Series synopsis
Murder Trial is a British crime documentary television series that premiered on BBC Scotland on January 7, 2020.
Guilty or not guilty? Haunting cold cases and gripping investigations unfold as Murder suspects stand trial and victim’s families seek justice in Scotland’s High Courts.
Premise
Guilty or not guilty? Haunting cold cases and gripping investigations unfold as Murder suspects stand trial and victim’s families seek justice in Scotland’s High Courts.
Episodes
This series spans 6 seasons with 9 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 0 | 1 | February 11, 2025 | February 11, 2025 |
| Season 1 | 2 | January 7, 2020 | January 8, 2020 |
| Season 2 | 2 | August 22, 2023 | August 29, 2023 |
| Season 3 | 2 | January 23, 2024 | January 24, 2024 |
| Season 4 | 2 | January 28, 2025 | February 4, 2025 |
| Season 5 | 0 | January 28, 2025 | January 28, 2025 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Body in the Warehouse The remains of a body are discovered in an abandoned warehouse in Scotland, but the victim, the motive and cause of death are all unknown. |
February 11, 2025 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Vanishing Woman, Part 1 Two-part documentary about the investigation and trial of two carers accused of murdering 35-year-old Margaret Fleming and claiming benefits in her name for 16 years. |
January 7, 2020 |
| 2 |
The Vanishing Woman, Part 2 Second part of the documentary about the trial that gripped a nation, As the trial continues, witnesses give dramatic testimony as Cairney and Jones stand accused of murdering Margaret Fleming. |
January 8, 2020 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
A Dangerous Affair, Part 1 Unprecedented access to the murder trial related to one of Scotland’s most notorious unsolved mysteries - the disappearance of Renee MacRae and her three-year-old son Andrew. |
August 22, 2023 |
| 2 |
A Dangerous Affair, Part 2 As the trial continues, the jury hear dramatic testimony as they are asked to decide the fate of the accused, William MacDowell. Finally, the verdict is in. |
August 29, 2023 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
A Deadly Obsession, Part 1 A look at one of Scotland’s most high-profile murder trials, the brutal killing of Dr Brenda Page. Nearly half a century on from his initial questioning and release, Christopher Harrisson, the victim’s ex-husband, stands accused of killing Brenda in her Aberdeen flat. Featuring remarkable access inside the courtroom, as one of the most long-awaited murder trials in Scotland’s history is finally heard. |
January 23, 2024 |
| 2 |
A Deadly Obsession, Part 2 The trial continues, taking viewers deep into the inner workings of Scotland's justice system. The evidence includes first-hand testimony of the accused’s behaviour in the days surrounding the murder and the forensic findings from both past and present. The jury also hears testimony from the accused, Christopher Harrisson, before being asked to decide his fate. |
January 24, 2024 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Girl in the River, Part 1 On 24 August 1996, Caroline Glachan was violently assaulted before being left in the river. Some 27 years later, Robert O’Brien, Andrew Kelly and Donna Marie Brand stand accused of her murder at the High Court in Glasgow. |
January 28, 2025 |
| 2 |
Girl in the River, Part 2 The fate of three defendants hangs in the balance. Two key witnesses reveal more shocking evidence, and one defendant chooses to take the stand, before the jury decide whether or not they committed murder. After 27 years of heartbreak and unanswered questions, the long-awaited verdict is finally within reach, and Caroline Glachan’s family learn the truth at last |
February 4, 2025 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 The remains of a body are discovered in an abandoned warehouse in Scotland, but the victim, the motive and cause of death are all unknown.Soon, a shocking and premeditated crime is uncovered as decorator David Barnes stands accused of killing his customer - but nobody knows how he died. In a unique criminal case shrouded in mystery, this programme follows the family's quest for justice and goes behind the scenes at the Scottish High Court. |
January 28, 2025 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | BBC Scotland |
|---|---|
| First aired | January 7, 2020 |
| Last aired | February 4, 2025 |
| Runtime | 59 minutes |
| Status | continue |