Unsolved (originally known as Unsolved: Getting Away with Murder) is a British regional crime documentary television programme produced by Grampian Television (now STV North) that aired in Scotland. The programme aired from 8 January 2004 to 30 November 2006.
| Unsolved | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Also known as | Unsolved: Getting Away with Murder |
| Genre | Crime documentary |
| Presented by | Alex Norton (Main series) Isla Traquair (Update specials) |
| Country of origin | Scotland |
| No. of series | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 22 (1 special) |
| Production | |
| Production companies | Grampian Television (STV Studios) |
| Original release | |
| Network | Grampian Television (now STV North) Scottish Television (now STV Central) |
| Release | 8 January 2004 – 30 November 2006 |
Background edit
The series investigated some of the most baffling and intriguing murders in Northern and Central Scotland, where the killers have never been caught and in some cases, the bodies never found. The series was presented by Taggart star Alex Norton, with series producer and former North Tonight presenter Isla Traquair hosting a special update programme at the end of both series. The programme was produced by STV in Glasgow. The show was created in order to help the police find out more information from the public on unsolved murders. Both series of Unsolved generated a huge public response and in some cases, led to a breakthrough. The show was a contributory factor in police deciding to dig up a quarry as part of the investigation into the murder of Renee MacRae and her son Andrew, and while their bodies were never found, Northern Constabulary filed a report to the procurator fiscal naming the person responsible.[1]
Developments edit
A number of unsolved cases aired on this programme, have now been solved.
An hour-long special was aired on 10 December 2008 following the conviction of Peter Tobin for the murder of Vicky Hamilton. It was only because of the police investigation of the murder of Tobin's final victim Angelika Kluk, that led police to trace his history; they discovered that he was living in Bathgate at the time Vicky vanished in 1991.[2] A more significant development that emerged in the years following the series was the possible link between Tobin and Bible John. It was speculated that Tobin was in fact the unidentified man known as Bible John who murdered 3 women in the late 1960s. David Wilson, a professor of criminology at Birmingham University has spearheaded the thesis that both men are the same individual. Wilson states: "I didn't set out to prove Tobin was Bible John but I would stake my professional reputation on it."[3]
Former Black Watch sniper Michael Ross, who was 15 at the time of the crime was sentenced to a minimum of 25 years for the 1994 murder of Shamsuddin Mahmood in 2008.[4]
In January 2013, forensic experts exhumed a grave in a Coatbridge cemetery in the hope of finding the remains of Moira Anderson who vanished in 1957. No remains were found and it looks unlikely that it will ever be solved. However, child sex abuse campaigner Sandra Brown has always maintained that her own father, Alexander Gartshore, a convicted child sex offender and former bus driver who died in 2006, had abducted and killed Moira after she boarded his bus on her way to a nearby Co-op. She said in an interview with the BBC: "My dad was definitely a paedophile – and we're talking about the kind in the same mould as Jimmy Savile."[5]
In March 2013, John Docherty was charged with the 1986 murder of Elaine Doyle.[6] In August 2014, he was sentenced to a minimum of 21 years in prison.[7]
In May 2019 Zhi Min Chen now 44, was found guilty of the murder of Tracey Wylde in 1997. He was arrested after fingerprints taken from him after an unrelated assault connected him to the crime. [8]
In September 2022, William MacDowell was found guilty of the murder of Renee MacRae and her son Andrew. He was sentenced to a minimum of 30 years in prison.[9]
In March 2023 Brenda Page's ex-husband, Christopher Harrisson, was found guilty of her murder 45 years after her death. [10]
In December 2023, Robert O'Brien, 45, Andrew Kelly, 44, and Donna Marie Brand, 44, were convicted of Caroline Glachan's murder. All three had been teenagers at the time the crime was committed.[11]
Episodes edit
| Series | Episode | Name | Air Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Renee MacRae and her son Andrew | 8 January 2004 |
| 2 | Shamsudden Mahmood | 15 January 2004 | |
| 3 | Brenda Page | 22 January 2004 | |
| 4 | Templeton Woods murders | 29 January 2004 | |
| 5 | George Murdoch | 5 February 2004 | |
| 6 | Sandy Drummond | 12 February 2004 | |
| 7 | Series one overview | 19 February 2004 | |
| 2 | 8 | Alistair Wilson | 3 November 2005 |
| 9 | Robert Higgins | 10 November 2005 | |
| 10 | Alexander Blue | 17 November 2005 | |
| 11 | Caroline Glachan | 1 December 2005 | |
| 12 | Shona Stevens | 8 December 2005 | |
| 13 | Helen Puttock/Bible John | 15 December 2005 | |
| 14 | Series two overview | 22 December 2005 | |
| 3 | 15 | Moira Anderson | 19 October 2006 |
| 16 | Elaine Doyle | 26 October 2006 | |
| 17 | Tracey Wylde | 2 November 2006 | |
| 18 | Willie McRae | 9 November 2006 | |
| 19 | Vicky Hamilton | 16 November 2006 | |
| 20 | Annie Davies | 23 November 2006 | |
| 21 | Series three overview | 30 November 2006 | |
| 22 | One hour special | 10 December 2008 |
References edit
- ^ McQueen, Craig (13 October 2006). "Alex on the case". Daily Record. The Free Library. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
- ^ Mathieson, Jack (3 December 2008). "Links found in Angelika Kluk case helped cops nail Peter Tobin for Vicky Hamilton murder". Daily Record. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
- ^ McPherson, Lynn (13 June 2010). "Scots murderer Peter Tobin is Bible John, says UK serial killer expert". Daily Record. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
- ^ "Michael Ross in Shamsuddin Mahmood murder conviction review bid". BBC. 10 September 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
- ^ Carrell, Severin (10 January 2013). "Moira Anderson: forensics experts fail to find girl's remains in grave". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
- ^ "Man charged with Elaine Doyle murder in Greenock in 1986". BBC. 25 March 2013. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
- ^ "John Docherty jailed for murder of teenager Elaine Doyle". BBC. 6 August 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
- ^ "Man jailed for 1997 murder of Glasgow woman Tracey Wylde". BBC News. 17 May 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
- ^ "Renee MacRae: Man found guilty of killing lover and son in 1976". BBC News. 29 September 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
- ^ "Brenda Page murder: The killer who thought he was too clever to be caught". BBC News. 18 January 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
- ^ Renton, Catriona; O'Hare, Paul (14 December 2023). "Caroline Glachan: Three guilty of murdering schoolgirl 27 years ago". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
External links edit
- Unsolved: Getting Away with Murder at stv.tv (Archive page)