16. The Pearl Earring: No body, no parole?
Bad People17 Dec 2020

16. The Pearl Earring: No body, no parole?

If a killer refuses to reveal where they’ve hidden a body – should they have to stay in prison?

Helen McCourt’s family campaigned for the UK to adopt an Australian-style “no body, no parole” law – but would it be adopted in time to stop the release of her killer?

In 1989 pub landlord Ian Simms was one of the first people in the UK to be convicted on DNA evidence without the victim's body having been found. Sentenced to at least 16 years in jail for Helen's murder, Simms still claims he's innocent.

The jury were convinced by forensic evidence such as traces of Helen's blood which were found in Simms' flat and car. An opal and pearl earring identical to one Helen was wearing when she went missing was also found in the boot of his car.

Although "no body, no parole" might act as a deterrent to some offenders who choose not to reveal where their victim's body is, we also hear hear about concerns that it might interfere with the goals of rehabilitating offenders and reducing re-offending. The 750,000 signatories to a petition supporting Helen's Law believe that the needs of families whose pain continues as long as they have no body to bury should be prioritised.

Helen's mum Marie McCourt hopes that one day she will be able to take flowers to Helen's grave.

Presenters: Dr. Julia Shaw and Sofie Hagen Producers: Paula McGrath and Caroline Steel Assistant Producer: Simona Rata Music: Matt Chandler Series Editor: Rami Tzabar

Commissioning Producer: Hannah Rose Commissioning Executive: Dylan Haskins Commissioning Editor: Jason Phipps

Bad People is a BBC Audio Science Production for BBC Sounds

#BadPeople_BBC

Avsnitt(140)

95. Battle for Winson Green: Are prison riots inevitable?

95. Battle for Winson Green: Are prison riots inevitable?

In Winson Green, Birmingham a category B prison is fit to burst, and on the 9th of October 2018 it finally does. Armed with one syringe, three men set five hundred convicts free and over the next twel...

30 Mars 202342min

94. Bad People x The Shamima Begum Story

94. Bad People x The Shamima Begum Story

In 2015, fifteen-year-old Shamima Begum left the UK with two of her friends on a flight bound for Turkey. But the East London schoolgirls were not going on holiday. They were going to join thousands o...

23 Mars 202343min

93. Spirit Photographer: Are deepfakes a new problem?

93. Spirit Photographer: Are deepfakes a new problem?

In 1861 William Mumler claims to capture a spirit of dead on camera and offers grieving people the chance to sit with a lost loved one, one last time. These controversial photographs unleashed a debat...

16 Mars 202339min

92. Drugged Intent: Can intoxication excuse crimes?

92. Drugged Intent: Can intoxication excuse crimes?

It’s 1992 and Barry Kingston, a man with admitted paedophilic tendencies, is accused of indecently assaulting a child. The police have photographs and audio-tape to prove his involvement - and yet Kin...

9 Mars 202331min

91. Knox: Can translators make innocence look guilty?

91. Knox: Can translators make innocence look guilty?

It’s 2007 in Perugia Italy. A body has been found, but the American suspect maintains her innocence. Amanda Knox spent 7 years in prison for a crime she didn’t commit, but the long path from convictio...

2 Mars 202336min

90. Trash Puppies: Why are some people cruel to animals?

90. Trash Puppies: Why are some people cruel to animals?

In April 2018, a sealed plastic bag is found tossed next to a dumpster in Coachella, USA. In it, seven tiny, squeaking, new-born puppies. CCTV footage of the puppy dumping culprit, Deborah Sue Culwell...

23 Feb 202338min

89. Baby Snatcher: Does anyone deserve the death penalty?

89. Baby Snatcher: Does anyone deserve the death penalty?

Bobbie was eight months pregnant and shared the good news with her online community. But because she met Lisa Montgomery, Bobbie would never have the future she hoped for. In one of the most horrific ...

16 Feb 202338min

88. Thoughtcrime: How dangerous is anti-intellectualism?

88. Thoughtcrime: How dangerous is anti-intellectualism?

There was international outcry in 2011 when the celebrated Chinese artist Ai Weiwei was arrested at Beijing airport and imprisoned. The charges against him were vague. So what was Ai Weiwei really in ...

2 Feb 202337min

Populärt inom True Crime

en-mork-historia
infor-ratta
podme-dokumentar
rattegangspodden
podme-crime
fallen-jag-aldrig-glommer
krimrummet
svenska-fall
spoktimmen
svenska-mordhistorier
rss-krimstad
aftonbladet-krim
mordpodden
forhorsrummet
seriemordarpodden
p3-krim
rss-valdet-krim
massmordarpodden
fangelsepodden
rss-mordarens-motiv