Crimes That Shook Britain: A Closer Look

In 2017 Cathy Burke, a 55-year-old retired civil servant, was violently murdered in her own home and six weeks later, 22-year-old Iuliana Tudos disappeared on her walk home from work on Christmas Eve. Iuliana’s story gained huge traction, and the MET very quickly tracked down the killer – Kasim Lewis, who, to the MET’s shock, had Cathy’s DNA at his home as well as Iuliana’s. Only half of this story made the headlines and if Cathy’s...

In January 2019, Lee Pomeroy boarded a train along with his 14-year-old son. Another man was also on the train – Darren Pencille. Shortly after they boarded, Pencille clashed with Lee and some angry words were exchanged, Pencille pulled out a knife and violently stabbed Lee in the neck and torso, 18 times in 25 seconds. Tragically, Lee died in his son’s arms, before the train reached the next stop. Pencille is a paranoid schizophre...

In February 2023, 16-year-old Brianna Ghey was brutally murdered by two teenagers – one of whom claimed to be her friend. She was lured into a park in Warrington and stabbed 28 times, at least in part, because she was transgender. Brianna’s killers were both just 15 years old and had spent countless hours on the dark web and social media, planning the sadistic murder online. The safety of children online and their use of mobile pho...

In September 2022, Shakira Spencer’s body was discovered by the police in a badly decomposed state. Almost immediately police found clues that foul play was involved and during the investigation, it transpired that three, so called ‘friends’ – had in fact been abusing Shakira for years, dehumanising her and treating her as a slave.

Forensic psychiatrist, Dr Sohom Das joins Dermot Murnaghan to discuss how these kind of group dyna...

Since the early 2020’s fatal dog attacks have been covered in the media time and time again and half of these stories involved a single breed – the now infamous American XL Bully. The incident that really put XL Bullies onto the front pages of the newspapers was the tragic death of 10-year-old Jack Lis in Caerphilly, Wales. It was Jack’s death – and the campaign work of his Mum – Emma that fuelled the conversation around dange...

In June 2020, just as the UK was coming out of COVID lockdown restrictions a rapid and ferocious attack took place in Forbury Gardens, Reading. The offender inflicted multiple fatal stab wounds and despite the best efforts of members of the public and first responders, three victims, James, Joe and David died almost immediately. Shockingly, it became clear that the attacker was in fact very well known to the authorities and had bee...

On Christmas Eve in 2022, 26-year-old beautician Elle Edwards was shot while outside her local pub on the Wirral in Liverpool. A lone gunman, targeting someone standing near to Elle opened fire and she was caught in the crossfire. 

Many described this murder as senseless and it caused great upset within the community, leaving many asking questions surrounding gun violence and what can be done to stop it. Jonathan Humphries,...

Broadcaster Dermot Murnaghan is joined by a team of experts and witnesses to examine cases that gripped the nation to explore how they shaped public conversation. Told by family, friends and the community at the heart of the crimes, the series analyses the events that led to such atrocities before examining the devastating effects that they have left in their wake. Police evidence, eye-witness accounts and archive news pieces help ...