Steeltown Murders

Editorial

BBC One North West HD

Drama: Crime

True crime in two distinct time periods, exploring a community’s grief and a buried truth.

Three murders - unsolved but never forgotten. Thirty years on, can DCI Bethall find the serial killer who terrorised 1970s Port Talbot? True life drama of a cold case that made history.

Series 1

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Philip Glenister

Steffan Rhodri

Scott Arthur

Sion Alun Davies

Nia Roberts

Gareth John Bale

Richard Harrington

Ed Whitmore

Hannah Thomas

Marc Evans

Steeltown Murders: Series 1: Episode 4

Episode 4

BBC One - Steeltown Murders, Series 1, Episode 4

The team are concerned that Paul's tunnel vision could leave them in a worse situation.

As Paul searches for higher approval to proceed with Kappen’s exhumation, the team are concerned that his tunnel vision could leave them in a worse situation than they once were.

With only 75 per cent certainty that Kappen is their killer, Paul asks Jackie to carry out an exhumation. Despite her hesitance, Jackie agrees but warns Paul that he must not mess up, and of the dangers this could bring to SWP's reputation. Not only do they need additional permission from higher up the ladder and from the girls’ families, but also approval from Kappen's family. Paul also needs to convince his team, who very much feel the pressure and are far from on board.   

Phil and Geraint revisit Christine to seek her approval, where she also discloses new information that Kappen had suddenly gone to Lincoln, the day after the initial murder of Sandra Newton.   

Phil meets with the relatives of Kappen, whose body is buried in a family plot, whilst Paul tries to persuade home secretary David Blunkett to approve the exhumation. At the exhumation’s press conference, the press manage to get hold of the line of enquiry regarding Willoughby, and question why Paul isn’t eliminating all individuals before potentially ruining the lives of someone else.  

As Paul directs all his attention to the exhumation, Phil and Geraint take matters into their own hands. Worried that he’s placing all his eggs in one basket, the team attempt to place the last of their efforts into tracking Willoughby without Phil’s knowledge. As Kappen’s family, Sita, the press and the local community stand by, Kappen’s coffin is lifted from his place of rest and taken to a nearby mortuary for forensic examination. 

The outcome is a success, and Kappen’s DNA is found to be an exact match. As the case is drawn to a close, Paul visits the families in a final attempt to relinquish some of their grief and bring them some closure. However, for Paul and the families, after years of searching and agonising longing, any sense of closure which they may have hoped for is out of reach.

Steeltown Murders: Series 1

BBC One

True crime in two distinct time periods, exploring a community’s grief and a buried truth

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