Latest news with #TheVanishingCyclist
Daily Record
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Scots trial fears over filming of court cases for true-crime documentaries
The Murder Trial and Murder Case series feature in the Top 10 most requested titles of 2025 on the broadcaster's iPlayer with over three million views. Real-life- crime documentaries which allow cameras into Scots courts have been among BBC Scotland's biggest hits despite fears they could disrupt criminal trials. The Murder Trial and Murder Case series feature in the Top 10 most requested titles of 2025 on the broadcaster's iPlayer with over three million views. The latest viewing figures come after the broadcaster last week announced Murder Case is set to return later this year with a new three-part series focussing on two cases. Two 60-minute episodes will concentrate on the murder of Tony Parsons – The Vanishing Cyclist – who was killed by a drunk driver on the A82 near Bridge of Orchy and secretly buried in a shallow grave. Sandy McKellar and twin Robert hid Tony's body on a remote estate in the Highlands where it remained undiscovered for three years until Sandy confided in his new girlfriend Caroline Muirhead about the killing and took her to the burial site. She was able to pinpoint the remote location to the police by dropping a soft drink can on the ground. However, two years ago we revealed Muirhead fled court over the pressure of appearing in the documentary. She was arrested after failing to turn up to court for the twins' trial. At the time, she said the demands to take part in the BBC-commissioned programme on the case led her to have a mental breakdown. Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay wrote to the BBC to raise concerns with its production company Firecrest Films. He said: 'Ms Muirhead has said she was subjected to inappropriate pressure to nagree for her testimony to be broadcast. 'She further claims that she felt unable to testify due to this pressure and that this, in turn, may have caused the Crown Office to strike a plea deal with the two men accused of murder, instead of putting them on trial, resulting in a downgrading of the charges, which they admitted to.' The real-life crime format has attracted huge audiences. A spokeswoman said: ' Crime documentaries continue to be really popular with audiences in Scotland and across the UK, consistently performing well on BBC iPlayer. 'The Murder Trial and Murder Case series feature in the Top 10 'most requested' titles of 2025 on BBC iPlayer with a combined audience of nearly three million streaming requests. 'This year, the top three 'most viewed' BBC crime documentaries have been Murder Trial: Girl in the River, Murder Trial: Body in the Warehouse and Murder Case: The Hunt for Mary McLaughlin's Killer.'
Scotsman
02-07-2025
- Scotsman
Murder of charity cyclist Tony Parsons in Scottish Highlands to be investigated in BBC Scotland documentary
The new BBC Scotland series will be broadcast in the autumn. Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The case of a grandfather who disappeared on a charity cycle ride and a woman killed at her home in Elgin are to be investigated in a new BBC Scotland documentary. The cases of Tony Parsons, who went missing in 2017, and Kiesha Donaghy, who was bludgeoned with a weapon in her own home, will be examined in a new series of Murder Case. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Tony Parsons, 63, from Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire. Picture: Family Handout/PA Wire The new three-part series on BBC Scotland and BBC iPlayer, to be shown in the autumn, features interviews with the families of the victims, the media who covered the cases as well as the police who brought the perpetrators to justice. Episode The Vanishing Cyclist tells the story of Tony Parsons, 63, who, in September 2017, was killed by a drunk driver whilst on a 104-mile charity cycle - and secretly buried in a shallow grave. Alexander 'Sandy' McKellar and his twin brother Robert hid Mr Parsons' body on a remote estate in the southern Highlands. The remains went undiscovered for three years until McKellar confided in his new girlfriend about the killing and took her to the burial site. She was able to pinpoint the remote location to the police by dropping a soft drink can into the ground. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ms Donaghy, 32, was found dead at her home in Elgin in November 2023. Her friend Owen Grant, 43, was later arrested after going on a spending spree, spending hundreds of pounds on cocaine. At the murder trial at Edinburgh's High Court this year, Judge Lord Scott described the attack as 'exceptionally savage, frenzied and brutal'. David Harron, commissioning executive, factual at BBC Scotland, said: 'Murder Case is one of our most important brands at BBC Scotland and is hugely popular with the audience. Through its exceptional access to the major investigations team of Police Scotland, it has provided the audience with a real insight into the work of detectives on these cases.' Vari Innes, executive producer at Firecrest Films, said: 'Filmed over the course of two years from investigation to trial, with the support of Tony and Keisha's families, these new cases offer unparalleled access to Police Scotland's major investigations team, following their quest for answers and justice for the victims and their families. 'We are proud and privileged to be entrusted with sensitively bringing these harrowing cases to light.'
