Original version

BBC Two Northern Ireland

The Prosecutors

Documentaries

Factual: Crime & Justice

Extraordinary insight into the work of prosecutors.

Until 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales (analogue) was known simply as BBC Two Wales. BBC Two Wales (digital) was BBC 2W. From 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales schedules on both analogue and digital became identical

BBC Two Wales

BBC Two England

England

Simulcast of network BBC Two in high definition.

BBC Two HD

Simulcast of BBC Two Wales in high definition

BBC Two Wales HD

Simulcast of BBC Two Northern Ireland in high definition

BBC Two Northern Ireland HD

BBC Two Scotland

Blue Ryan

Sara Hardy

Sacha Baveystock

Gwyn Jones

Miguel D'Oliveira

Pam Sealy

Nicola Walker

Gold Star Productions

The Prosecutors: The Babes in the Wood Murders

The Babes in the Wood Murders

07/01/2019

BBC Two - The Prosecutors, The Babes in the Wood Murders

Following a 32-year fight for justice in a notorious unsolved double child murder.

Exclusive documentary following the culmination of a 32-year fight for justice in a notorious unsolved double child murder.

This exclusive documentary follows the culmination of a 32-year fight for justice in a notorious unsolved double child murder. On 9 October 1986, nine-year-old friends Karen Hadaway and Nicola Fellows went out to play and didn't come home. The whole estate turned out to look for the two girls only to have their hopes dashed when they were found lying dead in undergrowth in Wild Park, on the outskirts of Brighton. Both had been strangled and sexually assaulted.

For their families it was the start of a living hell. Police arrested a man the girls liked and trusted - 20-year-old Russell Bishop - and in 1987 he was put on trial. But the jury took less than two hours to acquit him of the murders. Under the law at the time, Bishop could not be retried even if new evidence were to be found. The families of the murdered girls had to endure years of agony, without any prospect of justice for their lost children. Until 2005, when the double jeopardy law was abolished, rekindling the hopes of the families.

Now police and scientists are using cutting-edge methods to uncover new evidence, which they hope will be enough for the CPS to pursue a fresh prosecution. Following the reinvestigation and proceedings from an early stage, and sharing the experience of the children's families, this film charts the last chance at finally finding justice for Karen and Nicola.

BBC Two

Knowledge, drama, comedy and the arts for a broad adult audience.

BBC Two is a lively channel of depth and substance, carrying a range of knowledge-building programming complemented by great drama, comedy and arts.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The Prosecutors

The Babes in the Wood Murders

Contributors

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC Two Northern Ireland

About BBC Two