The Pembrokeshire Murders.

It was interesting, watching the programme tonight, seeing how well and closely the TV dramatisation stuck to the actual, real facts of the case.

Same here, not something you want to dwell on before bedtime.I remember the case well, thought it was so awful.

We recorded it so I'll watch tomorrow, not just before I go to bed.

I was interested to try and find out what John Cooper's childhood and upbringing was like but could not find any information. You cannot help but wonder what turns a wee baby boy into this monster of a man.

I am amazed that his wife had not taken herself off somewhere - anywhere - rather than be there when he came out of prison. It would have been good if some help had been there for her to sever the ties.

It's been edge of the seat viewing, even knowing the verdict in advance.

I was amazed at how many pieces of evidence had been stored at the time, and that it all came down to unpicking the hem on a pair of shorts to find a spot of blood! Talk about a needle in a haystack.

I have so much admiration for the dogged tenacity of the police team and the forensic team, and of course the chap who trawled through hundreds of episodes of Bullseye to find the incriminating TV clip.

Fascinating stuff.

She had a long history of heart problems Charleygirl5 verified by GP records over the years. She must have been terrified alone in their house again with him. He has been abusive many times in the past.

I’d have died from fright too.

Her heart just gave out. So sad really.

I did not watch tonight's documentary but I thoroughly enjoyed the three nights it was shown. Chilling.

The one thing I do not understand is why his wife died supposedly from natural causes within a short time of him being discharged from prison and arriving home.

God he looked so ordinary. Poor Flo Evans aged 72y who was the last case at the end. He was her handyman.

Frightening.

To think you’d see him on ‘Bullseye’ and think he seems a nice man. Relaxed. Smiling.

Chilled me to the core tonight.

What do others think?

What a great drama series The Pembrokeshire Murders throughly enjoyed the 3 night run especially after the rubbish on TV over the Xmas and new year.

Callistemon in one of the articles I read, it said that the police thought she didn’t know that Cooper had been responsible for the murders.
I suppose it depends whether you view her as another of his victims, or as enabling his cruelty to his son (and we know nothing of what happened to their daughter), and his criminal behaviour.

I’m not sure. Perhaps tonight's documentary will shed some light on it - a psychologist’s view would be interesting.

I’m looking forward to the documentary tonight. Seeing the ‘real’ people. Him (such a scary piece of work), his wife etc.
Sad though to think of their adult children at home tonight. Must bring flashbacks they’d rather forget.

Ditto the families of the victims.

If there was a fault with the programme, it was that she was portrayed far too sympathetically.

I have just finished watching this. What superb work done on these cold cases by the police and forensics. Great tenacity, and viewers complaining that some of it was slow and boring .... well, police work can be slow and boring, having to give great attention to detail and never giving up. I have experience of that.

I find forensics just astonishing these days .... what they can find in minute quantities. Absolutely amazing.

Keith Allen exuded menace all the way through. And at first I really thought he had killed his wife. How terrifying that he had all the kit in the boot of his car ready to strike again. The psychological profile of the man was very accurate.

I thought it was sympathetically written and portrayed, and very well acted. There was no way the murders could have been re-enacted when people are still alive, and I would definitely not have wanted to watch that.

Great sympathy for the son.

And Luke Evans .... well, what can I say?

We cannot judge the wife from a TV programme. Psychopaths are very skilled at controlling people and she was clearly under his absolute control even when he was in prison. I'm sure she was terrified of him, and the fact she died of a heart attack bears that out. We don't know what he did but she was likely frightened to death by his being in such close proximity again and possibly threatening her.

I agree Redhead
If there was a fault with the programme, it was that she was portrayed far too sympathetically imo.

I really enjoyed this programme too. It was very well made with superb acting. It portrayed the wife as being bullied by her husband and her son was beaten badly by his father. But they left him on his own at the age of 12 to go on holiday what mother would do that? No excuse on this earth can justify behaviour like that. The husband was in prison for ten years there must have been plenty of opportunities for her to leave. The son regretted not staying in touch with his mother what a pity she didn’t show him any kindness.

Yes, Keith Allen was excellent, Deedaa

I agree that showing the murders would be wrong. We don't want the story sensationalised as there are living people to consider. There have been several true life crime dramas lately and they all have to be careful to treat the victims with respect, and that usually means not showing them. Des, White House Farm, Appropriate Adult etc. all dealt with horrible murders and have living people involved.

4xGranny, apologies. Yes it is on ITV.
Should have had my specs on. I know I am due an eye test ?

I thought Keith Allen was exceptionally good. He portrayed such a sense of supressed violence you could see how he could have controlled his wife even while he was in prison.

Yes ITV ja 9pm just checked.

4xgranny I think the documentary is on ITVp

Apparently 6m viewers watched this and I enjoyed it very much. I believe there's an update on ITV this evening which may be at 9pm and I'll watch that too.

Forensics must be a fascinating area to work in but also distressing at times.

But i was wondering all through it - how could the police not have got a photo of him from years ago if they'd gone to spain then surely the passport office could have helped with that?!

They needed one taken at the time of the murders in 1989, to compare with an artist’s impression of Cooper’s side/back view. A passport photo could have been 10 years older than that & would only have shown full face.
That was why Cooper appearing on Bullseye was a godsend to the investigation - when they found the episode he’d been on, they we able to freeze a frame of him in the same position.

AuntieFlo according to my TV guide 8 out of 10 cats is on Channel 4 tonight at 9pm.
I always record or download a series to watch over 2 or 3 nights as I can’t remember what’s going on if I watch weekly.