Latest news with #TonyParsons
Times
3 days ago
- Times
Murder Case: The Vanishing Cyclist review — a story of astonishing callousness
More than 170,000 people are reported missing in the UK each year but few yield a story as pitiless as the cover-up behind the disappearance of Tony Parsons. Murder Case: The Vanishing Cyclist (BBC2) was a tragic tale which was discomforting to watch because it exposed the level of callousness and cruelty of which seemingly 'normal' people can be capable. Parsons was trying to do something good, raising money for charity after surviving prostate cancer. Cycling alone 104 miles from Fort William to his home in Tillicoultry on a fundraising bike ride he was hit by a car driven byAlexander McKellar, who had been drinking in a bar with his twin brother, Robert. He suffered catastrophic injuries. We do not hear until near the end of this two-parter that he was still alive after the crash, possibly for 30 minutes, and that the two men heard him moan.
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Telegraph
The Vanishing Cyclist murder case: Why the BBC was blamed for a key witness dropping out
Ask locals and they will tell you it is not uncommon for people to go missing in the Scottish Highlands. But not like this. Former Navy officer Tony Parsons – keen to 'give something back' after surviving prostate cancer – embarked on a solo charity cycle ride from Fort William to his home in Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire, in 2017. But the 63-year-old father of two never came home to his wife, Margaret. CCTV narrowed down his disappearance to seven miles of the A82 between the Bridge of Orchy hotel and Tyndrum. But police failed to find a scrap of his clothing or any sign of his bike. 'Somewhere on that stretch of road, Tony Parsons vanished off the face of the earth,' says Detective Inspector Fraser Spence, the senior investigating officer in the case, in a new two-part BBC documentary, Murder Case: The Vanishing Cyclist. For three years, there was no news whatsoever. Margaret remained hopeful that he would walk through their front door at any moment. Then, says Parsons's son Mike, 'one phone call flipped everything upside-down'. In 2020, a sobbing woman called the police. 'I wish to report information about a crime that happened three years ago in Bridge of Orchy,' she said breathlessly. 'A hit and run. Disposal of a body and lying to the police.' The crimes had been confessed to her by 'a recent partner' a week or so earlier. She added: 'I can't live with it, I have to report it.' When the call handler asked for her partner's name, she replied, 'Alexander McKellar and his twin brother, Robert.' Asked to clarify that she was reporting a murder, she answered, simply, 'Yes'. The 29-year-old twins were farmers and deerstalkers whose family lived and worked on the 9,000-acre Auch Estate, slap-bang in the middle of Parsons's cycling route. An anonymous note had been handed to detectives in 2018 (two years before they were mentioned in the phone call), urging them: 'Consider stopping twins from Tyndrum' who were repeatedly driving under the influence of alcohol. The brothers had been spoken to twice during previous enquiries in the case. The caller, who it transpired was the pathologist Dr Caroline Muirhead, had evidence that would amaze officers. After a whirlwind four-month romance with Alexander McKellar that began on the app Tinder, the pair were considering marriage. Muirhead wanted to know if he had any skeletons in the closet and suggested they share their deepest, darkest secrets. That was when McKellar admitted that he had hit a cyclist after drinking, while speeding. The brothers had driven home and returned in a different vehicle to transport the body to their estate. Alexander even showed Muirhead the shallow grave, in a remote peat bog. She dropped a can of Red Bull as a marker, stamped it into the ground and called the police. In January 2021, a forensic soil scientist was brought in to survey the area and identify that a small section of heath close to the drinks can was the only land free of shrubs. A team of forensic archaeologists used tiny brushes and spatulas painstakingly to skim off centimetres-deep layers, to make sure no evidence was lost. Parsons's body was found, remarkably well preserved by the cold, wet peat. Police had no evidence of any intent to take his life, merely a killing caused by reckless driving. But then Muirhead reported her boyfriend telling her that when they got out of the car to take their victim back to the estate, 'there was a moan from the body'. This tallied with the findings of police pathologists – that Parsons may have been alive for half an hour after the crash, knowing no help was coming. DI Spence calls this a 'Sliding Doors moment'. It meant that four years after the crash, the brothers were charged with murder, which, in Scottish law, covers not just 'wicked intention' to kill but also 'wicked recklessness'. With cameras allowed into Glasgow's High Court, viewers of this Murder Case – the Scottish TV series accounts for the three most-watched BBC crime documentaries of 2025 – are able to get exceptional access to the hearings, with close-ups of all involved. However, one of the most extraordinary facets of the story is entirely absent from the programme, which merely reports that Muirhead – the key prosecution witness – failed to turn up to court. Omitted is that, according to her, the documentary itself had a direct impact on proceedings. She says she insisted she did not want to appear on film, after which she fled and a warrant was issued for her arrest – before she was placed in custody for two days, where she suffered a mental breakdown. In the end, Muirhead was not required to give evidence, because prosecutors then struck a plea deal with the McKellars, agreeing charges of culpable homicide for Alexander and defeating the ends of justice for both brothers. According to Russell Findlay the Scottish Conservative leader at the time, who wrote to the BBC to raise concerns: 'Ms Muirhead has said she was subjected to inappropriate pressure to agree 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.' The BBC said: 'We completely refute this inaccurate version of events. The witness was told that their testimony would not be filmed or recorded for the documentary and, therefore, decisions about whether or not to film had no impact on the outcome of proceedings. Documentaries like Murder Case highlight the importance of open justice and are subject to rigorous protocols and procedures which are routinely reviewed to ensure the highest BBC editorial standards are met.' After the McKellars pleaded guilty to the lesser charges in 2023, Alexander was sentenced to 12 years and Robert five years and three months. They remained composed throughout, but each began crying, not when hearing details of the trauma of Mr Parsons or his family, but when their lawyers described their own suffering. For Alexander, that was the description of an aborted suicide attempt, and for Robert, reference to what is described as 'a point in his life where he already feared that his family was breaking up'. Robert McKellar's KC said he bitterly regretted his 'callous and cowardly actions', but DI Spence says he has not seen any remorse. 'It really just seemed that they didn't treat Tony Parsons any differently to how they dealt with the carcasses of the animals they killed when they were in their hunting parties,' he says. The sentences brought little closure for the family, who had hoped for murder convictions. 'By [accepting the plea deal], not only have they robbed me of my father, but they've robbed me of knowing the truth,' says Parsons's daughter, Vicky. His widow, Margaret, adds: 'They're not the ones that are left with a life sentence. I am.'
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Today's top TV and streaming picks: The Hunt For Shannon Matthews, Beekept and Calm With Horses
The Hills Are Alive: A Year at Kylemore Abbey RTÉ One, 6.30pm It's autumn, and the storm damage is there for all to see. Nevertheless, bulb planting is gathering pace as the garden team prepares for spring, and there could be good news – it's suspected that the resident pony is pregnant. Beekept RTÉ One, 7.30pm A buzzing documentary charting the life and work of Irish beekeepers. They come from many different walks of life, including science, the arts and business, but they all have one thing in common – to help the humble honey bee thrive. Titanic: Secrets of the Shipwreck Channel 4, 8pm In the concluding part of the documentary, scientist and explorer Robert Ballard piggybacks on US Navy missions to hunt for the wreck. He's assisted by French researchers whose access to hi-tech equipment proves invaluable. Murder Case: The Vanishing Cyclist BBC Two, 10.50pm Gripping if disturbing two-part documentary about the disappearance of Tony Parsons, a 63-year-old ex-British Navy officer. For three years, his whereabouts remained unknown, until an emergency call helped the authorities piece together what happened to him. Calm with Horses RTÉ2, 9pm Compelling crime drama focusing on the efforts of a gang member to carry out the tasks set for him by his drug-dealer bosses while also being a good father, tasks put to the test when he's ordered to kill for the first time. Cosmo Jarvis and Barry Keoghan star. Confess, Fletch RTÉ One, 9.30pm Jon Hamm takes over the role of the investigative journalist-turned-freelance writer originally played by Chevy Chase. This time his efforts to rescue a kidnapped father result in him accused of murder. The Hunt For Shannon Matthews ADVERTISEMENT Prime Video, streaming now In 2008, nine-year-old Shannon Matthews disappeared on her way home from school in West Yorkshire, sparking a nationwide search. What began as a heartbreaking mystery soon took a disturbing turn. This two-parter revisits the case. Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser Netflix, streaming now Remember the 'transformation' shows of the Noughties? At one end of the scale, you had What Not To Wear and 10 Years Younger. At the other end, there was Extreme Makeover and The Swan. While most of the aforementioned predominantly featured women changing themselves for societal approval, The Biggest Loser was different. The global franchise, which ran from 2004 until (would you believe it) 2016, equally targeted men. Now, this docu-series looks at the making of the hit reality competition, exploring the good, the bad, and the exceptionally complicated. Featuring interviews with former contestants, trainers, producers and health professionals, the three-parter examines the show's approach to transformation, the support systems in place, and the unique challenges of filming a reality television show predominantly hinged on people with obesity issues losing weight in record time in the name of entertainment. Limitless: Live Better Now Disney+, streaming now Chris Hemsworth takes on three epic challenges to explore science-backed ways to improve our health. It proves that, when you're a famous actor fronting a documentary, your resources are 'limitless', as Thor becomes a drummer at a stadium gig, climbs a frozen 600-foot wall, and embraces brutal Special Forces pain training in South Korea. Speaking of which... The Echoes of Survivors: Inside Korea's Tragedies Netflix, streaming now South Korea is known for its cultural exports like K-pop and drama, but its story runs far deeper. Like Ireland, it bears the scars of oppression – a legacy that has fuelled renowned artistic expression. This powerful documentary series revisits traumatic events that profoundly shaped the nation. Night Always Comes Netflix, streaming now Movie time now. And it's a light little number (I jest) featuring Vanessa Kirby, Julia Fox and Eli Roth. Adapted from Willy Vlautin's bestselling novel, it follows Lynette, a woman who risks everything to secure a house for her family in a city they can no longer afford to live in.
The Herald Scotland
11-08-2025
- 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
11-08-2025
- 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.
