Great Crimes and Trials
This true-crime series explores some of the most shocking and sensational cases ever tried. Each episode details a notorious crime and reconstructs the investigation, using archival and trial footage to capture critical courtroom moments.
The Mum Who Murdered Her Kids
This is the tragic tale of Susan Smith, who shocked the nation in 1994 by fabricating a carjacking to cover up the drowning murders of her two young sons.
The Lesbian Vampire Killers
In a gruesome 1989 case, Tracey Wigginton and her accomplices lure Edward Baldock with promises of a good time, only to brutally stab him to death, sparking a sensational trial that raised questions about the roles of her accomplices.
The Railroad Killer
University students Holly Dunn and Chris Maier are ambushed along railway tracks in August 1997. By 1999, a string of similar attacks leads police to Angel Maturino Reséndiz, who travels by freight train between murders across three states.
Monster of Belgium
In 2004, Marc Dutroux was sentenced to life for kidnapping, raping, and murdering young girls in Belgium. His 1996 arrest and delayed trial exposed horrific crimes and official failings, sparking public outrage.
The Salt Lake Slayer
In 1983, Graeme Cunningham vanishes in Salt Lake City. Detective Don Bell discovers Arthur Bishop, who confesses to killing Graeme and four other boys. Bishop is found guilty in 1984 and executed in 1988.
My Son the Axe Murderer
On June 28, 2005, Joan Porco attends the trial of her son Christopher, accused of murdering his father and attacking her. Despite her initial identification and later refusal to testify, Christopher is found guilty based on circumstantial evidence.
Murdered by the Mob
Murder by the Mob depicts the battle for justice by Peppino Impastato's family after his 1978 death was misclassified. His mother and brother reopened the case, leading to mafia boss Gaetano Badalamenti's 2002 conviction for the murder.
American's Oldest Serial Killers
In 1991, Ray and Faye Copeland, the oldest death row couple in the USA, are convicted of murdering five drifters. Police find the bodies after a tip-off. Faye's death sentence is commuted to life in 1999.
Britain's Worst Serial Killer
On October 11, 1998, Dr. Harold Shipman is tried for murdering fifteen elderly patients. Exhumation and evidence of lethal morphine lead to his conviction. He is later found to have killed 215 people.
The Neighbourhood Killer Dad
In January 2002, Ashley Pond and Miranda Gaddis disappear in Portland. Neighbor Ward Weaver, a suspect with a violent history, is later found guilty of their murders and sentenced to life in prison.
The Ken and Barbie Killers
A picture-perfect Canadian couple Karla Homolka and Paul Bernardo join to perform torture and mutilation on young victims - crimes that are virtually unspeakable. Two teenage girls were raped and murdered, and the couple even filmed themselves doing it.
The Murder of Sarah Payne
In July 2000, Sarah Payne is abducted and murdered. Roy Whiting, a convicted sex offender, is found guilty and sentenced to life in 2001. Sarah’s case leads to the implementation of “Sarah’s Law” in the UK in 2011.
The BTK Killer
On June 27, 2005, Dennis Rader, known as the BTK killer, pleads guilty to ten murders he committed in Wichita, Kansas, from 1974 to 1994. After a journalist's article reignites the case, Rader is arrested and sentenced to ten life terms without parole.
Murder in the Mansion
In September 1987, Simon Dale is murdered. His ex-wife, Susan Wilberforce, is acquitted of the crime but later convicted of fraud and sentenced to seven years. The murder remains unsolved.
The Man Who Ate the Evidence
Nathaniel Bar-Jonah, a paedophile, is convicted in 2002 for multiple crimes but not for the 1996 disappearance of Zachary Ramsay. Zachary’s body is never found, and Bar-Jonah dies in prison in 2008.
Murder on Cape Cod
In January 2002, fashion journalist Christa Worthington is found murdered in her Truro home. Christopher McCowen is convicted in 2006 of her murder, robbery, and rape, despite his claims of innocence and other DNA found at the scene.
The Australian Outback Killer
In 2001, British traveler Peter Falconio is presumed murdered in the Australian outback. Joanne Lees survives the attack, and Bradley John Murdoch is convicted of the murder in 2005. Peter's body is never found.
A Very Dangerous Game
In 1999, NFL player Rae Carruth is convicted for orchestrating the shooting of his pregnant girlfriend. He is sentenced to 18-24 years. Their son, Chancellor, has cerebral palsy.
The Beast of Notting Hill
In February 1977, Australian heiress Janie Shepherd vanishes in London. David Lashley, a convicted rapist, later confesses to her murder in prison. In 1990, he is convicted based on this confession and sentenced to life.
Murder on the Mountain
In 1998, Peter Bergna's car crashes off a mountain, killing his wife Rinette. After suspicions arise and a first trial ends in a hung jury, Bergna is convicted of murder in 2002 following new testimony about his abusive behavior.
The Kennedy Connection
In 1975, 15-year-old Martha Moxley is murdered in Belle Haven, Connecticut. The case goes cold until 2002, when Michael Skakel, a family member, is convicted based on new evidence. Skakel maintains his innocence.
The Case of Amanda Knox
In 2007, Meredith Kercher is murdered in Italy. Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito are initially convicted but later exonerated. Rudy Guede is convicted. The Kercher family still seeks justice.
The Long Island Railroad Massacre
On December 7, 1993, Colin Ferguson killed six and injured nineteen in the Long Island Railroad Massacre. Defending himself at trial, he bizarrely questioned his own victims and was sentenced to over 300 years in prison.
The Beast of the Bastille
In 1995 Paris, Guy Georges, a serial killer, was linked to multiple murders through DNA and later confessed in court. He was sentenced to life in prison, leading to the establishment of a DNA database for offenders in France.
Death of a Mail Order Bride
In 2006, Nina Sharanova vanished in Oakland. Her ex-husband, Hans Reiser, was convicted of her murder after their son’s testimony and leading police to her body. Reiser is now appealing the conviction.
The Student Serial Killer
In 1990, Danny Rolling killed five students in Gainesville, Florida. He confessed to the crimes, pleaded guilty to avoid the death penalty, but was ultimately sentenced to death and executed 16 years later.
