The Pembrokeshire Murders.

Thoroughly enjoyed it. May have been portrayed as a plodder in the series, but my goodness, all credit to his determined doggedness, his hunches and insistence on going over and over the forensics.

Poppyred

Welsh accents were spot on for a change! It would have made better drama if the murders had been re-enacted as well, in my opinion.

Interesting that the real Superintendent Steve Wilkins is from Cheshire - but who would object to having Luke Evans playing your part?

I don't remember the original case at all and had actually picked up the story via an Australian newspaper!
Only saw the last night one, but enjoyed it.
We have all got used to the speedy cases in Midsummer Murders etc when police tramp all over the evidence and it's all sorted within an hour so this would seem slow. But especially with cold cases , according to a policeman friend of mine, that is how it is, like putting together a jigsaw.
Sorry, but couldn't see the excellent Luke Evans without thinking "Beauty and the Beast"!!

I found it compulsive watching. I liked that it was shown over 3 consecutive evenings, (when it's weekly it takes me half the programme to catch up..!!)
I'm looking forward to seeing the true story behind it tonight, is it on ITV at 9pm, Auntieflo?

It looks like I didn't miss anything, then. I struggled to catch up the 1st two episodes yesterday afternoon, the internet just didn't reach that room, tried another TV it wasn't set up for ITV HUB so gave up!

I thoroughly enjoyed it. Although I knew the verdict, I felt quite worried waiting for the jury's decision in case they found him not guilty. How brave of the 2 girls, one of them sexually assaulted and the other raped to appear in court to give their evidence.

I was living overseas so had no inkling of this case so therefore totally absorbed over 3 nights. Clues would have to be investigated meticulously in order to prove guilt. This is not unusual in the real world. A professionally produced story. Will watch follow-up tonight.

Thanks AuntieFlo and you to ginny for reminding me about Ch.4 at 9pm tonight. I shall definitely tune in.

Didn’t know the murderer had a daughter. She’s possibly around early 40’s now. Maybe she didn’t want to be involved. It must be awful having such a psychopath for a father.

Poor Andrew. His dad was so cruel to him. His mum was an emotional wreck and bullied too.

I cannot imagine what angst that mum must have felt leaving her beaten, sick 12y old at home whilst a group of them flew off to Spain on the murderer’s ‘Spot the Ball’ winnings. No way could I have done that - let alone enjoy a holiday. She must have been really frightened of her bullying.husband mustn’t she?

She even stuck by him when he was in prison! That’s the time I’d have gone to report all I knew to the Police. I’d have felt safe enough to do it then. He was in prison originally for 9 years. I have to wonder why she held back?

I like the dramas over 3/4 nights then i record them & watch one after the other!The weekly one hour episodes are too time consuming to wait for and I've lost interest before we get to the end.And yes the adverts i always fast- forward as well.

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?!?

Ooh, yes Miss Marple. Good point!

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.

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.

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.

4xgranny I think the documentary is on ITVp

Yes ITV ja 9pm just checked.

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.

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

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.

Yes, Keith Allen was excellent, Deedaa

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.

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

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 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?

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