Latest news with #MurderTrial
The Herald Scotland
8 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Behind the scenes on Scotland's top true crime show
Suddenly, as if a switch had been flicked, the fog lifted to reveal a herd of red deer standing close by, watching what the strangers were doing. 'It was quite a moment,' the officer tells Murder Case: The Vanishing Cyclist, a documentary about the disappearance of Tony Parsons, a 63-year-old grandfather from Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire. Grandfather Tony Parsons was on his way home from a charity bike ride (Image: Firecrest Films/BBC Scotland) It is no ordinary reminiscence, but then Murder Case and its sister series Murder Trial don't do ordinary. Made by Firecrest Films for BBC Scotland, the award-winning true crime documentaries attract big audiences in Scotland and across the UK, with three million streaming requests on iPlayer alone. It's a television success story, and a Clyde-built one at that. Firecrest is based in the Fairfield building in Govan, once home to a mighty shipbuilding operation, now a museum and offices. True crime documentaries are just one part of their output. The rest ranges from Michael Palin's Himalaya to Denise Van Outen's latest supermarket sweep. Kirsty MacFarlane is series producer of The Vanishing Cyclist and Murder Case: Who Killed Keisha, which deals with the 2023 death of Kiesha Donaghy, a mother-of-two from Elgin. MacFarlane is the main contact with Police Scotland's Major Investigations Teams (MIT), who deal with the cases covered. Firecrest makes much of this access, variously described as exceptional, unprecedented and unparalleled. Similar arrangements exist however, notably between The Garden, makers of 24 Hours in Police Custody, and Bedfordshire Police. 24 Hours in Police Custody is often compared to Murder Case, but there are differences. The Channel 4 series focuses more on the nuts and bolts of an investigation in the critical early period, while Murder Case takes the longer view, as in the Tony Parsons case. In September 2017, the former Navy officer was on a charity bike ride from Fort William to Tillicoultry when he disappeared. His wife Margaret, son Mike and daughter Vicky were left in agony, not knowing what had happened. Three years later, police received a call from a woman saying a drunk driver had hit Mr Parsons. Not only did the caller name the driver and his twin brother as Alexander and Robert McKellar, she knew where the body was buried on the vast Auch Estate. With her help - she had marked the location with a drinks can stamped into the ground - police and forensics teams, watched by those inquisitive deer, finally found Mr Parsons. The Auch Estate where the body was found (Image: Firecrest Films/BBC Scotland) As well as liaising with police, MacFarlane is the main point of contact for families. While every case is different, the initial approach is made by letter, passed on by the police. Should the family say yes to taking part, further meetings follow. Read more: MacFarlane met the Parsons two and a half years ago, but it was only six months ago that Margaret and Vicky felt ready to speak on camera. The interviews with family and police officers are always moving and often astonishing. Mrs Parsons says of the two men jailed for the crime: 'When they get out of jail they are going to go back to life as if nothing's happened. I can't do that because Tony is not here. They are not the ones that are left with a life sentence, I am.' A can stamped into the ground marked the grave's location (Image: Firecrest Films/BBC Scotland) Contact with the families continues after a programme airs. The other week someone sent MacFarlane photos from a family wedding. Such close ties are understandable with families, but I wonder about the relationship with police. Isn't there a risk in it becoming too close? The police have ultimate control over access. The films, moreover, show officers officers in an unfailingly flattering light. It's great PR for the MIT. MacFarlane is having none of that. 'Our job is not to be inside the police as part of their organisation. We have editorial control of the programme and are not guided by them in any way. I personally haven't felt like we've been pushed away from cases to protect their reputation.' As a production company operating in Scotland, Firecrest has one major advantage over its rivals elsewhere in the UK - access to trials. Executive producer Vari Innes explains how it works. There are eight cameras in court, none of which should be noticeable. 'They basically just look like a lightstand or a bit of equipment in the corner.' The golden rule is that filming should have no impact on proceedings. The cameras are controlled by a director and a camera operator, working in a separate room. Putting the images together can yield dramatic results. In The Vanishing Cyclist, we see Mike Parson's reaction in real time as the court hears in detail about the place where his father's body was found. Sometimes, says Innes, it is just as important to look away, as the camera does with Mrs Parsons. 'We've chosen not to show her genuine reaction to it because it felt too much. It was inappropriate to show how upset she was.' This victim-centred approach is a world apart from the sensationalist way crime used to be covered. Some fear the ever-growing demand for stories will mean a return to the bad old days. Not at Firecrest, though. The only change at their end is a move into podcasts with Inside Murder Trial (BBC Sounds). MacFarlane says: 'I don't love the word victim, but we certainly put the person who has died at the centre of every programme we make, and their family. It's an absolute privilege that they allow us to tell their story.' Murder Case: The Vanishing Cyclist, BBC Scotland, 9pm, August 12. Both episodes, plus Who Killed Kiesha, on BBC iPlayer the same day.
The Herald Scotland
17 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Going behind the scenes at Murder Case is an eye-opener
Suddenly, as if a switch had been flicked, the fog lifted to reveal a herd of red deer standing close by, watching what the strangers were doing. 'It was quite a moment,' the officer tells Murder Case: The Vanishing Cyclist, a documentary about the disappearance of Tony Parsons, a 63-year-old grandfather from Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire. Grandfather Tony Parsons was on his way home from a charity bike ride (Image: Firecrest Films/BBC Scotland) It is no ordinary reminiscence, but then Murder Case and its sister series Murder Trial don't do ordinary. Made by Firecrest Films for BBC Scotland, the award-winning true crime documentaries attract big audiences in Scotland and across the UK, with three million streaming requests on iPlayer alone. It's a television success story, and a Clyde-built one at that. Firecrest is based in the Fairfield building in Govan, once home to a mighty shipbuilding operation, now a museum and offices. True crime documentaries are just one part of their output. The rest ranges from Michael Palin's Himalaya to Denise Van Outen's latest supermarket sweep. Kirsty MacFarlane is series producer of The Vanishing Cyclist and Murder Case: Who Killed Keisha, which deals with the 2023 death of Kiesha Donaghy, a mother-of-two from Elgin. MacFarlane is the main contact with Police Scotland's Major Investigations Teams (MIT), who deal with the cases covered. Firecrest makes much of this access, variously described as exceptional, unprecedented and unparalleled. Similar arrangements exist however, notably between The Garden, makers of 24 Hours in Police Custody, and Bedfordshire Police. 24 Hours in Police Custody is often compared to Murder Case, but there are differences. The Channel 4 series focuses more on the nuts and bolts of an investigation in the critical early period, while Murder Case takes the longer view, as in the Tony Parsons case. In September 2017, the former Navy officer was on a charity bike ride from Fort William to Tillicoultry when he disappeared. His wife Margaret, son Mike and daughter Vicky were left in agony, not knowing what had happened. Three years later, police received a call from a woman saying a drunk driver had hit Mr Parsons. Not only did the caller name the driver and his twin brother as Alexander and Robert McKellar, she knew where the body was buried on the vast Auch Estate. With her help - she had marked the location with a drinks can stamped into the ground - police and forensics teams, watched by those inquisitive deer, finally found Mr Parsons. The Auch Estate where the body was found (Image: Firecrest Films/BBC Scotland) As well as liaising with police, MacFarlane is the main point of contact for families. While every case is different, the initial approach is made by letter, passed on by the police. Should the family say yes to taking part, further meetings follow. Read more: MacFarlane met the Parsons two and a half years ago, but it was only six months ago that Margaret and Vicky felt ready to speak on camera. The interviews with family and police officers are always moving and often astonishing. Mrs Parsons says of the two men jailed for the crime: 'When they get out of jail they are going to go back to life as if nothing's happened. I can't do that because Tony is not here. They are not the ones that are left with a life sentence, I am.' A can stamped into the ground marked the grave's location (Image: Firecrest Films/BBC Scotland) Contact with the families continues after a programme airs. The other week someone sent MacFarlane photos from a family wedding. Such close ties are understandable with families, but I wonder about the relationship with police. Isn't there a risk in it becoming too close? The police have ultimate control over access. The films, moreover, show officers officers in an unfailingly flattering light. It's great PR for the MIT. MacFarlane is having none of that. 'Our job is not to be inside the police as part of their organisation. We have editorial control of the programme and are not guided by them in any way. I personally haven't felt like we've been pushed away from cases to protect their reputation.' As a production company operating in Scotland, Firecrest has one major advantage over its rivals elsewhere in the UK - access to trials. Executive producer Vari Innes explains how it works. There are eight cameras in court, none of which should be noticeable. 'They basically just look like a lightstand or a bit of equipment in the corner.' The golden rule is that filming should have no impact on proceedings. The cameras are controlled by a director and a camera operator, working in a separate room. Putting the images together can yield dramatic results. In The Vanishing Cyclist, we see Mike Parson's reaction in real time as the court hears in detail about the place where his father's body was found. Sometimes, says Innes, it is just as important to look away, as the camera does with Mrs Parsons. 'We've chosen not to show her genuine reaction to it because it felt too much. It was inappropriate to show how upset she was.' This victim-centred approach is a world apart from the sensationalist way crime used to be covered. Some fear the ever-growing demand for stories will mean a return to the bad old days. Not at Firecrest, though. The only change at their end is a move into podcasts with Inside Murder Trial (BBC Sounds). MacFarlane says: 'I don't love the word victim, but we certainly put the person who has died at the centre of every programme we make, and their family. It's an absolute privilege that they allow us to tell their story.' Murder Case: The Vanishing Cyclist, BBC Scotland, 9pm, August 12. Both episodes, plus Who Killed Kiesha, on BBC iPlayer the same day.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Daily Mail
How Erin Patterson failed in her bid to keep her darkest secrets hidden from the public - as court makes HUGE call
Death cap mushroom killer Erin Patterson 's bid to keep pre-trial evidence a secret until her appeal has failed after a judge found open justice is 'fundamental'. Patterson, 50, wore a black top and glasses as she faced Melbourne 's Supreme Court on Friday morning by video link from prison for a brief hearing. Justice Christopher Beale set down two days for Patterson's plea hearing, which prosecutors said would include 'a lot' of victim impact statements. The hearing will take place on August 25 and 26 at the court in Melbourne and not Morwell, where the near-three-month trial was held, due to maintenance issues. Prosecutor Jane Warren confirmed the first day of the hearing would be taken up with statements from victims, including family and friends of the three people she murdered: Don and Gail Patterson, 70, and Heather Wilkinson, 66. The sole survivor of the deadly July 2023 lunch, Ian Wilkinson, is also likely to give the court his statement. After firming up court dates, Justice Beale overturned an application by Patterson's legal team to keep all pre-trial evidence secret to preserve her appeal rights. Patterson cannot lodge an appeal until after she is sentenced. Her defence team had argued pre-trial evidence should not be released to media due to 'unprecedented' reporting, with several podcasts, documentaries and a mini-series in development. Defence barrister Colin Mandy SC claimed releasing the evidence could leave an indelible impression on a jury if she successfully appealed and faced a retrial. However, media argued against the claim, saying it was 'speculative' she would face another trial and that jurors would be directed not to engage with the evidence. Justice Beale found that it was 'unlikely' an appeal of Patterson's conviction would succeed, but that - and the possibility of a retrial - could not be excluded. He ultimately ruled in favour of the media and did not make a suppression order over the evidence. 'Open justice is a fundamental concern of our criminal justice jurisdiction,' he said. The ruling means that evidence, including information about the alleged attempted poisonings of her husband, Simon Patterson, can now be reported. The judge also approved release of Patterson's police interview. Patterson was found guilty of three murders and one attempted murder over the July 29, 2023, lunch at her home in Leongatha. The mother-of-two deliberately served up a death cap mushroom-laced beef Wellington to Don, Gail, Heather and Ian. She pleaded not guilty and denied all charges, including over the alleged attempted murder of Simon. Those charges were dropped at the beginning of her trial in April. Patterson spent eight days in the witness box during her regional Victorian trial, where she admitted a series of lies and said she may have accidentally included foraged mushrooms in the beef Wellington. This included lies to police about her interest in wild mushrooms, and lies about owning a food dehydrator which she dumped at a local tip. The trial became a media circus, involving 252 media outlets including 15 international outlets, making it the biggest matter the Supreme Court has managed in recent history. Patterson will have 28 days to lodge an appeal after she is sentenced.
Daily Record
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Scots trial fears over filming of court cases for true-crime documentaries
The Murder Trial and Murder Case series feature in the Top 10 most requested titles of 2025 on the broadcaster's iPlayer with over three million views. Real-life- crime documentaries which allow cameras into Scots courts have been among BBC Scotland's biggest hits despite fears they could disrupt criminal trials. The Murder Trial and Murder Case series feature in the Top 10 most requested titles of 2025 on the broadcaster's iPlayer with over three million views. The latest viewing figures come after the broadcaster last week announced Murder Case is set to return later this year with a new three-part series focussing on two cases. Two 60-minute episodes will concentrate on the murder of Tony Parsons – The Vanishing Cyclist – who was killed by a drunk driver on the A82 near Bridge of Orchy and secretly buried in a shallow grave. Sandy McKellar and twin Robert hid Tony's body on a remote estate in the Highlands where it remained undiscovered for three years until Sandy confided in his new girlfriend Caroline Muirhead about the killing and took her to the burial site. She was able to pinpoint the remote location to the police by dropping a soft drink can on the ground. However, two years ago we revealed Muirhead fled court over the pressure of appearing in the documentary. She was arrested after failing to turn up to court for the twins' trial. At the time, she said the demands to take part in the BBC-commissioned programme on the case led her to have a mental breakdown. Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay wrote to the BBC to raise concerns with its production company Firecrest Films. He said: 'Ms Muirhead has said she was subjected to inappropriate pressure to nagree for her testimony to be broadcast. 'She further claims that she felt unable to testify due to this pressure and that this, in turn, may have caused the Crown Office to strike a plea deal with the two men accused of murder, instead of putting them on trial, resulting in a downgrading of the charges, which they admitted to.' The real-life crime format has attracted huge audiences. A spokeswoman said: ' Crime documentaries continue to be really popular with audiences in Scotland and across the UK, consistently performing well on BBC iPlayer. 'The Murder Trial and Murder Case series feature in the Top 10 'most requested' titles of 2025 on BBC iPlayer with a combined audience of nearly three million streaming requests. 'This year, the top three 'most viewed' BBC crime documentaries have been Murder Trial: Girl in the River, Murder Trial: Body in the Warehouse and Murder Case: The Hunt for Mary McLaughlin's Killer.'
Forbes
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
‘Ginny & Georgia' Season 4: Everything To Know After That Shocking Season 3 Ending
Ginny & Georgia. (L to R) Brianne Howey as Georgia Miller, Antonia Gentry as Ginny Miller in episode ... More 304 of Ginny & Georgia. After more than two years, the third season of Ginny & Georgia is now streaming on Netflix. Packed with twists, turns, and plenty of questions heading into Season 4, the saga of the Miller family continues – and Georgia barely makes it out of this scandal unscathed. Season 3 picks up after Georgia is arrested for murder at her wedding to Wellsbury mayor Paul Randolph. As a refresher, in Season 2, Georgia killed Tom Fuller, the husband of Cynthia Fuller, while he was in hospice care at the Fuller home. Georgia's son Austin, who was playing hide-and-seek and hiding in the closet of Tom's room, witnessed his mom smother Tom with a pillow. Georgia is then arrested and driven away in a cop car, setting the stage for an intense court battle and a potential prison sentence in Season 3. If you've finished all 10 episodes, here's what to know about Ginny & Georgia Season 4 – including what the Season 3 ending means for Georgia and her relationship with her kids, who both made major sacrifices for her. Warning: Major spoilers ahead for Ginny & Georgia Season 3. Ginny & Georgia. (L to R) Diesel La Torraca as Austin Miller, Antonia Gentry as Ginny Miller in ... More episode 310 of Ginny & Georgia. Season 3 largely focuses on Georgia's trial for the murder of Tom Fuller, which her son witnessed first hand. In an unexpected twist, Austin frames his father, Gil, for the murder he saw his mother commit. This happens largely because of Ginny, who doesn't want her mom to go to prison or for her brother to move away with Gil. Ginny blackmails Cynthia (after uncovering her affair with Joe) and forces her to say that Gil could have been at her house the night Tom was killed. 'In the back of her mind, she's aware of how what she's done to him is what Georgia has done to her, over and over again,' Gentry told Netflix's Tudum of Ginny's relationship with Austin. 'Poor Austin, this kid has gone through so much.' Now, with Gil being framed again in Season 3, having his own son turn on him the same way his ex did feels like a betrayal like no other. Gil blames Georgia for Austin's actions – just as his relationship with his son was finally starting to improve. 'He knows Georgia. He knows what she's capable of. For his son to be the one to throw him under the bus is brutal,' Gil's portrayer Aaron Ashmore said to Tudum. Perhaps one of the biggest shockers in Season 3 is that both Georgia and Ginny end up pregnant after all. 'Ginny gets pregnant, Georgia fakes a pregnancy, and then Georgia really gets pregnant, and we don't know who the dad is. And when you say these things out loud, you're like, 'What in the world is this show?!' ' creator Sarah Lampert quipped to Tudum. Ginny realizes her mom might be expecting after seeing her chug a bottle of milk from the fridge. But with Georgia having slept with both Paul and Joe, the owner of Blue Farm Café, there's one big question: Who's the baby daddy? Meanwhile, according to Gentry, Ginny's pregnancy was always part of the plan for Season 3. "The show is really just about how Ginny and Georgia are mirrors and reflections of each other,' she told the streamer. "Ginny going through a pregnancy the same way that Georgia did, but having the support system in her decision for what to do about it, is the key difference between the two.' Ginny & Georgia. Antonia Gentry as Ginny Miller in episode 303 of Ginny & Georgia. Yes, Ginny & Georgia has been renewed for Season 4. In 2023, Netflix announced that the series would return for both a third and fourth season. Unfortunately for fans, Season 4 is expected to be the show's final installment. Showrunner Debra J. Fisher told The Hollywood Reporter that the series was originally pitched as a four-season arc and they already have the final episode planned out. "When Sarah (Lampert) and I pitched the show to Netflix, we did pitch four seasons, so we know what we want the end game to be," Fisher told the publication. 'We know what we want the last episode to be.' Ginny & Georgia. (L to R) Nathan Mitchell as Zion Miller, Antonia Gentry as Ginny Miller in episode ... More 307 of Ginny & Georgia. While Season 3 focused on breaking Georgia down and bringing her to her lowest point, the creators have teased that Season 4 will focus on rebuilding the mother. Lampert revealed to Tudum that the theme for the fourth installment is 'Cycles and Origins.' Viewers will finally meet Georgia's family on screen and dive deeper into her traumatic past with her abusive stepfather and mother. (This season, Georgia's estranged father, who she hasn't spoken to since she was six, calls her from jail to reveal that, despite her mother's claims that he tried to kill both her and Georgia, she hadn't told the full truth about why he went to prison.) Showrunner Sarah Glinski added that 'the most important thing to Georgia are her kids,' and putting them through a trial will likely have major implications in the next season. 'We thought the biggest consequences are how her children are changed through the process. The burden she leaves on Austin and Ginny at the end of Season 3 is what we'll have to deal with in Season 4.' Lampert said that this unhealthy situation 'is a very powerful place' for Georgia to begin Season 4, now that she's "in a position of really wanting to change and knowing that what's at stake is her relationship with her kids.' Brianne Howey, who plays Georgia, told Tudum that she hopes Georgia will continue to push herself in Season 4 and step outside her comfort zone now that she's open to therapy. 'There is a glimmer of hope at the end of Season 3. It starts small, but it's starting, so I think it's possible,' she said. As for Ginny, who's becoming more like her mother by the second, she's heading into the summer with a stronger relationship with her dad, Zion. He's filing for joint custody, and the two are about to take a trip to Korea together. Ginny & Georgia. Brianne Howey as Georgia Miller in episode 304 of Ginny & Georgia. Netflix has not yet announced a release date for Ginny & Georgia Season 4, but the good news is that production is already underway. The writers' room for the next season officially began in February 2025. "First day of the Season 4 writer's room!!! Based on today alone, Season 4 is going to be a RIDE," read the caption of an Instagram post shared by series creator Sarah Lampert and the show's official account. The first season premiered in February 2021, followed by Season 2 in January 2023 and Season 3 in June 2025. Given the show's pattern of releasing new seasons every two years, Season 4 will likely debut sometime in early to mid-2027. Stay tuned for more updates on Ginny & Georgia Season 4. Ginny & Georgia Season 3 is streaming on Netflix. Watch the official trailer below.
