Murder in the Granite City

Journalist Ruth Warrander visits Dr Brenda Page's ex-husband and discovers a shocking detail from his past. She reveals the identity of the suspect seen in posters all over Aberdeen after Brenda's murder and hears alarming news about the original police investigation. Forensic scientists uncover how advances in DNA have led to cold cases being solved.

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Did Brenda Page's groundbreaking work as a geneticist put her life in danger? She was investigating diver safety in the North Sea at a time when there was a rush to get oil ashore as quickly as possible. People investigating diver safety in the Norwegian oil industry had died in mysterious circumstances. A former colleague of Brenda's reveals his relationship with her was more than professional and he had to identify her body.

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The people of Aberdeen were shocked to find out Dr Brenda Page, an outstanding geneticist, was also working as an escort, wining and dining businessmen. Rumours circulated in the city that Brenda's killer may have been one of her 'clients'. Newspapers portrayed her as a 'call girl'. So why was Brenda doing this extra work? Her friends and family open up to journalist Ruth Warrander about the other side of her life. And we hear from someone we never expected to hear from - the man who owned the escort agency Brenda worked for - and find out there's conflicting information about her escort work. Who's telling the truth? The photofit of a suspect released by police reminds Ruth of a serial killer from the 70s. It's all in this episode of Murder in the Granite City.

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"If ever I'm found dead and it looks like suicide, don't believe it..."

Those were Dr Brenda Page's words to her close friend Jessie Milne. It seems that all was not well in Brenda's marriage right from the very beginning. Her sister and two of her closest friends open up to journalist Ruth Warrander about Brenda's relationship with her husband, Dr Christopher Harrisson. What they tell her is shocking.

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The series begins with an investigation into what happened on the night of Brenda's murder. Presenter Ruth Warrander finds out that it was Brenda's work colleagues who alerted her neighbour that she hadn't turned up for work. They found her in her bedroom with extensive head injuries.

Brenda's friends and family tell Ruth about Brenda's relationship with her husband, Dr Christopher Harrisson, known as Kit. Journalist Graham Smith, who covered her murder for a local paper, tells Ruth how details of Brenda's private life were revealed at the time of her death.

New episodes of Murder in the Granite City will be released every Friday. Follow the podcast to never miss an episode.

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Brenda moved to Aberdeen when she secured a job in the genetics department at the university in 1973. In this episode, we explore why she was working as an escort, the impact of the oil boom in Aberdeen and what the police uncovered in their investigation.

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The death of brilliant scientist Dr Brenda Page remained a mystery for more than 40 years - becoming one of Britain's longest running unsolved murders.

The young and talented 32-year-old was bludgeoned to death in her flat in Aberdeen - the Scottish city famous for its granite buildings and oil industry.

On July 13, 1978, Brenda - originally from Ipswich, England - left her laboratory at the University of Aberdeen where she headed up the genetics department, and joined two rich businessmen for dinner at a plush hotel in the city.

The following day, worried colleagues went to check on her after she failed to turn up for work - and made the grim discovery of her blood-soaked body.

Brenda had been beaten to death in a violent and frenzied attack with a blunt instrument.

When details on her private life emerged, rumours spread about the identity of her killer.

In this seven-part series, award-winning journalist Ruth Warrander explores three theories as to who could have killed Brenda, before she reveals the shocking truth. 

New episodes every Friday - follow the podcast to never miss an episode.

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