Murder, Mystery and My Family Season 2 Episode 5 Episode 5

Murder, Mystery and My Family is a British television series that explores some of the UK's most notorious murder cases with the help of two eminent barristers, Jeremy Dein QC and Sasha Wass QC. In each episode, they team up with descendants of the murder victims and the convicted killers, who are tasked with uncovering new evidence and attempting to prove their ancestor's innocence. In season 2 episode 5, titled "Episode 5," the barristers and their team focus on a case from the early 1900s, which saw a prominent businessman accused of murdering a well-respected doctor.

The episode begins with Dein and Wass meeting with the family members of the accused, Thomas Charity, who was convicted of killing Dr. Edmund Bennett in 1903. As the barristers explain, Bennett's body was found in a field near the town of Haverhill, Suffolk, with multiple head injuries and a fractured skull. Charity was arrested and charged with the murder, with the prosecution arguing that he had a clear motive - Bennett had apparently told Charity that he was going to report him for financial irregularities in his business dealings.

The first step in the investigation is to examine the original trial records, which date back over a century. The barristers and their team are struck by the level of detail in the trial transcripts, which includes evidence from multiple witnesses and forensic experts. However, they also note that many of the witnesses were extremely unreliable, with some giving conflicting accounts of events and others appearing to have altered their testimony to suit the prosecution's case.

The team also learns that Charity's defense lawyer, Mr. Thomas Hurrell, was a well-respected and successful legal mind, but was strongly criticized for his handling of Charity's case. The barristers speculate that Hurrell may have been reluctant to challenge the prosecution's evidence too vigorously, given the weight of public opinion against his client at the time.

As they delve deeper into the case, Wass and Dein meet with a number of descendants of both the victim and the accused. They hear from Charity's great-granddaughter, who describes her family's belief that he was innocent and their ongoing campaign for a posthumous pardon. They also speak with the great-grandson of Dr. Bennett, who expresses his own doubts about the case, given the lack of concrete evidence against Charity.

The investigation eventually leads Wass and Dein to a breakthrough, as they uncover a piece of evidence that may have been overlooked at the time of the trial. They discover that the victim's watch, which was found smashed and bloodstained at the crime scene, was never properly examined for fingerprints or other forensic evidence. With the help of a modern-day forensic expert, the barristers are able to test the watch for DNA and other traces of evidence that may point towards a different suspect.

As the episode draws to a close, Wass and Dein present their findings to a panel of legal experts, who examine the new evidence and consider whether the case against Charity was flawed. The descendants of both the victim and the accused are also present, as the barristers try to bring closure to a case that has remained unresolved for over a century.

Overall, season 2 episode 5 of Murder, Mystery and My Family is a fascinating exploration of a long-forgotten murder case, and the barristers' expert analysis and tenacious investigation make for compelling viewing. The episode is a reminder of the importance of examining historical cases with a fresh perspective, and of the power of new technology and forensic techniques in unravelling mysteries that have remained unsolved for generations.