Latest news with #CrimeCon
Leader Live
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Review: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes in Chester
With another well-supported crowd, the Grosvenor Park theatre is a fantastic place to enjoy a night of theatre and The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes is the latest to enjoy. Using Storyhouse's in-house team of actors and beyond, the show is a new telling of the famous Arthur Conan Doyle character with Holmes's co-solver of cases now Joanne Watson, know as Jo, who comes from Chester. Jo – played by Alyce Liburd – comes home from that there London after an invite to CrimeCon by a former school friend to talk about the subject of her many books, Holmes (Ethan Reid). Alyce Liburd as Jo Watson in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes in Chester. (Image: Mark McNulty.) The whole story is a flashback as Jo is first brought to our attention in the form of a true crime podcast, tapping into the cultural zeitgeist with a touch of Only Murders in the Building thrown in too. While the main man is surprisingly absent, he is soon thrown into the fray by a burglary which leads to a murder and the Duke and Duchess of Westminster. With trips to Liverpool and London covered, and a good ol' punch up in an Irish bar, plus a masked ball and much more, the race is on to unmask who is really pulling the strings. Reid excels as the titular detective, though he forgoes any previous incumbents of the role as his influence, dressing like a 10th doctor David Tennant and solves crimes like Kris Marshall's Humphrey Goodman. Howard Chadwick and Morgan Reid in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes in Chester. (Image: Newsquest.) Liburd is less narrator as previous Watsons, more willing participant and she brings that pluckiness and willingness for a fight to the fore, plus a pain alluded to off stage. Reid and Liburd do, however, generate chemistry and a belief that they have been solving crimes for some time, shown mostly through the running Deerstalker hat joke. The play does suffer from a slow start as multiple characters are introduced and my one main criticism is that some of the introductions could be dialled down – they border on stereotypes and I feared for the standard. However, those fears soon faded as the ensemble found its feet thanks to the dynamic of two characters – Holmes and DCI Ray (Howard Chadwick) with the former showing the perfect of level of disdain the Great Detective has for ordinary coppers. The latter steals the show however with his perfect level of 'what is he on about' needed from the boys in blue. Chadwick provides all of the comic relief and doesn't dip once in his task – a fine showing. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes in Chester. (Image: Newsquest.) The supporting cast, including Victoria Brazier as a reimagined Mrs Hudson, all work hard to support the central trio. Hannah Baker plays 'hoity toity' very well as the Duchess of Westminster while Morgan Lewis, making his professional debut, also shines. As with 2024's Gangs of New York and The Importance of Being Earnest, the cast are all outstanding musicians with Baker's piano skills the stand-out showing. The second half steps up the peril and the plot to a hugely-satisfactory ending. Would I recommend this show to everyone? Elementary, dear readers. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes runs until August 31 – for more, had to
The Guardian
27-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes review – strange things afoot in gag-laden crime convention caper
We think we are here to see how playwright Molly Taylor has paid tribute to the work of Arthur Conan Doyle, but it turns out we are actually the audience at CrimeCon, a fan convention for lovers of detective fiction. Today's special guest is Dr Jo Watson (a perky Alyce Liburd), here to be interviewed about her latest book. This being 2025, a podcaster is keeping track of it all. Chester is some distance from 221B Baker Street, something Taylor's gag-laden script draws attention to with the arrival of a metropolitan Sherlock Holmes (a loose-limbed Ethan Reid) who, despite his love of travel, holds these northern parts in low regard. He has shown up to lend Watson support after the theft of a painting from Eaton Hall, seat of the Duke and Duchess of Westminster (Eddy Westbury and Hannah Baker struggling to remember what the heirloom actually looked like). With a healthy awareness of the audience (there are wrong 'uns among us), director Ellie Hurt keeps the twists and turns of the plot tripping along in the outdoor arena, emphasising the jollity with live music played by the cast and the occasional song. Even Sherlock has a go at the karaoke, taunting his adversaries with a full-bodied I Will Survive. If anyone will survive it is this detective, with his dazzling deductions and debonair cool. For all his pizzazz, though, only the unsung Watson will get him through it. It is all breezily daft, the acting broad – sometimes too broad – and the story spooling out ever more preposterously as we encounter vicious nuns in Liverpool Metropolitan cathedral (cue Mersey tunnel jokes), a scheme to blow up much of central London and a Moriarty who wants to be his 'authentic self'. 'Stranger things have happened,' says Sherlock. 'Not in Chester,' quips the local inspector. At Grosvenor Park, Chester, until 31 August.
Scottish Sun
29-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
Bloodied clothes, sex attack claims and unanswered riddles of Benidorm 5 – what DID happen to Kirsty Maxwell?
An expert who reviewed the case on behalf of Kirsty's family found the way her garments were positioned was inconsistent with a fall MYSTERY FALL Bloodied clothes, sex attack claims and unanswered riddles of Benidorm 5 – what DID happen to Kirsty Maxwell? SITTING on the plane, Kirsty Maxwell was in high spirits. Surrounded by friends, the 27-year-old bank worker was on her way to Benidorm for a hen weekend. Laughing and joking as they looked forward to spending time together in the Spanish party resort, the women were unaware that within hours, an unimaginable tragedy would strike. 16 Kirsty Maxwell plummeted from the balcony of a room on the 10th floor Credit: Solarpix 16 Apartamentos Payma, where Kirsty was staying 16 CCTV footage shows Kirsty was clearly in control of her faculties on the night she died Kirsty, herself a newlywed, would be found dead, her body lying by the pool of the Apartamentos Payma, where she was staying, after she plummeted from the balcony of a room on the 10th floor occupied by five British men. At first, it was suspected Kirsty had been murdered, but following a Spanish police investigation, the case was shelved and her death was recorded as an accident. Her grieving family, however, refuse to accept this. 'I know she didn't jump,' says Kirsty's aunt Angela Lees, 64. 'She wouldn't take her own life. "There's no way. That girl had everything to live for. She didn't sleepwalk. She had a drink in her, but she wasn't falling-about drunk.' Now, the family's eight-year fight to discover the truth is being told by a new podcast. What Happened To Kirsty Maxwell? is written, narrated and produced by true crime podcaster Naomi Channell, who decided to make the series after meeting Kirsty's family at a CrimeCon event in 2023, which they were attending to raise awareness of their campaign. 'They looked like they were broken,' Naomi remembers. 'What struck me first about the case was how nothing made sense. "I read through it all and thought, 'How has this been allowed to fall through the cracks?'' Kirsty, who was from Livingston, Scotland, was in the prime of her life when she boarded her flight to Benidorm. The previous September, she had married her long-term boyfriend Adam Maxwell. BBC documentary 'Killed Abroad' shows previously unseen footage of tragic Kirsty Maxwell asleep hours before Benidorm balcony plunge 16 Kirsty and long-term boyfriend Adam had recently got married Credit: Solarpix Blissfully happy, they were in the process of buying a new home, as well as planning to start a family. After touching down in Benidorm on April 28, 2017, Kirsty and the rest of the hen party checked into their apartment building just after 9pm, then headed out for the night. She returned, along with two friends, at 5.35am the next morning. Although she'd been drinking, CCTV footage shows she was clearly in control. She went to bed and at 6.50am, a friend who was sharing a room with her on the ninth floor took a video of her snoring. What happened next, however, remains shrouded in confusion. Having been asleep in bed, Kirsty left her room and went up to the 10th floor, where some of the hens were staying. Her family believes she went looking for their apartment, possibly in search of painkillers or contact lens solution, which she had forgotten. For whatever reason, she ended up in room 10E, barefoot and without her phone – where there were five bodybuilders from Nottingham, part of a group of more than 50 people in Spain celebrating a birthday. 16 The apartment in Benidorm where Kirsty plunged to her death 16 Kirsty was found dead by the pool of the Apartamentos Payma 16 In police interviews, the men said Kirsty walked into their apartment without speaking The men in the flat were Joseph Graham, then 32, a logistics manager with Amazon, who opened the door to Kirsty, Ricky Gammon, a 31-year-old cage fighter, Anthony Holehouse, 34, Callum Northridge, 29, and Daniel Bailey, 32. Minutes after entering, Kirsty was dead, her body splayed on the concrete by the pool. Soon after, the police phoned her husband Adam. Unable to understand what they were saying, he rang one of the hens, who told him the tragic news. 'It was devastating. It doesn't sink in. She adored Adam, they had their future mapped out,' says Kirsty's mum Denise Curry, 61. As the family reeled in shock, in Spain the police suspected foul play, and the five men from Room 10E were questioned. One of them, Joseph Graham, was arrested. In police interviews, the men said Kirsty walked into their apartment without speaking. She then apparently rushed into the bathroom and was 'acting mad, drunk or both'. 16 Ricky Gammon, a 31-year-old cage fighter, was one of the five men in the flat Credit: INTERNET 16 Joseph Graham, pictured, said Kirsty tried to climb through the bathroom window Credit: LINKEDIN Joseph told police that she attempted to climb through a small bathroom window, which led to another area of the flat, before giving up and jumping over the Juliet balcony, plunging to her death below. He allegedly screamed: 'She's jumped!' after she disappeared, and told police that he only spoke to her to ask her to leave. Meanwhile, Kirsty's mum, dad Brian, aunt Angela, Adam and his parents all booked flights to Spain. At that point they still had no idea what had happened, only that Kirsty was dead. 'Our priority was to get to Benidorm,' recalls Angela. 'We got on the plane, and we were just numb. Nobody could speak. We were left to become our own detectives Kirsty's dad Brian "It was a bank holiday weekend, and the plane was full of holiday-makers. When we arrived in Benidorm, people were singing and dancing, but we were in shock. "Then we were told what had happened. We just couldn't believe it. We were immediately suspicious that something untoward had gone on in that room.' It was reported at the time by the family's lawyer, Luis Miguel Zumaquero, that police had said Kirsty fell to her death in a 'state of terror' and that she was allegedly fleeing a 'sexual attack that had begun to materialise'. It was Judge Ana Isabel Garcia-Galbis' job to decide if charges should be bought. Joseph Graham was arrested at the time and taken to court before being released without charge. Within 48 hours, the other four men were also probed over her death before being allowed to return to the UK pending further investigations. The men's lawyer, Roberto Sanchez, said: 'My clients have nothing to hide', and Joseph released a statement saying: 'I have been advised by my Spanish lawyer that, despite me not being charged with any wrongdoing, the investigation into this tragic accident is still ongoing. "I am unable to say anything at this time, other than I am innocent of any wrongdoing.' On May 1, Kirsty's family travelled to a morgue in Spain to view her body. 'Words can't describe the pain,' says Angela. 16 Kirsty and Adam were in the process of buying a new home, as well as planning to start a family 16 Kirsty with her aunt Angela Lees To add to their heartache, Spanish newspapers published a photo of Kirsty's body where she had fallen, which a bystander had taken. Angela says they were on autopilot, hardly sleeping or eating. The family stayed in the town and used social media to try to find new witnesses, especially people who were staying in a holiday complex opposite the apartments and might have seen something. On May 5, they brought Kirsty's body home. Frustrated by the apparent lack of action, the family engaged another lawyer, Lorena Soler Bernabeu, who arranged for further forensic analysis and later attempted to recall the five men for questioning. It was reported that a judge knocked back four separate requests from the family as they tried to seek answers. Then, on July 28, four of the men broke their silence to deny any involvement in her death. The four men who attended the hearing said: 'This was a tragic accident and we categorically deny any involvement in this unfortunate incident,' The Nottingham Post reported. 'The opinion of the judge is that this was an accident. 'It goes without saying that our deepest sympathy goes out to Kirsty's family and our thoughts are with them all at this terrible time.' Deepened suspicions The Spanish court declared the investigation complete and refused. Naomi says: 'The confusion and the men's subsequent silence has only deepened suspicions. "The men's clothing was not collected and Spanish police later confirmed that Kirsty's clothes had been destroyed, saying they had been 'inspected visually' and then incinerated because they were bloodstained.' She adds: 'The family even contacted the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, asking that any biological samples or forensic evidence be preserved. "The Scottish First Minister backed the request. Sánchez never replied.' Back in the UK, the family explored every legal avenue and set up online information appeals. 'We were left to become our own detectives,' says Brian, 66. 'We spent months going through emails, pushing for meetings, hiring our own forensic experts. We had no choice.' 16 What Happened To Kirsty Maxwell? is written, narrated and produced by true crime podcaster Naomi Channell 16 Kirsty's husband Adam with Kirsty's mum and dad, Brian and Denise Curry Credit: Andy Barr Spanish police maintained the death was accidental. The lead investigator, César García, later stated that 'no sufficient evidence' pointed to criminal involvement. In 2018, a biomechanics expert reviewed the case on behalf of the family, and stated that the way Kirsty's garments were positioned was inconsistent with a fall. Her tight denim skirt and top had ridden up. The following year, after repeated requests, Kirsty's family was told some potential witnesses could be questioned via video link at Mansfield Magistrates' Court. But when the day arrived, technical problems meant a link could not be established and instead a court official took statements from the witnesses using a list of questions. 'It was a total farce,' says Brian. In September 2019, the Spanish courts decided to shelve a criminal probe. The family appealed, and in July 2020, three Spanish judges in Alicante ruled that there was no 'strong evidence' of criminality surrounding the death. In a statement, they said: 'Kirsty, affected by alcohol and after consuming the equivalent of 10 spirits the night before, appears to have left her apartment 9A and voluntarily entered 10E where the five men were. "Nothing points to the contrary. There's been such a limited amount of detail that's come from those five men Naomi 'Although it is true cocaine was found in the bathroom of apartment 10E and the dead woman's fingerprints were discovered on an interior bathroom window, it has not been possible to obtain strong evidence of specific and individualised criminality in terms of the victim's death in any of the five men investigated.' However, the What Happened To Kirsty Maxwell? podcast questions some discrepancies in the statements the men gave at the time. 16 No toxicology reports for the men exist Credit: Solarpix 16 The podcast reveals some discrepancies in the statements the men gave at the time Credit: Solarpix Naomi explains: 'One said he was asleep. Another said he didn't notice Kirsty entering. There was confusion over whether she walked in uninvited or whether she was brought in by one of the men.' There is also a suggestion that there may have been another woman with one of the men at some point during the evening. Police also found erection-enhancing pills. Furthermore, police statements seen by The Sun state that Joseph's nose was bleeding and that he admitted he had been snorting narcotics. No toxicology reports for the men exist. It isn't disputed that the men had been drinking, and this could explain some of the discrepancies in their stories. Naomi says: 'They always exercised their right to say 'no comment' outside of pre-agreed questions from their lawyer. "It's frustrating, because they have the right to say no comment, but for Kirsty's family, there's so little information. 'There's been such a limited amount of detail that's come from those five men. "It's almost like Kirsty drifts into a room, nobody says anything to her, approaches her or does anything. . . and then she jumps off the balcony.' The podcast host adds: 'Denise and Brian have been so dignified. They have always gone through official channels. "They have never messaged the men on social media, they just want answers.' Meanwhile, the family remains in legal limbo. 'It's frustrating,' says Brian. 'The authorities have ended their investigation. "They've asked us to present more evidence before they'll look at it again, but every time we suggest something, they don't agree.' 16 Will Kirsty's cause of death ever be revealed? The family hopes raising awareness might encourage new witnesses to come forward and help others in similar situations. 'The campaign for answers has consumed our life,' says Brian. 'In the process, a lot of people have approached us with similar stories and we've been able to give them help and advice.' On each anniversary of their daughter's death, Brian says he and his wife 'quietly do our own thing', visiting their daughter's favourite places, like the riverbank where she walked her dog, and remembering the happy, vibrant woman she was. 'Kirsty would light up a room with her smile and her laugh,' says Angela. 'She was such a loving, caring person. 'We just want someone to tell the truth. Kirsty walked into that room by mistake, but she didn't walk out. We owe it to her. We won't stop. Kirsty is not here, so we must be here for her.'
The Sun
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Bloodied clothes, sex attack claims and unanswered riddles of Benidorm 5 – what DID happen to Kirsty Maxwell?
SITTING on the plane, Kirsty Maxwell was in high spirits. Surrounded by friends, the 27-year-old bank worker was on her way to Benidorm for a hen weekend. Laughing and joking as they looked forward to spending time together in the Spanish party resort, the women were unaware that within hours, an unimaginable tragedy would strike. 16 16 Kirsty, herself a newlywed, would be found dead, her body lying by the pool of the Apartamentos Payma, where she was staying, after she plummeted from the balcony of a room on the 10th floor occupied by five British men. At first, it was suspected Kirsty had been murdered, but following a Spanish police investigation, the case was shelved and her death was recorded as an accident. Her grieving family, however, refuse to accept this. 'I know she didn't jump,' says Kirsty's aunt Angela Lees, 64. 'She wouldn't take her own life. "There's no way. That girl had everything to live for. She didn't sleepwalk. She had a drink in her, but she wasn't falling-about drunk.' Now, the family's eight-year fight to discover the truth is being told by a new podcast. What Happened To Kirsty Maxwell? is written, narrated and produced by true crime podcaster Naomi Channell, who decided to make the series after meeting Kirsty's family at a CrimeCon event in 2023, which they were attending to raise awareness of their campaign. 'They looked like they were broken,' Naomi remembers. 'What struck me first about the case was how nothing made sense. "I read through it all and thought, 'How has this been allowed to fall through the cracks?'' Kirsty, who was from Livingston, Scotland, was in the prime of her life when she boarded her flight to Benidorm. The previous September, she had married her long-term boyfriend Adam Maxwell. BBC documentary 'Killed Abroad' shows previously unseen footage of tragic Kirsty Maxwell asleep hours before Benidorm balcony plunge Blissfully happy, they were in the process of buying a new home, as well as planning to start a family. After touching down in Benidorm on April 28, 2017, Kirsty and the rest of the hen party checked into their apartment building just after 9pm, then headed out for the night. She returned, along with two friends, at 5.35am the next morning. Although she'd been drinking, CCTV footage shows she was clearly in control. She went to bed and at 6.50am, a friend who was sharing a room with her on the ninth floor took a video of her snoring. What happened next, however, remains shrouded in confusion. Having been asleep in bed, Kirsty left her room and went up to the 10th floor, where some of the hens were staying. Her family believes she went looking for their apartment, possibly in search of painkillers or contact lens solution, which she had forgotten. For whatever reason, she ended up in room 10E, barefoot and without her phone – where there were five bodybuilders from Nottingham, part of a group of more than 50 people in Spain celebrating a birthday. 16 16 16 The men in the flat were Joseph Graham, then 32, a logistics manager with Amazon, who opened the door to Kirsty, Ricky Gammon, a 31-year-old cage fighter, Anthony Holehouse, 34, Callum Northridge, 29, and Daniel Bailey, 32. Minutes after entering, Kirsty was dead, her body splayed on the concrete by the pool. Soon after, the police phoned her husband Adam. Unable to understand what they were saying, he rang one of the hens, who told him the tragic news. 'It was devastating. It doesn't sink in. She adored Adam, they had their future mapped out,' says Kirsty's mum Denise Curry, 61. As the family reeled in shock, in Spain the police suspected foul play, and the five men from Room 10E were questioned. One of them, Joseph Graham, was arrested. In police interviews, the men said Kirsty walked into their apartment without speaking. She then apparently rushed into the bathroom and was 'acting mad, drunk or both'. 16 Joseph told police that she attempted to climb through a small bathroom window, which led to another area of the flat, before giving up and jumping over the Juliet balcony, plunging to her death below. He allegedly screamed: 'She's jumped!' after she disappeared, and told police that he only spoke to her to ask her to leave. Meanwhile, Kirsty's mum, dad Brian, aunt Angela, Adam and his parents all booked flights to Spain. At that point they still had no idea what had happened, only that Kirsty was dead. 'Our priority was to get to Benidorm,' recalls Angela. 'We got on the plane, and we were just numb. Nobody could speak. "It was a bank holiday weekend, and the plane was full of holiday-makers. When we arrived in Benidorm, people were singing and dancing, but we were in shock. "Then we were told what had happened. We just couldn't believe it. We were immediately suspicious that something untoward had gone on in that room.' It was reported at the time by the family's lawyer, Luis Miguel Zumaquero, that police had said Kirsty fell to her death in a 'state of terror' and that she was allegedly fleeing a 'sexual attack that had begun to materialise'. It was Judge Ana Isabel Garcia-Galbis' job to decide if charges should be bought. Joseph Graham was arrested at the time and taken to court before being released without charge. Within 48 hours, the other four men were also probed over her death before being allowed to return to the UK pending further investigations. The men's lawyer, Roberto Sanchez, said: 'My clients have nothing to hide', and Joseph released a statement saying: 'I have been advised by my Spanish lawyer that, despite me not being charged with any wrongdoing, the investigation into this tragic accident is still ongoing. "I am unable to say anything at this time, other than I am innocent of any wrongdoing.' On May 1, Kirsty's family travelled to a morgue in Spain to view her body. 'Words can't describe the pain,' says Angela. 16 To add to their heartache, Spanish newspapers published a photo of Kirsty's body where she had fallen, which a bystander had taken. Angela says they were on autopilot, hardly sleeping or eating. The family stayed in the town and used social media to try to find new witnesses, especially people who were staying in a holiday complex opposite the apartments and might have seen something. On May 5, they brought Kirsty's body home. Frustrated by the apparent lack of action, the family engaged another lawyer, Lorena Soler Bernabeu, who arranged for further forensic analysis and later attempted to recall the five men for questioning. It was reported that a judge knocked back four separate requests from the family as they tried to seek answers. Then, on July 28, four of the men broke their silence to deny any involvement in her death. The four men who attended the hearing said: 'This was a tragic accident and we categorically deny any involvement in this unfortunate incident,' The Nottingham Post reported. 'The opinion of the judge is that this was an accident. 'It goes without saying that our deepest sympathy goes out to Kirsty's family and our thoughts are with them all at this terrible time.' Deepened suspicions The Spanish court declared the investigation complete and refused. Naomi says: 'The confusion and the men's subsequent silence has only deepened suspicions. "The men's clothing was not collected and Spanish police later confirmed that Kirsty's clothes had been destroyed, saying they had been 'inspected visually' and then incinerated because they were bloodstained.' She adds: 'The family even contacted the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, asking that any biological samples or forensic evidence be preserved. "The Scottish First Minister backed the request. Sánchez never replied.' Back in the UK, the family explored every legal avenue and set up online information appeals. 'We were left to become our own detectives,' says Brian, 66. 'We spent months going through emails, pushing for meetings, hiring our own forensic experts. We had no choice.' 16 16 Spanish police maintained the death was accidental. The lead investigator, César García, later stated that 'no sufficient evidence' pointed to criminal involvement. In 2018, a biomechanics expert reviewed the case on behalf of the family, and stated that the way Kirsty's garments were positioned was inconsistent with a fall. Her tight denim skirt and top had ridden up. The following year, after repeated requests, Kirsty's family was told some potential witnesses could be questioned via video link at Mansfield Magistrates' Court. But when the day arrived, technical problems meant a link could not be established and instead a court official took statements from the witnesses using a list of questions. 'It was a total farce,' says Brian. In September 2019, the Spanish courts decided to shelve a criminal probe. The family appealed, and in July 2020, three Spanish judges in Alicante ruled that there was no 'strong evidence' of criminality surrounding the death. In a statement, they said: 'Kirsty, affected by alcohol and after consuming the equivalent of 10 spirits the night before, appears to have left her apartment 9A and voluntarily entered 10E where the five men were. "Nothing points to the contrary. 'Although it is true cocaine was found in the bathroom of apartment 10E and the dead woman's fingerprints were discovered on an interior bathroom window, it has not been possible to obtain strong evidence of specific and individualised criminality in terms of the victim's death in any of the five men investigated.' However, the What Happened To Kirsty Maxwell? podcast questions some discrepancies in the statements the men gave at the time. Naomi explains: 'One said he was asleep. Another said he didn't notice Kirsty entering. There was confusion over whether she walked in uninvited or whether she was brought in by one of the men.' There is also a suggestion that there may have been another woman with one of the men at some point during the evening. Police also found erection-enhancing pills. Furthermore, police statements seen by The Sun state that Joseph's nose was bleeding and that he admitted he had been snorting narcotics. No toxicology reports for the men exist. It isn't disputed that the men had been drinking, and this could explain some of the discrepancies in their stories. Naomi says: 'They always exercised their right to say 'no comment' outside of pre-agreed questions from their lawyer. "It's frustrating, because they have the right to say no comment, but for Kirsty's family, there's so little information. 'There's been such a limited amount of detail that's come from those five men. "It's almost like Kirsty drifts into a room, nobody says anything to her, approaches her or does anything. . . and then she jumps off the balcony.' The podcast host adds: 'Denise and Brian have been so dignified. They have always gone through official channels. "They have never messaged the men on social media, they just want answers.' Meanwhile, the family remains in legal limbo. 'It's frustrating,' says Brian. 'The authorities have ended their investigation. "They've asked us to present more evidence before they'll look at it again, but every time we suggest something, they don't agree.' The family hopes raising awareness might encourage new witnesses to come forward and help others in similar situations. 'The campaign for answers has consumed our life,' says Brian. 'In the process, a lot of people have approached us with similar stories and we've been able to give them help and advice.' On each anniversary of their daughter's death, Brian says he and his wife 'quietly do our own thing', visiting their daughter's favourite places, like the riverbank where she walked her dog, and remembering the happy, vibrant woman she was. 'Kirsty would light up a room with her smile and her laugh,' says Angela. 'She was such a loving, caring person. 'We just want someone to tell the truth. Kirsty walked into that room by mistake, but she didn't walk out. We owe it to her. We won't stop. Kirsty is not here, so we must be here for her.'
Metro
22-06-2025
- Metro
I attended the UK's biggest true crime convention — it wasn't what I expected
It is 10.02am on a hazy Sunday morning in June, and a packed room of eager faces stares intently at the crime expert in front of them. 'The number of children with murder convictions has increased 300% in eight years,' she states. The hundreds of people – mainly women – she is speaking to, sit on neatly lined-up black chairs in a windowless presentation room within a nondescript London exhibition centre. And they barely react to the statistic; there's every chance they were already aware. Among attendees is a teenager with a cardigan embroidered with smiley faces, an older lady with grey hair elegantly styled into a low bun, who has a notebook resting on her lap, and a middle-aged woman in a practical cream fleece. The unlikely bunch are some of the country's most hardcore true crime enthusiasts, who have paid between £230 and £765 (the most expensive VIP ticket includes extras like bar access and time with guest speakers) to learn more about the worst parts of humanity at the London true crime convention, CrimeCon. It's my first time attending the conference, and I really wasn't sure what to expect. Sitting nervously in the audience of my first session, I listen to the heartbreaking case of Samantha Madgin, who was killed at 18 in a random knife attack. Sharing her story are the teenager's sister, Carly, and mother, Alison, who share their unimaginable pain. At one point, Alison takes a moment to compose herself, and the room hangs in silence aside from the fizz-click of a Diet Coke can being opened in the audience. After the talk, the group politely files out of the double doors and move onto their next chosen activity. There are seven 45-minute sessions, with around three options for each time slot on both Saturday and Sunday. The choices can be viewed by waving a phone over the QR code displayed on the laminated cardboard hanging from the black lanyards that are part of the attendee uniform. Choosing the 11:15am – 12pm activity is a difficult decision, I am told by Amy, a university student, who is here with her mum, Samantha, on their annual bonding day. People are scrambling between Walking into Your Own Murder, led by Natalie Queiroz MBE, who describes being attacked by her disguised partner when heavily pregnant (the session ends up achieving one of the only standing ovations of the weekend), or Killers, Cults and Queens: The Darkest Cults, which has RuPaul's Drag Race star Cheryl (formerly Cheryl Hole), on the stage. The final option, The Truth About True Crime and Crime News: What are YOUR ethical responsibilities? isn't quite as popular. Despite around a thousand people gathering at the event held at 133 Houndsditch across two days, around 20 have chosen to listen. Fearing that this unusual and fun day out might be at other people's expense, I opt for the less popular session to see if it could ease my guilt. A few rows from the front is accountant Cheryl, whose hand points high into the air when Dr. Bethany Usher asks for the crowd's thoughts. A man in black runs through the aisle to deliver a microphone, and she quickly launches into a passionate speech: 'People think being a true crime fan is about glorifying killers or cannibals, but that's not what this is about. 'I'm hearing stories from victims and how they've influenced changes. That's what we're interested in. It's so nice to be here among like-minded people today.' This message is echoed by Nancy Baughen, who founded the UK event in 2020, following the success of the American counterpart, which launched three years earlier. 'When I started CrimeCon, I was a bit concerned,' she tells Metro, acknowledging that true crime can be a bit of a dirty word. 'I worried that people were going to say they love serial killers, and they'd be looking to find out more about the blood and gore in a sensationalist way. But I'm delighted with the direction that we've taken CrimeCon and our ethics.' Nancy highlights that having victims and their families willingly participate is one of the biggest pieces of evidence of how respectful they are. 'They are so grateful for the opportunity to share their story in a live environment with an audience who are sympathetic and want to make change,' she explains. One of the event's past speakers is Ann Ming, who lobbied for a change to the double jeopardy law after juries twice failed to reach a verdict on her daughter Julie Hogg's killer, William Dunlop. When he bragged to a prison officer about killing her while inside for another crime, she campaigned tirelessly to abolish the law that meant a person could only be tried twice for the same crime. She spoke about her important work at last year's CrimeCon. 'I was on the phone to Ann just this morning,' adds Nancy. 'I'm still very close to her.' Although the event messaging is clear on being 'respectful' and 'not sensationalist', the question remains – can a group of strangers gathering to talk about 'the worst day of someone's life', as Nancy puts it, ever be completely unproblematic? I questioned this further when I spot one of the few men walking across the grey patterned carpet in a dark top that has 'Scottish murders' written on it. I'm relieved when I discover it is linked to a podcast of the same name that relentlessly seeks justice for murder victims. Dr Julia Shaw – who presented the Murder in Mind talk, which delved into the psychological triggers behind some of the most horrific crimes at 10:15am on Saturday morning, then went on to World's Most Evil Killers: Does the Time Fit the Crime? (self-explanatory) at 12:35pm – argues that there are strong benefits to the fans and experts meeting. 'Criminologists spend all our time in labs and talking to offenders, and what we ideally want to do is to distribute that knowledge to people so it's not just sort of stuck in an ivory tower,' she tells Metro. 'Fans have real knowledge too, so they can help us see things in different ways.' Adding to the list of positives, she explains that it's 'valuable' to understand why people become murderous. 'It is easy for people to consider criminals as monsters, but that is both untrue and harmful. Evil empathy, as I call it, is crucial for a functioning society. It pushes you to think, 'Could I do something like this?' When you're thinking through the steps that might get you to this darkness, you can backtrack and go, 'Oh, I should avoid this'. 'More men should become involved in the true crime industry for this reason. It's currently around 65% women, 35% men when it comes to consumption. Women tend to be drawn to it more as we like to know why, and because true crime is seen as a female thing, it's not respected as much as it should be. 'CrimeCon is also just a good time,' she adds with a smile ahead of her debut. In the afternoon, I head to Stalking: The Hidden Threat, followed by the Pitcairn Trials, which recounts the case that saw seven men on the island, around one-third of the whole male population, face 55 charges related to sexual offences against children and young adults. The continual dark subject matter and repeated reminders that anyone can be a victim lead me to start worrying that someone could walk into the room, march right past the wheel that you can spin to win prizes (such as 10% off next year's tickets), and hurt me. Mid-spiral, I meet besties Beth and Janelle, and share my concern. Mental health nurse Janelle assures me that her heavy consumption of true crime means that she's confident in being able to 'de-escalate' the situation. She is certainly putting in the hours – the pair were late to day two of the conference, as they stayed up past midnight listening to true crime podcasts. At the afternoon breaktime, I spot packed lunches being pulled from rucksacks, but due to my lack of meal prep, I am fueled solely by the free lattes, Fruittellas and mini Tony's Chocolate bars. CrimeConers knew to bring in their own food, as for many, this isn't their first time, and it certainly won't be their last. During the day, I speak to at least twenty people, and nobody has been less than three times. People have travelled far and wide today too; the furthest is perhaps Christie, who extended a trip from Australia so she could meet other people who are also part of a private fan group for criminal behavioural analyst Laura Richards. She later begins her session on coercive control by saying: 'I'm sure a lot of you know who I am'. Visitors can spend extra money buying books by criminology experts and then queue to get them signed, often using their time together to express their adoration. They can also part with money at a merch stand, where black hoodies with the CrimeCon fingerprint logo hang off a lone rail. It is positioned directly in front of the elevators where people initially enter the space. During my final session, The Reality of Lethal Crime, leading criminologist Professor David Wilson presents his murderous facts like the kitchen being the most likely room where someone is going to be murdered with pizazz. 'The kitchen block is the AK-47,' he remarks. He also makes an effort to appreciate his audience. 'Nicola Bulley's body was found because of a psychic. Armchair detectives are important,' he says, the room nodding in agreement. 'Thank you for the work that you're doing to make the world a better place.' More Trending I find that speakers want to highlight societal issues to lower crime rates, while fans have a desire to learn and help. It's not about celebrating criminals, it's about doing better. For instance, in the stalking seminar, I'm told how joking, 'Have you been stalking me?' if you bump into someone you know is trivialising a very serious issue. It's not something I'd given thought to before, but I certainly will not be using it ever again. After thunderous applause for David Wilson, I stand up to leave and spot that my cardboard CrimeCon pass has become detached from my lanyard and now lies discarded on the floor. Metharophical, perhaps, indicating it's time to move on. As I head to the Algate tube station, I leave behind this unique world, wondering if I'll return… but I do check over my shoulder a few times. Tickets are available here for CrimeCon Manchester, which is taking place on September 27 2025 and CrimeCon London on October 3 and 4, 2026. Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing Share your views in the comments below. MORE: 'I'd rather they killed us' How rape became a weapon in war MORE: Netflix's rudely axed Mindhunter could be returning with a twist MORE: 'I was the first person to survive rabies without a vaccination'
