Rachel Nickell's Son and Partner Relive the 1992 Murder

More than 30 years after Rachel Nickell was brutally murdered while walking on Wimbledon Common with her two-year-old son Alex, her family are retelling their story through a new drama series and documentary.

In July of 1992, 23-year-old Rachel was stabbed 49 times whilst walking across Wimbledon Common with her two-year-old son Alex and the family dog, Molly. After the attack, Alex - the only witness - was found clinging to his mother's body.

Credit: Netflix: The Witness

Alex, now aged 36, and his father André Hanscombe revisit that day, share what they experienced and talk about the aftermath of the tragedy in a new documentary, released alongside a new Netflix drama 'The Witness.'

“We’ve given interviews before, and there have been other programs that have been made, but with the best intentions, they were just scraping the surface,” says Alex Hanscombe. “We believe that life is a battle between good and evil, and that while evil is real, the power for good is always greater, and something positive can come out of everyone’s pain and suffering. We wanted to pay tribute to the healing power of love, hope, and faith in our lives, and never giving up.”

Created, written and produced by Rob Williams and directed by Alex Winckler, the new Netflix drama series dives into the devastating impact of Rachel's murder and the unhelpful media attention Alex and André experienced in the aftermath of her murder - which forced them to move countries more than once. Alex and André both served as consultants on the series, while John Yorke served as executive producer.

Who Stars in The Witness?

The Witness stars some new and known faces, including Jordan Bolger as André Hanscombe and Max Fincham, who plays Alex as a troubled teenager attempting to come to terms with what happened to his mother.

André and Alex both met Bolger and Fincham, speaking in depth about their experience and sharing materials, such as family albums with them to inform their performance. "They both took the story to heart, and had done their research before we met them, so it was important to us that they knew they were on track and that we trusted and believed in them. Obviously, it’s strange to watch someone much younger and better looking than you, being you!”

 Credit: Netflix: The Witness BTS

Given the sensitive nature of the material, casting the role of young Alex was always going to be a challenge. However, the young Jahsaiah Williams does a fantastic job of taking on the role.

What Link Does the Show Have with Channel 4's Deceit?

The show also has an interesting link with Channel 4's 2021 drama Deceit - a procedural drama about the errors made by officers in the early stages of the Rachel Nickell investigation, and the deployment of a honeytrap - played by Niamh Algar - which resulted in the prosecution of the wrong man.

 Credit: Channel 4: Deceit

As with The Witness, it also draws attention to the fact that Napper had already been eliminated from enquiries, before going on to kill again. Instead of placing Alex and André at the centre of the story, Deceit focuses more on police failings, delving deeper into the investigation.

If you enjoyed The Witness, then Deceit is definitely worth a watch.