David Wilson's Crime Files

Criminologist David Wilson and guests dissect the importance forensics play in solving cases, and whether scientific advancements could be the key in solving decades-old cold cases.

David travels to the wealthy district of Broughty Ferry, Dundee, where he unearths a crime with multiple plot twists. This is the story of wealthy spinster Jean Milne, who was found murdered in her family mansion. The house in which she was murdered was found to be locked up tight, and one of her last sightings was with a mysterious German gentleman. Could Jean have been swindled by this foreign gentleman? It is a case shrouded in mystery, but one that might have been solvable had forensic science been as advanced as it is today.

Back in the studio, David meets with Professor Niamh Nic Daéid from Dundee University. Niamh, along with her colleagues, was commissioned to re-examine the 1912 Jean Milne case through a modern forensic perspective. Niamh talks David through their reinvestigation and the ways in which forensic science has progressed since 1912.

David is also joined by forensic scientist Helen Meadows. Helen dissects both Jean's case and the case of Mary McLaughlin, whose murder was solved almost 40 years later thanks to advancements in forensic analysis. Helen looks into the complexity of analysing DNA and how far we have come.

David's final guest is Joanne Cochrane, who, with her team, has worked with a new form of DNA analysis that could revolutionise the solving of a number of cold cases. Without her diligent work, it is unlikely they would have caught Mary McLaughlin's killer. Joanne breaks down the complexity of Mary's case and how DNA 24 works, and explains why these modern advancements in DNA are helping many cold cases to be solved.

Professor David Wilson, the UK's leading criminologist, presents the third series of Crime Files, this time, focusing on cold cases. In episode 2, he discusses mysterious deaths and how the circumstances surrounding them can lead to decades old unsolved cases which remain unanswered to this day.
David visits Boarhills in Fife to investigate the death of former soldier Sandy Drummond. Sandy was thought to have died of natural causes because of the absence of visible injuries but following a post mortem it was determined he was murdered by a martial arts move on his neck.
Crime writer Douglas Skelton talks to David about the unusual behaviour displayed by Sandy in the days leading up to his death and how his mother Effie died without ever finding out the answers she was searching for.
David, this series, is joined in studio by our resident Forensic Scientist Helen Meadows. Helen will dissect the evidence which surrounded Sandy Drummond's case and will also inform David of the curious death of Robert Higgins from Kirkliston near Edinburgh.
David travels to Kirkliston to examine the last weekend of Robert Higgins, who was murdered in 1995. Robert, who was usually a creature of habit spent his last days away from family and friends in the presence of a mystery couple. Crime reporter Jane Hamilton covered the case at the time and speaks to David about the unusual location where Robert Higgins was discovered as well as the questions still left behind by the mysterious murder.

Professor David Wilson, the UK's leading criminologist, presents the third series of the crime talk show Crime Files. This season David is focusing primarily on Scotland's numerous Cold Cases. In episode 3, he and his guests tackle the complex issue of forensic analysis and whether human interpretation can lead to miscarriages of justice.
David travels to Kilmarnock. There he will try and untangle a complex tale where a woman's brutal murder was lost in the chaos of forensic mistakes. He is examining the case of Marion Ross, who was murdered in her home in 1997. Though a suspect was quickly found, David will dissect the evidence that mistakenly convicted him and whether there was a miscarriage of justice due to incorrect evaluation of the fingerprints.
In the studio, David speaks with renowned forensic scientist Jim Fraser who was essential in the re-analysis of the forensics which would help release the suspect from prison. He will explain in depth what evidence was found at the scene and why it all went so wrong.
David, this series, is joined in studio by our resident Forensic Scientist Helen Meadows. This week Helen will dissect both Marion's case and also examine the case of Pamela Hastie. Pamela was a 16 year old girl who was viciously attacked and killed on her way home from school. Her murder was supposedly solved quickly with the blame being placed on a local youth. However, Helen will show how many vital forensic clues were either ignored or mismanaged leading to the realisation that the youth was serving time for a murder they didn't commit.
David's final guest is Gordon Richie, he was the defence lawyer who led the appeal for the convicted suspect in Pamela's murder case. He will talk us through how he and his team focused on dismantling the original post mortem used in the crown case in 1982 to overturn the original ruling. He will explain that when forensics are mismanaged it can lead to devastating consequences. And begs the question if we rely too heavily on them for answers.

Professor David Wilson, the UK's leading criminologist, presents the third series of the crime talk show Crime Files. This season David is focusing primarily on Scotland's Cold Cases. In episode 4, he explores the relationship between cold cases and the media with the help of his guests.
David begins by travelling to The Granite City: Aberdeen. Here he delves into the cruel and vicious attack on a local taxi driver, George Murdoch in 1983. George was left for dead after picking up a ruthless killer on a dark September evening. So brutal and unusual was the cheese wire murder weapon found at the scene, that the culprit was inevitably dubbed the "Cheese Wire Killer".
In the studio, David is joined by George Murdoch's nephew, Alex McKay. Together they discuss the difficulty when years begin to pass and leads run dry, when there's little else the police can do and it's up to the family to take matters into their own hands. Alex shares what it's like for the family when a case goes cold and his concern for his uncle's murder remaining unanswered.
David then ventures to Irvine to examine the tragic death of young mother, Shona Stevens in 1994. At lunchtime, Shona had left the house to nip to the local shops, but on her return she was savagely attacked and left for dead only 200 yards away from her home. Shona's brutal murder sent shockwaves through the local and wider communities, so much so that it has been featured on Crimewatch twice.
In the studio David is joined by Daily Record's Crime Reporter, Jane Hamilton. Jane tells David why Shona's case made national headlines and the relationship between police investigations and press media.
David's final guest is criminologist Kirsty Bennett. Kirsty is a specialist in policing and cold case homicides. She and David discuss why certain cases might be favoured by the media and the benefits and pitfalls of mass media attention. They divulge what is meant by the term ‘the ideal victim' and why the public might have more empathy with these sorts of people.

Professor David Wilson, the UK's leading criminologist, presents the third series of the crime talk show Crime Files. This season David is focusing primarily on Scotland's Cold Cases. In episode 5, he and his guests try to get to the bottom of Scotland's record number of unsolved murdered sex worker cases.
David travels to the epicentre of the once booming red light distract of Leith. Here he examines the catastrophic murder of mother of two Sheila Anderson. Sheila was a tragic example of the heroin epidemic of the 80s and how many women turned to the streets to support their habit. And on a dark April night in 1983 a suspected client ran Sheila over with his car multiple times and left her for dead.
In the studio, David speaks with former Deputy Chief Constable Tom Wood. He was the lead detective on Sheila's case back in 1983. He will speak on the initial investigation and the ways in which he and his team tried to uncover Sheila's killer. He will touch on the many roadblocks preventing them from getting answers, from the police themselves to finding witnesses that would cooperate. He will speak on the culture at the time, how police were prepared to deal with the heroin epidemic and how it changed the atmosphere on Edinburgh's streets.
David, this series, is joined in studio by our resident Forensic Scientist Helen Meadows. This week Helen will dissect both Sheila's case and also inform David on the tragic murder of Tracey Wylde. Tracey was a sex worker from Glasgow, who in 1997 was murdered in her flat. Tracey's case, like many sex workers before her, went cold but Helen will look at the crucial DNA evidence left behind that eventually lead to her killer's arrest, over 20 years after her death.
David's final guest is charity worker and activist Ruth Morgan Thomas. As a former sex worker, she has expert knowledge on the situation many women face on the streets. She will talk about the lack of action taken by politicians to bring in real change to the industry. Ruth will also speak on the current legislation surrounding sex work and whether it is actually protecting the women involved.

Professor David Wilson, the UK's leading criminologist, presents the third series of Crime Files, this time focusing on cold cases. In Episode 6, David travels to Coatbridge, South Lanarkshire to explore the case of Moira Anderson who vanished during a blizzard in 1957. He'll learn about a dark family secret and discuss the concept of living with a guilty conscience.
David meets Sandra Brown, a child protection campaigner and author who has a personal link to Moira Anderson's disappearance. Sandra recalls her memories of Coatbridge from the 1950s and tells David about the family secrets which have affected the trajectory of her entire life.
Consultant forensic psychologist Vicky Thakordas-Desai talks to David about the psychology of guilty. They discuss how guilt might manifest itself in people and what factors might lead a person to confess to their crimes.
David's final guest is Dr Dan Rusu who has researched murderers, and how they integrate into society after serving life sentences for their crimes. David speaks with him about how these criminals handle their past and if it is possible for them to be forgiven by the community.

Professor David Wilson, the UK's leading criminologist, presents the third series of Crime Files, this time focusing on cold cases. In episode 7, David retraces the last known steps of Glenrothes man Allan Bryant and asks ‘how does someone go missing without a trace in the digital age?'.
Dr Kirsty Bennett from Leeds Beckett University has a special interest in missing people. She talks to David about her research into the methods of locating missing people as well as the missing continuum and the various reasons why people might disappear.
David, this series, is joined in studio by our resident Forensic Scientist Helen Meadows. This week Helen talks to David about where to start when someone goes missing and how to build up a picture of their movements. She also looks at the murder of Louise Tiffney in 2002. Even though Louise had not been found she was presumed dead and her son faced trial. He was given a Not Proven verdict but when her body was eventually discovered in a shallow grave in 2017 new evidence provided further links to the crime.
Professor Lorna Dawson, soil expert and head of forensics at the James Hutton Institute tells David how she was tasked with gathering soil evidence and carrying out analysis in order to bring the accused back to trial under the double jeopardy principle.

Professor David Wilson, the UK's leading criminologist, presents the third series of Crime Files, this time focusing on cold cases. In episode 8, David interrogates the unique Scottish verdict of ‘Not Proven'. Travelling to Ardlamont Estate in Argyll, he takes a look at the historic mystery of the death of Cecil Hambrough in 1893.
The trial was a public sensation and held in Edinburgh – which at that time was at the forefront of forensic medicine. Alfred John Monson was released a free man having received a 'not proven' verdict. Author Daniel Smith joins David to discuss the impact of Cecil's murder and the trial which captured the nation's imagination.
Lawyer and academic James Chalmers tells David about the brutal murder of Amanda Duffy in Hamilton in 1992. Despite what appeared to be an abundance of forensic evidence the accused was also given a Not Proven verdict.
David, this series, is joined in studio by our resident Forensic Scientist Helen Meadows. This week Helen will review both the cases of Cecil Hambrough and Amada Duffy and analyse the wealth of forensic evidence left behind. They'll compare the different eras and how problems with communicating scientific evidence to juries still persists to this day.
Former prosecutor and crime writer Allan Nicol is David's last guest and they chat about the impact of the third verdict on Scottish justice and what would happen if it were to be removed.

Professor David Wilson, the UK's leading criminologist, presents the third series of Crime Files, this time focusing on Cold Cases. In episode 9, he looks at the concept of police confirmation bias and how miscarriages of justice can occur when police are selective about the evidence available to them.
David goes to Dunfermline to examine the story of Andrew Forsyth from 1995 that led to one of the gravest miscarriages of justice in Scottish history and a former police officer being sentenced to 5 years in prison.
David's first guest is Professor James Chalmers. An expert in miscarriages of justice, Professor Chalmers discusses how we all possess inherent bias and that police must work to recognise and lean into their bias to avoid targeting the wrong perpetrator and reduce the possibility of wrongful convictions.
David, this series, is joined in studio by our resident Forensic Scientist Helen Meadows. Helen takes us through the evidence left behind after the murder of young woman Margaret McLaughlin in David's hometown of Carluke in 1973. David travels back there to examine the murder of the young woman who was taking a shortcut to the train station when she was stabbed 19 times and her body left in a wooded area. Despite what seemed an obvious false confession, George Beattie spent nearly two decades in prison for what many people believe was a crime he did not commit.
In the studio, David speaks to former Scottish Crime Squad detective Bob Beveridge who was part of the investigating team at the time. He recalls carrying out house to house enquiries. David makes the case for someone he believes could have been responsible for Margaret's murder.

David heads into the belly of the beast, the beer spattered streets of Glasgow's night life. Here David will uncover the victims of an unknown serial killer from the 1970s. During a 6 month window the "Weekend Killer" plagued the pubs and dancehalls of Glasgow looking for his next victim and David is going to see how all these poor women connect.
In the studio, David speaks with former Deputy Chief Constable Tom Wood, the officer in overall command of ‘Operation Trinity' which was formed in 2004 to examine the life and crimes of Angus Sinclair. Tom explains in great detail how the, almost identical, circumstances of Anna Kenny, Hilda McAuley and Agnes Cooney's murders convinced him that the perpetrator could only be Angus Sinclair after he was identified as responsible for the deaths of Helen Scott and Christine Eadie (The World's End Murders - 1977 – Edinburgh).
David is joined in the studio by our resident Forensic Scientist Helen Meadows. This week Helen will dissect the three victims of the weekend killer, Anna Kenny, Hilda McAuely and Agnes Cooney. Helen will examine the MO of all three women and see if they are all linked and if they could in fact have been killed by the same man. The man being Angus Sinclair. Helen will also examine Sinclair's most famous victims Christine Eadie and Helen Scott, again looking for similarities with the Weekend killer.
David's final guest is renowned Forensic Psychologist Vicky Thakordas-Desai. She has spent her career trying to understand the mind of a killer. She is joining us in studio to discuss why some murderers refuse, even after being caught, to own up to what they did. Why do they keep these secrets, is it to cause more pain to their victims' family? Or is this their last ounce of control in prison?