All three cases featured in the latest episode of an absorbing BBC4 documentary which goes behind the scenes at Mersey-Cheshire Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) saw justice served at Chester Crown Court.
The second episode of The Prosecutors: Real Crime and Punishment is not an easy watch, focusing on two murders of women who knew their killers and one victim’s dogged fight to overturn a decision not to prosecute her boyfriend following a savage assault in Warrington.
Forty-two-year-old mum Becky Bamber was stabbed 13 times at her Widnes home by her ex-partner David Hoyle in June 2014.
Producers follow how the lawyers build their case against him and eventually secure a murder conviction following a trial.
Viewers are also flies on the wall as the CPS examine the overwhelming evidence against Paul Fox, from Alsager.
His 83-year-old mother’s body was found in the Alsager home they’d shared for the past 30 years, along with a note by Paul saying he had murdered her.
Fox went on to plead guilty to murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Ms Lindley explained that cases do impact on the prosecutors, but they must remain objective.
She said: “Cases like the David Hoyle case are amongst the most difficult, because they are the most sensitive.
Emotional toll
“They can have quite an emotional toll. But we have to remain professional – the public, the victims and the bereaved have a right to expect that and to be given a high standard of service.
“But some cases do leave their mark – it’s inevitable. We are human.
“But it all comes down to the evidence. If it isn’t there, it isn’t there. We need the evidence to prove the defendant guilty.
“I’m really pleased with the series as I think it shows the hard work and commitment of our staff.”
The series concludes at 9pm on Wednesday, March 9.
