TV Review

Forensics: Murder Scene

Welcome back! Two weeks ago, the TuesdayTip was a review of Channel 5’s excellent Police Suspect Number 1 (Tip#203). This week, I’m recommending another Channel 5 documentary series Forensics: Murder Scene.

https://www.channel5.com/forensics-murder-scene

As the title suggests, this show focuses much more on the forensic science, with the regular contributors and featured experts largely being crime scene managers, forensic biologists, ballistics experts and other scientists. This time it’s West Yorkshire Police throwing open their doors.

It is an excellent companion piece to the previously mentioned Police Suspect Number 1, and is really useful for those of us whose police procedural fiction likes to feature both the work of the detectives and the experts supporting them.

One of the interesting features of this programme is it is very honest. One of the recent shows featured (I’m being circumspect to avoid identifying the case and spoiling it if you haven’t seen it), was followed for a couple years. It was a detailed and sprawling investigation, featuring some excellent detective work and diligent forensics. To the surprise of these armchair detectives (and the victims and police), the  accused were actually acquitted at trial. Formally this means the case remains open, but you got the sense that the police and all those involved are pretty convinced they had the right people, and that for whatever the reason, the prosecution failed to carry the case across the finish line.

The law of double jeopardy means that the accused cannot be tried again, and the circumstances of this case mean it unlikely that an appeal to the Supreme Court would allow this case to be reopened in the light of compelling new evidence. I suppose the only comfort in such cases – and it is very cold comfort indeed – is that the suspects lead the sort of chaotic lives that mean they are almost certain to end up behind bars for other reasons – one can only hope that the damage they inflict along the way is minimal.

I strongly recommend this for fans of the genre, for viewers interested in the processes and science, and for writers seeking authenticity.

What are your thoughts on this show? Are there any other shows you would recommend in a similar vein?

As always, feel free to comment here or on social media.

Until next time,

Paul

PS: If you are a writer with a tip to share, or fancy writing a fictional interview between you and one of your characters, please feel free to email me.