The Detective

Episode 1 of 2: OVERVIEW

A raw and compelling, podcast following Host and Investigative Reporter, Mark Williams-Thomas, as he re-investigates one of the biggest unsolved murder cases in the country that has baffled the police for almost 30 years.

In a UK first, Mark puts his own money and reputation on the line to conduct a thorough re-investigation into the disappearance and murder of 18-year old Nicola Payne, to try to give answers to her family and find out where her remains could be.

With full support from Nicola’s grieving family, total access to all of West Midlands polices case files, and the UK’s top private forensic search team, our podcast captures the twists and turns of a very real investigation.

THE STORY 

Saturday 14 December 1991 – Coventry. 18-year-old mum-of-one Nicola Payne set off from her boyfriend’s house to walk the short distance to the home she shared with her parents, across an area called the 'black pad'. Although it was just a 10-minute walk, she never made it to her parents’ house. She simply vanished.

Nearly 30 years on, her body has never been found. It’s the biggest and most expensive unsolved case in the history of West Midlands Police - and one of the biggest in the UK, which they are desperate to solve, hence their total co-operation.

Within 48 hours of her disappearance two men, Barwell and O’Reilly, were arrested on suspicion of Nicola’s abduction and murder. They gave an alibi which at that time could not be broken and, although they went on the run whilst on bail and changed their identity meaning they could not be picked out at an ID parade, the police did not have enough evidence to charge them.

At the time the police found several items of significance, but forensics was in its infancy.

In 2015, nearly 25 years after Nicola’s disappearance, a cold-case investigation team made a crucial discovery with the case evidence; advancements in forensics resulted in finding Nicola’s DNA on the tent bag recovered in 1991. Both men, Barwell and O’Reilly, were charged with her murder. At their Crown Court trial the defence argued that the evidence linking the suspects to Nicola had been contaminated whilst in police care. Subsequently, both men were acquitted.

Nicola’s family were desperate for another breakthrough but the police leads had gone cold again. All her, now elderly parents, want is to bring Nicola home so they can bury her. In 2018 they asked Mark to re-investigate her disappearance, to seek answers and to try and find Nicola.

Mark Williams-Thomas has agreed to help the family and re-investigate the disappearance and murder of Nicola Payne, to date he has done it all pro bono, Mark believes the answers lie within the community and is determined to find them. Mark’s investigation, gives listeners an all-access pass to see what it’s like to undertake a cold case murder investigation.

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This is the fourth and final episode of The Murder of Lee Boxell. By now, Mark has clearly established the main suspect amidst the chain of lies and false information. A key witness confirms having seen Lee at St Dunstans church and Mark decides it is time to pay a visit to the main suspect's home to confront him.

Lee Boxell was 15 when he disappeared. On the morning of Saturday 10 September 1988, Lee left his home in Cheam, to meet with a friend at 11am in nearby Sutton. Despite extensive appeals on television and in the press, no one has come forward with any confirmed sightings of Lee.

Following extensive inquires the police found out that several paedophiles were operating in the area at the time Lee disappeared, one of whom ran the unofficial youth club and was jailed for eleven years in 2011, aged 75, after sexually abusing several girls who attended the club.

Our investigation in to Lee's disappearance has taken almost three years and our findings are revealed in this podcast. We uncover new witnesses, new evidence and, for the first time, interview two of the suspects, who have never spoken publicly before.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode discusses the murder of a teenage boy and the sexual abuse of children

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In this third episode, two of the four people arrested on suspicion of Lee's murder agree to give Mark interviews, both speaking publicly about their involvement in the case for very the first time. Three of the children of the main suspect also agreed to give Mark interviews about their father, including taking Mark to the spot where one of them believes that their father disposed of Lee's body. And a brand new name is introduced in to the investigation; that of a corrupt police officer who is also a convicted paedophile.

Lee Boxell was 15 when he disappeared. On the morning of Saturday 10 September 1988, Lee left his home in Cheam, to meet with a friend at 11am in nearby Sutton. Despite extensive appeals on television and in the press, no one has come forward with any confirmed sightings of Lee.

Following extensive inquires the police found out that several paedophiles were operating in the area at the time Lee disappeared, one of whom ran the unofficial youth club and was jailed for eleven years in 2011, aged 75, after sexually abusing several girls who attended the club.

Our investigation in to Lee's disappearance has taken almost three years and our findings are revealed in this podcast. We uncover new witnesses, new evidence and, for the first time, interview two of the suspects, who have never spoken publicly before.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode discusses the murder of a teenage boy and the sexual abuse of children

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In this second episode, Mark introduces new evidence and interviews several witnesses who used to attend The Shed at St Dunstans Church. Two victims of child sexual abuse came forwards and gave Mark detailed interviews about what happened to them, which some listeners may find upsetting.

Lee Boxell was 15 when he disappeared. On the morning of Saturday 10 September 1988, Lee left his home in Cheam, to meet with a friend at 11am in nearby Sutton. Despite extensive appeals on television and in the press, no one has come forward with any confirmed sightings of Lee.

Following extensive inquires the police found out that several paedophiles were operating in the area at the time Lee disappeared, one of whom ran the unofficial youth club and was jailed for eleven years in 2011, aged 75, after sexually abusing several girls who attended the club.

Our investigation in to Lee's disappearance has taken almost three years and our findings are revealed in this podcast. We uncover new witnesses, new evidence and, for the first time, interview two of the suspects, who have never spoken publicly before.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode discusses the murder of a teenage boy and the sexual abuse of children

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In this first of four episodes, Mark Williams-Thomas describes the circumstances around Lee's disappearance and looks at the initial police investigation. He speaks with Lee's parents about the events that took place in 1988 and finds out key information and dates from Mike Platt, an investigator with the Missing People charity.

Lee Boxell was 15 when he disappeared. On the morning of Saturday 10 September 1988, Lee left his home in Cheam, to meet with a friend at 11am in nearby Sutton. Despite extensive appeals on television and in the press, no one has come forward with any confirmed sightings of Lee.

Following extensive inquires the police found out that several paedophiles were operating in the area at the time Lee disappeared, one of whom ran the unofficial youth club and was jailed for eleven years in 2011, aged 75, after sexually abusing several girls who attended the club.

Our investigation in to Lee's disappearance has taken almost three years and our findings are revealed in this podcast. We uncover new witnesses, new evidence and, for the first time, interview two of the suspects, who have never spoken publicly before.

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BONUS EPISODE: Mark Williams-Thomas joins Aaron and Justin from the Generation Why podcast live on stage at CrimeCon, London 2021, to discuss true crimes on both sides of the Atlantic.

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BONUS EPISODE: Mark Williams-Thomas talks to CrimeConVersations, the True Crime podcast brought to you by CrimeCon UK. CrimeConVersations Episode 2 features both The Detective and UK True Crime podcasts.

CrimeCon: London 25th & 26th September 2021, visit www.crimecon.co.uk for tickets and further information

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Mary Flanagan was aged just 16 when she disappeared from her London home on New Year's Eve, 1959. She is the UK's longest missing person’s case.

In this episode Mary's sister, Brenda, reveals a significant sighting of a woman who went into a police station in Scotland in 2016, could this have been Mary?

And a further sighting from a neighbour and someone who knew Mary, who saw here wearing a new pair of glasses.

The forensic artist Tim Widden explains how he sets about creating an age progression image.

Brenda discusses some of her theories about Mary; was she pregnant, did she run away to start a new life or has she been murdered.

Ultimately, Mark Williams-Thomas provides a breakdown of what is known and gives an overview of what he believes has happened to Mary.

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Mary Flanagan was aged 16 when she disappeared from her London home on New Year's Eve, 1959. Mary is the UK's longest missing persons case.

Mary was brought up in a strict London-Catholic family and had two sisters, Eileen and Brenda, and a brother, Kevin. 

At the time of her disappearance, she was working at the Tate and Lyle sugar refinery in Plaistow. 

In episode 1 Mary’s sister Brenda explains how close they were as a family and what it was like growing up in West Ham in the 1950’s and 60’s 

Brenda provides a valuable insight into how Mary was engaged to a person who was introduced to her by her father.

This person was known as Tom, and he worked at the docks.

As the episode continues, we hear how Mary was pretending to go work at Tate & Lyle in the two weeks prior to her vanishing and how none of the family can remember Tom’s surname or where he lived.

What is very significantly is how the original police file was destroyed, the police say in a flood; a police file that almost certainly would have held significant information about Mary’s disappearance.

During the podcast Mary’s case manager from the Missing People charity gives a valuable insight into the case and explains why some people go missing. 

In episode 2 we explore some of the sightings, the creation of an age-progression image of Mary by a forensic artist and explore what the family think could have happened to Mary.

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This episode opens up by looking closely at some of the evidence that was heard at court and considering in detail why the police formed the view that this was a murder planned to look like suicide. In order to examine this, the police officer that led the investigation is asked to explain this theory. 

We carefully consider the nature of all of Sana’s injuries, how they occurred and how they were recorded by the pathologist. In addition, we consider the new research that has been done worldwide about suicides by sharp force instruments.

We ask again, did Mindy really turn up at the scene with a full forensic suit and with two pairs of gloves, which the police say she wore during the frenzied knife attack on Sana. Even the highly experienced forensic pathologist Professor Di Vella, did not believe that Mindy had carried out such an attack in a full forensic suit.

All the evidence is pulled together to allow you, the listener, to decide if you agree that Mindy brought with her and wore a full forensic suit or if his is a fanciful theory dreamt up by the Police to try to explain the murder charge.

We examine and consider what evidence the police had to prove that the knife, which was left at the scene alongside Sana, was actually owned by Mindy, who the police claim was highly skilled and very forensically aware.

I question the senior investigating police officer over the issues regarding the homicide theory, as opposed to the suicide reports that originally came in.

Mark: Could it be this, and the one thing I always come back to, is that when it looks like it’s something it probably is 

Senior Investigating Police Officer: If it looks like a duck and it quacks then it probably is a duck 

Mark: If it looks like suicide, the knife laying there beside them, it probably is suicide 

Senior Investigating Police Officer: Well that’s your theory

We consider reports from Muslim mental health professionals about the deep-rooted stigma around suicide in Islam and how Dr Hendin describes suicide as self-punishment.

The reveal of this episode is the new evidence uncovered, with two reconstructions, that are available to view on out website, www.the-detective.co.uk, showing the significant failings of the initial pathologists’ evidence.

And ultimately this episode ends the run of Series 2, that is for now, by asking you to consider all the evidence from both sides and decide one of the following: That Mindy is a very dangerous killer, or that Sana’s death was a tragic suicide leading to a Miscarriage of Justice.

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By this stage of the investigation you should now have reached one of the following conclusions:

1)    That the evidence stacks up - as per the prosecution case and Mindy was correctly convicted, or

2)    That you have some concerns about the evidence, but not enough to feel that Mindy is the subject of a miscarriage of justice, or 

3)    That you have serious concerns about the evidence that convicted Mindy and like her family and friends believe that Mindy’s conviction is unsafe.

The police’s theory was that Mindy travelled to see Sana with the intention of killing her and making it look like suicide. 

In this episode we explore this theory to see if it stands up to scrutiny or if any other evidence exists that could cast it in serious doubt.  

We also consider the belief held by the police that Mindy attended the house and put on a full forensic suit without being noticed, that Sana was fully compliant whilst she did this and made no attempt to leave the bedroom.

Mindy’s timeline and recollection of events also come under close scrutiny. We piece together her movements by using CCTV footage and mobile phone data to see if her account is accurate. We also consider how she behaved before going into the house to see Sana and immediately afterwards. Was Mindy telling the truth about how she left the house or does evidence exist that shows she must have left via the kitchen window?

We hear vital evidence from Sana’s close friends and relatives about Sana’s state of mind, which shows just how low and unhappy she was.

This episode highlights the failings of another case, an unsolved murder in which the pathologist‘s findings were clearly wrong.

We also hear from an Italian forensic pathologist, Professor Di Vella, about a very similar case.

TEASE next week 

·      Challenge the police officer in charge of the case over some of her theories

·      Try to track down Sair 

·      Hear more about the impact the case had and continues to have on the family.

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In this episode we hear more from the police officer who was in charge of the investigation. She describes the police investigation in detail and is challenged on some of her views and theories.

With the help of solicitor David Wells, we explore some of the key evidence that the police relied on and look to challenge some of the assumptions made.

We also explore in greater detail the injuries that Sana had to her body carefully considering each wound.   We consider the view of the pathologist Dr Lumb, who stated that he could not exclude the possibility that the injuries were inflicted by one or more assailants in an attempt to mimic self-inflicted injuries. We question what this means and how he came up with this view.

This episode also looks at what the police did in identifying and then ruling out other suspects, and Mindy’s mother gives an emotional account of the day that the police arrived at her door to arrest her daughter on suspicion of murder, and how she found out that her daughter had been charged.

Careful consideration is given to the crime scene and the forensic evidence that was deduced from it by the blood pattern experts.

TEASE – Next week 

·      We consider any significance of the calls to Sana’s mobile phone 

·      Further examine Mindy’s account, with that of the police’s case 

·      Find very similar case in Italy  

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In this episode we start to break down the police and prosecution case against Mindy and what it was that lead to her being convicted of the furious and brutal murder of 17-year-old Sana Ali, the wife of her lover.

On the day of the attack Mindy speaks to her best friend Sheetal, both on her way to confront Sana and also immediately after she leaves the house. In Sheetal’s own words, we hear details of the exact conversations she had with Mindy.

We hear more from Mindy as she describes what happened and who she spoke with after visiting Sana.

Sana was found by her two sisters in law’s who were so concerned for her safety, that they went around to the house to check on her only to find her on the floor, covered in blood with a knife alongside her.  Their initial reaction and observations are that Sana had killed herself.  We hear the details of the initial 999 emergency call and start to understand more as to why Sana’s family were concerned about her welfare.

We hear from the police officer who was in charge of the investigation, retired Detective Chief Superintendent Jane Antrobus.  DCS Antrobus gives an insight into her investigation, why the case was initially treated as a suicide, and how after medical evidence from Dr Lumb, a Home Officer forensic pathologist, Sana’s death was instead considered as a homicide.

DCS Antrobus gives us an understanding of the dynamics of this three-way love triangle and how Mindy entered into a Mut'ah with Sair, a temporary marriage which under the eyes of Allah allowed him to conduct his relationship with Mindy.

The crime scene is described by the attending paramedics which feeds in to forensic expert Dr Woods evidence around blood pattern analysis and specifically where he believed Sana was during the furious attack.

We hear why the paramedics considered that Sana was alive and took her to hospital in an attempt to save her life.

In this episode we introduce David Wells, as he presents evidence from the police and prosecution, a role which he will adopt for future episodes.

We also consider how Sana would have been capable of moving around the bedroom after she had received her wounds.

TEASE – Next week 

·      We hear more from Mindy’s family about what they knew about Mindy’s affair and the initial police investigation. 

·      The police officer leading the murder investigation explains how they never established ownership of the knife.

·      The officer also explains how she believes Mindy was able to carry out this brutal attack without getting a drop of blood on her clothes or body.

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We set the scene on the horrific and brutal murder of 17-year-old, Sana Ali who was 11 weeks pregnant. The attack on Friday 10 May 2007 resulted in over 40 separate knife wounds, described as ‘sustained and ferocious’, and occurred at the home of her husband’s parents in Bury on the outskirts of Manchester, England. 

Sana’s husband, playboy businessman Sair Ali had been having a long-term affair with Harmohinder Sanghera, also known as Mindy.  On that fateful day Mindy drove from her home in Solihull, West Midlands to confront Sana about her husbands illicit affair but to tell also her it was all over.

After a trial in November 2007 Mindy, a dentistry student was jailed for life, with a minimum term of 14 years, for the murder of Sana Ali.

Mindy has always maintained her innocence and this podcast will take you through a very careful and thorough forensic re-investigation of all the evidence from both the prosecution and the defence.

We hear from Mindy as she describes her visit to Sana.

You, the listener will be asked to consider if Mindy is a cold-blooded killer or if she is the result of a flawed police investigation, resulting in a tragic miscarriage of justice.

In the opening episode we will explore the following:

·      Mindy as a person, and her family's fight for what they believe is a miscarriage of justice

·      Background to Mindy’s affair with Sair

·      The initial police investigation

·      Mindy’s own account of what happened when she visited Sana

TEASE – Next week

·      We hear from the police officer that lead the police investigation 

·      Hear the initial 999 emergency call

·      Mindy’s best friend describes her conversations with Mindy on the day of the murder

·      We begin to piece together the timeline of Mindy’s movements 

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In part two of The Musketeers, Mark Williams-Thomas digs deeper into the lives of the four men, convicted of preparing to commit an act of terror. The last episode set out the prosecution's case, and highlighted the defence team's concerns. Not only do we hear more from the defence lawyers Stephen Kamlish QC and Gareth Pierce, but in an interview with Khobaib Hussain's sister, we find out why the men were of interest to MI5 in the first place. Looking more forensically at the evidence provided by the prosecution, namely the JD sports bag and Vincent's pocket notebook, we begin to question the integrity of the accusations, and learn how officer anonymity may have hindered justice being sought. Also hear from Chris Mullin, the man who led the campaign that resulted in the release of the Birmingham Six, as he explains just how easy it is for people to be convicted of crimes they did not commit.

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Mark Williams-Thomas introduces you to the case involving three men, known as the Three Musketeers, and one other man, all convicted of preparing to commit an act of terror. He begins by giving an overview of the case, and highlights major terrorist attacks that took place around the world, near the time of the trial. Could the mass panic have led to the wrongful prosecution of these four men? Lawyer for the defence, Gareth Pierce, has represented many cases involving terrorism, involving the prosecution of The Guildford Four and The Birmingham Six. She explains how she came to work on the case, and offers her testimony, arguing the facts brought to court by the Police don’t stack up. Hear also from Stephen Kamlish QC, a barrister with more than 40 years experience, as he voices his major concerns with the evidence against the ‘Musketeers’.

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Coming soon, a case which looks into the emotive, dangerous and highly secretive world of terrorism. In August 2017, three men, who dubbed themselves the Three Musketeers, were found guilty of planning a terror attack on a police or military target in the UK. A fourth man was also convicted for his involvement in the plot. But could there have been a miscarrige of justice? Does the evidence collected by the Police stand up to scrutiny? Do YOU think these men are guilty?

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