Michael Martin's disappearance in 2016 went from a missing person appeal to a murder investigation in three days - but there was no crime scene, no weapon, and no body.

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It was an incomprehensible murder which left jury members in tears. But the death of nine-month-old Mollie Norman at the hands of her uncle ultimately changed the way police investigate child homicides.

The Case That Haunts Me features Manchester Evening News chief reporter Neal Keeling and producer Sam Yarwood.

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On the night of May 10th 2005, someone who would have known that the front door of 23 King Street, Higher Broughton was insecure entered the 1930s terraced house. Once inside they lit two fires in foam-filled furniture in a sofa and armchair in the front lounge and rear living room.

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It was a brutal plot that resulted in the horrendous death of a dearly loved father, Liam Smith. 

The 38-year-old electrician was shot dead and doused in acid yards from his home in Wigan in November last year.

The murder had been planned for 10 months.

Couple Michael Hillier and Rachel Fulstow were once united on their plan to murder Smith as part of what they saw as “vigilante justice” - but the plotting pair soon turned on each other, placing the blame on another in court.

In this episode of Testimony, our true crime podcast, Andrew Bardsley, who reported on the trial, explains the plot behind Smith’s murder, the day of the killing, and how it played out in court.

The Manchester Evening News court reporter tells the podcast how Hillier and Fulstow were branded “judge, jury and executioner” during the trial.

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Testimony is a Laudable production for the Manchester Evening News. It was presented and produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin, featuring Andrew Bardsley.

You can listen to previous episodes of our podcast on all the major platforms, including Spotify, Apple, Google, and more. And you can read more about this case on the MEN’s website: manchestereveningnews.co.uk.

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If Stephen Bear was aiming for theatre during his trial, the former reality TV star instead delivered farce and pantomime. 

But it was no laughing matter: the Celebrity Big Brother winner was sent to prison for 21 months in March following his conviction on revenge porn charges in December last year.

Bear uploaded a video of him having sex with Love Island star Georgia Harrison without her consent on OnlyFans and WhatsApp. He was charged with two counts of disclosing private sexual photographs or films and one count of voyeurism.

From day one, he made a mockery of the proceedings: from extravagant costumes and props to a rented Rolls Royce to unfounded claims about the jury.

In this episode of Testimony, our true crime podcast, Ellis Whitehouse, chief reporter at EssexLive, who was there throughout the trial, discusses Bear’s bizarre behaviour, the bravery of Georgia Harrison, and the reaction to his conviction.

***

Testimony is a Laudable production for Reach, in collaboration with Essex Live. The story was told by Ellis Whitehouse with questions from Daniel J. McLaughlin, who also produced the podcast.

You can listen to previous episodes of our podcast on all the major platforms, including Spotify, Apple, Google, and more. And you can read more about this case on the Essex Live website: https://www.essexlive.news/

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It was a brutal murder that shocked Manchester: torture, betrayal, killers likened to “creatures” and “a kind of cancer”.

In the summer of 2022, Thomas Campbell was attacked in a professionally planned operation, lasting hours, and left for dead. He succumbed to his injuries after being stabbed, punched, kicked, and strangled.

Andrew Bardsley followed this case as it played out in court, and he describes it as “the most brutal murder I’ve come across” over the years he has worked as a reporter.

The Manchester Evening News court reporter tells Testimony -A True Crime Podcast about the events in July 2022, the investigation, and the reaction in the courtroom.

***

Testimony is a Laudable production for the Manchester Evening News. It was presented and produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin, featuring Andrew Bardsley.

You can listen to previous episodes of our podcast on all the major platforms, including Spotify, Apple, Google, and more. And you can read more about this case on the MEN’s website: manchestereveningnews.co.uk.

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It is a story that has gathered massive interest across the country: the disappearance of Nicola Bulley.

Nicola, a 45-year-old mother-of-two, disappeared almost three weeks ago, whilst walking along the River Wyre with her dog Willow.

Despite a massive search in St Michael's on Wyre, a small village on the Fylde in Lancashire, no trace of Nicola has been found yet.

Speculation is rife, the investigation continues, and covering the story is Alice Suffield, a reporter for LancsLive.

On this special episode of Testimony, Alice gives us the background of Nicola’s disappearance, the impact on the community in St Michael’s, and how some are hindering the police’s investigation.

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In this second part of Testimony: The Body on Seaham Beach we find a mystery within a mystery. The case continues, venturing into new territory and commissioning a full facial reconstruction to be carried out by Dundee University. Listeners will hear varying theories as to what may have happened to this missing person.

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On 13th May 2006 a man walking on the beach in Seaham, south of Sunderland, made a shocking discovery. He called the police and set in train a series of events that have yet to be resolved.

We explore the events that took place following the discovery of these human remains on the Featherbed Rocks. Fiona Thompson, who covered the story as a reporter for the Sunderland Echo at the time, takes us through the actions by police and others in the following weeks, months and years in an attempt to identify these remains.

Testimony: The Body on Seaham Beach features interviews with key people and agencies involved in the case. The podcast shares great insight not only into this specific case but just how missing people cases and unidentified remains are treated by the authorities.

Testimony: The Body on Seaham Beach poses the question whether someone out there has the key to solving this case.

Testimony is a Laudable production for the NationalWorld. It was researched and co-produced by Fiona Thompson. It is presented, produced and edited by Kelly Crichton.

With thanks to BBC Look North for the use of archive audio.

'March of the Mind' by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Atrribution 4.0 Licence.

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100167

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

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On 13th May 2006 a man walking on the beach in Seaham, south of Sunderland, made a shocking discovery. He called the police and set in train a series of events that have yet to be resolved.

We explore the events that took place following the discovery of these human remains on the Featherbed Rocks. Fiona Thompson, who covered the story as a reporter for the Sunderland Echo at the time, takes us through the actions by police and others in the following weeks, months and years in an attempt to identify these remains.

Testimony: The Body on Seaham Beach features interviews with key people and agencies involved in the case. The podcast shares great insight not only into this specific case but just how missing people cases and unidentified remains are treated by the authorities.

Testimony: The Body on Seaham Beach poses the question whether someone out there has the key to solving this case.

Testimony is a Laudable production for the NationalWorld. It was researched and co-produced by Fiona Thompson. It is presented, produced and edited by Kelly Crichton.

'March of the Mind' by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Atrribution 4.0 Licence.

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100167

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Testimony: Coming soon...

On 13th May 2006 a man walking on the beach in Seaham, south of Sunderland, made a grizzly discovery. He called the police and set in train a series of events that have yet to be resolved.

Testimony: The Body on Seaham Beach is a two-part series which explores the events that took place following the discovery of human remains on the Featherbed Rocks. Fiona Thompson, who covered the story as a reporter for the Sunderland Echo at the time, takes us through the actions by police and others in the following weeks, months and years in an attempt to identify these remains.

Testimony: The Body on Seaham Beach features interviews with key people and agencies involved in the case. The podcast shares great insight not only into this specific case but just how missing people cases and unidentified remains are treated by the authorities.

Testimony: The Body on Seaham Beach poses the question whether someone out there has the key to solving this case.

Testimony is a Laudable production for the NationalWorld. It is presented and produced by Kelly Crichton.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices