Living With Murder

It’s the worst possible scenario a family can face: how do you cope after a loved one is murdered? This British documentary series tells the stories of these other victims of murder – it’s a unique, up-close, emotional portrait of what life is like for the families behind the deadly headlines.

Often the details of murder cases are drip-fed as the authorities slowly discover and reveal the disturbing details over days, months and sometimes years. But while these discoveries can be fascinating and horrifying to the public, how do the families come to terms with them at the same time they’re trying to live with their loss?

Living With Murder tells the stories of six families who have had to deal with this terrible situation, and gets incredibly close to the victims as it portrays the intensely personal stories of the mothers, fathers, wives, siblings and children left behind.

The six episodes include the stories of Jean Taylor, who lost two children to murder. First her son, Stephen, was killed by an obsessed female friend, then four years later her daughter, Chantal, went missing. EastEnder Jackie Summerford’s daughter Bonnie disappeared in 2007 and although a man was convicted of her murder, her body has never been found.

Andy and Christine Jones’ lives have fallen apart since their son, Andrew, was attacked and beaten by a group of thugs in 2003. Even worse, no one’s been convicted of the killing. Diane Yates was 10 when she came home one night to find her father had stabbed and killed her mother. Since then, she’s never been able to escape the cycle of violence.

David and Maureen Kneebone thought they had the perfect family until their gifted son, Alan, was murdered in 2001. Since then they’ve struggled to live normal lives and still do. Marcus Van Willing became homeless and turned to alcohol after the love of his life, Louise Sutcliffe, was murdered in their home in 1987 by someone he’d invited back.

Living With Murder will reveal how all these lives were ruined by completely unwarranted and inexplicable acts of violence. Screening on Crime&Investigation Network from September 14, 2009.

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