *** LISTENER CAUTION IS ADVISED ***     This episode was researched and written by Emily G....

On the morning of May 15th, 1979, three boys were playing by the Wyken Basin when they noticed something floating in the water. Curious, they went to take a closer look. They approached the reeds on the water's edge, and the object came into focus. It dawned on them that it was a body. Panicked by their discovery, the boys ran to the first adult they could find. They told him what they had seen in the water and in turn he hurriedly contacted the police… *** LISTENER CAUTION IS ADVISED...

From the award-winning team behind the UK true crime podcast — They Walk Among Us — They Walk Among America provides a unique and in-depth account of some of the most puzzling and polarizing cases from the United States. With extensive research and immersive audio, They Walk Among America is a storytelling-style podcast that delves deeper into the cases that have horrified and captivated the public. Hosted by Nina Innsted and produced in association with the Law & Crime podcast...

In 1952, Cardiff was a bustling industrial hub, a Welsh city that was in the midst of post-war construction. Cardiff docks were the main economic driver, and they welcomed ships from all across the globe, trading goods and raw materials. This trade led to the city quickly becoming a hub of multiculturalism. In particular, it became home to many Somali sailors who had sought new pastures. That same year, one of those sailors would find himself at the centre of a murder investigation that would...

The Newborough family had gathered together at their home in Nuneaton. They had just finished their dinner, when 23-year-old Megan said she was going out to meet a “friend” from work. His name was Ross McCullam, and she described him as a gentleman. Her words were meant to reassure her family, to give the impression of a harmless, platonic encounter, since they had not met this “friend”. She waved her family goodbye as Megan climbed into her Citroen C3 and set off into the night… *** LISTENER...

Saturday, April 18th, 1998. In the early hours of the morning, two police officers were dispatched to the scene of a disturbance at a car park near Dolphin Square and Oxford Street in Weston-Super-Mare. PC Clive Golding-Ellis and PC Robert Deville were expecting a standard weekend drunken brawl. They saw something much different and considerably more disturbing. A woman was lying on the ground; her skin blistered and distorted with extensive burns that covered her head and upper body. As the...

In the early hours of July 14th, a resident of Highfield Road in Neston heard banging on his front door. On his doorstep, he saw a middle-aged woman in a state of distress. The homeowner didn’t know her well, but he knew she lived further down the street. Through heaving sobs, his neighbour said: "I've hurt him. I've hurt him really bad. I think I’ve killed him…" *** LISTENER CAUTION IS ADVISED ***     This episode was researched and written by Eileen Macfarlane. Script editing, additional...

Wedding days are often cherished as one of life's most memorable occasions, filled with anticipation for a bright future. In October 2021, Dawn Walker embarked on this journey as she married her partner of three years, Thomas Nutt. In a registry office, Dawn skipped traditional white or ivory, choosing a vibrant red dress. The couple exchanged vows, but Dawn had some reservations. She confided in friends that she feared something “bad” would happen to her. On a day that was meant to represent...

As time progressed, DNA testing methods evolved, becoming increasingly sophisticated and refined. Cold cases that had remained unsolved for decades were revisited periodically, with renewed hope that advanced forensic analysis could crack the case. With the turn of the millennium, further advancements in DNA extraction techniques emerged, enhancing the ability to obtain valuable genetic material from even the most challenging samples. In 2007, a massive breakthrough was made in two unsolved...

PLEASE LISTEN TO ‘SEASON 8 - EPISODE 1’ FOR PART ONE OF THIS TWO-PART CASE. Cinema owner Peter Moore had been arrested for the murder of Tony Davies at Pensarn Beach in North Wales in December 1995. A detailed search of Moore’s home indicated that the unassuming businessman had an interest in sadomasochism and other activities that were infinitely darker. After initially denying involvement in the murder, Moore made a late-night statement and said he wanted to confess to additional crimes he...

“Black was his uniform. He was the man in black, with black clothes, black thoughts, and the blackest deeds”  — Alex Carlile QC, Mold Crown Court, November 1996… (Part 1 of 2)  *** LISTENER CAUTION IS ADVISED ***     This episode was researched and written by Eileen Macfarlane. Edited by Joel Porter at Dot Dot Dot Productions. Script editing, additional writing, illustrations and production direction by Rosanna Fitton Narration, editing assistance, additional writing, and production direction...

The Victorian era was an interesting time of development — advancements in machinery and modern medicine must have seemed like a new world. That said, it was also a time of great social inequality and hardship. Art was used to start a dialogue on the social issues that plagued Britain, and the period gave rise to some of the most notable artists and writers in history. While many artists were seen as eccentric characters, it was well-known that eccentricity lends itself to a creative mind. It...

The sun was starting to set on The Blackbird Leys estate at around 4:30 PM on December 10th, 1994. Henry Sheriff was decorating the back room at his home on Monks Close when he was interrupted by a loud bang, a noise that echoed throughout the nearby properties. Henry wondered if it was someone joyriding again or a car back-firing. A short time after the deafening sound, a 999 call was made to the police, but when the operator answered the phone, nobody spoke. All she could hear on the other...

When mutilated human remains are found scattered across Richmond in London, a remorseless killer will go to extreme lengths to distance themselves from the crime. It would take over a century for the final piece of the puzzle to be found…  *** LISTENER CAUTION IS ADVISED ***     This episode was researched and written by Eileen Macfarlane.  Edited by Joel Porter at Dot Dot Dot Productions. Script editing, additional writing, illustrations and production direction by Rosanna Fitton Narration,...

"All the evidence indicates Mr Wood was a mild-mannered, inoffensive man. There was no evidence of him having attacked you or having the opportunity to defend himself. There was evidence of gratuitous violence and humiliation before the killing"  - Judge James Fingret, Reading Crown Court, October 2004 *** LISTENER CAUTION IS ADVISED ***     This episode was researched and written by Emily G. Thompson. Edited by Joel Porter at Dot Dot Dot Productions. Script editing, additional writing,...

Introducing... Australian True Crime. Think nothing ever happens in your town? Australia's suburbs are home to some of the most mysterious and disturbing true crime cases in the world. Meshel Laurie is a true crime obsessive. Emily Webb is a true crime author. And together with expert interviews with writers, victims, investigators and perpetrators, they probe the underbelly of our towns and suburbs, and uncover the darkness at the heart of Australian life. Support this show...

Once the match finished, a gang of agitated spectators gathered outside and began to start trouble. At first, it was just quarrelling between opposing fans before bottles and rocks were hurled through the air. The police made their presence known to dissipate the crowd, and eventually, the officers successfully diffused the situation. With their job done, they left, but the next morning the police were contacted and asked to return to Abington. A woman had been walking down an alleyway around...

As Britain began to recover from the great depression, the lack of employment led to a rise in crime, and gangs operated under cover of darkness, cracking safes in businesses across London. The outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 plummeted the nation into a period of uncertainty and turmoil. While young soldiers fought valiantly on the front lines across Nazi-occupied Europe, each nation utilised its own secret network of spies, to try and infiltrate enemy forces and gather information...

PLEASE LISTEN TO ‘SEASON 7 - EPISODE 57’ FOR PART ONE OF THIS TWO-PART CASE. After Peter Tobin was convicted of murdering Angelika Kluk and concealing her body under a church floor in 2006, investigators began looking into his murky past and uncovered links to numerous other unsolved crimes. Through inquiries by Operation Anagram — the task force established to investigate Tobin’s history — extraordinary developments were made in cases that had remained unsolved for over 15 years… (Part 2 of...

For centuries a church has been seen as a place of refuge and sanctuary for some in desperate need of help and shelter. Many people who are down on their luck or require support go to their place of worship for guidance. They often hold the clergy in high regard, a group they entrust with their troubles and confessions. In 2006, a discovery in a Glasgow church demonstrated how evil can lurk in the most sacred places… (Part 1 of 2)  *** LISTENER CAUTION IS ADVISED...