Tabla de contenidos para Issue 78 en Crime Monthly

Welcome to the August issue. This month, a man allegedly hunted his wife to death, while four women stand accused of turning on the partners they loved. We also look at the plea deal taken by Idaho Four killer Bryan Kohberger, examine all the latest events in the Lucy Letby case, and deep-dive into the trial of P Diddy. Plus, France has double trouble with mass spikings and a historic abuse scandal. There’s also our round-up of the latest crime TV, books and pods. As ever, email Crimemonthly@bauermedia.co.uk. See you next month.…

In a controversial retrial, Constance Marten and Mark Gordon have been found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter in the death of their newborn daughter. The couple went on the run with baby Victoria in early 2023, and when their car was found that January, the presence of a placenta sparked a seven-week manhunt. Victoria’s body was later discovered in a shopping bag in a shed on an allotment, and she was believed to have died from hypothermia. Marten, 38, declared the jury’s unanimous verdict ‘a sham’, while Gordon yelled, ‘I’m not surprised by the verdict. It was faulty, it was unlawful.’ It later emerged the pair had previously been convicted of child cruelty, concealing a birth, and perverting the course of justice. Marten and Gordon, 50 were accused of trying…

A son of former Mexican drug lord El Chapo has pleaded guilty to US drug trafficking charges. Ovidio Guzmán López – who allegedly assumed his father’s role as leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, alongside his brother Joaquin – admitted to drug trafficking, money laundering and firearms charges, including smuggling ‘staggering’ quantities of cocaine, heroin, marijuana, fentanyl and methamphetamine into the US. Lopez, 35, was arrested in Mexico in 2023, and extradited to the US. US authorities said of his guilty plea, ‘It’s another major step toward holding the Sinaloa Cartel and its leaders accountable for their role in fuelling the fentanyl epidemic’.…

Andrew Tate will be facing court eight months earlier than expected, after his civil case was moved forward. The trial, originally scheduled to start on 22 February 2027, will now begin on 22 June 2026. High Court judge Mrs Justice Lambert said, ‘We just need to make this happen really. It’s not in anyone’s interests that this case goes into the long grass of 2027.’ The claimants welcomed the judge’s decision, calling it ‘some comfort’. Tate, 38, is being sued by four women over allegations of sexual violence, with detailed claims of rape, assault and coercive control. The former kickboxer and self-proclaimed misogynist denied the accusations, calling them a ‘pack of lies’ and ‘gross fabrications’. Tate remains under house arrest in Romania while awaiting a separate criminal trial there. He…

Just days before husband Jordan’s death, Danielle Baxter posted an odd message on Facebook. It read, ‘These females out here be plotting on your marriage and waiting for your downfall so they can come right on in, and these men let them.’ It seemed to allude to troubles in her marriage and, five days later, Jordan was dead and she was charged with his murder. At around 7am on 19 March, police were called to the couple’s home on Bells Mill Road in Philadelphia after neighbours heard screams. Officers arrived to find 38-year-old Jordan lying on a plastic sheet between two parked cars. He had been shot in the back of the head, and a gun was resting on his chest. Blood was discovered inside the home, including on the…

In a dramatic twist to a case that shocked the world, Bryan Kohberger has pleaded guilty to murdering four University of Idaho students in a deal that saw him spared the death penalty. Kohberger, 30, accepted the plea in July, avoiding the high-profile capital trial that was scheduled to begin this month. Under the agreement, he was sentenced to four consecutive life terms without parole, meaning he will never be a free man again. As this magazine went to press, the victims’ families were due to deliver their impact statements in court, but for them, the sudden deal brought mixed emotions. Some felt relief that the case would not drag on for years, while others were angry that the death penalty was off the table. HEINOUS CRIMES The murders took…

1991 Nine people are killed at a basketball game staged in New York and promoted by Combs. A mayoral report criticises him for ‘poor event planning’ 1994 Two years before his murder, Tupac Shakur survives a shooting in New York. He accuses Combs of having prior knowledge of the attack 1996 Diddy is convicted of criminal mischief after being accused of threatening a photographer with a gun 1999 He’s ordered to attend an anger management course after being found guilty of attacking an industry executive in a dispute over a music video 2001 Acquitted on an illegal gun possession charge after a shooting at nightclub where he and girlfriend Jennifer Lopez were partying 2003 Sued by Bad Boy cofounder Kirk Burrowes, who alleges Combs forced him to sell his company…

Your character is a retired assassin – were there any major stunts you had to do? This series has the biggest stunt piece I’ve ever done. There’s an area in Athens called Plaka, and it’s absolutely beautiful – it feels like you’re on a small Greek island and not in the middle of the capital. There’s a big scene we shot there, where I’m riding a motorcycle with Freddie [Highmore] on the back and we’re being chased. We had a lot of fun doing that, on the back of a contraption with a bike attached. That was all really enjoyable. How was working with Freddie Highmore? I loved every second. We initially met over Zoom and we hit it off straightaway. We’re very similar and have lots of the same…

HOT NEW PICKS THE ADDICTIVE ONE Our Beautiful Mess ADELE PARKS (HQ, £16.99) Empty nester Connie can’t wait to have all her daughters back home for Christmas – and this year, there’s a special guest. Her eldest girl, university student Fran, is bringing home her new boy friend to meet the family. But as soon as Connie lays eyes on Zac, a deep-rooted unease rears its head. Zac reminds her of the biggest mistake she ever made, with a man whose charm and good looks nearly destroyed her marriage. When Fran announces she’s pregnant, Connie is left desperately looking for a way through what could be a disastrous situation – but she isn’t the only one in the house with something to hide. With shocking shenanigans and devastating family secrets,…

What was the inspiration behind your new novel? America, the state of a new polarised world, taxidermy – and this guy called One-Night-Bob, who is crazy, sad, pathetic, funny, and just so lonesome. What attracts you most about writing crime? I like the fact that readers in general know the genre so well, so the conversation with your reader starts with the title and the cover. Especially with a whodunnit story, there’s this mutual understanding that I’m allowed to manipulate you, but while staying within the limits of the unwritten rules. I will give enough truthful information so that my reader can solve the case before my detective – if they are really smart, that is. This interaction makes the conversation with the reader more intimate and fun than any…

In Dark Corners (BBC Sounds) Campaigning journalist Alex Renton fronts this chilling podcast as he delves into the prolific child sexual abuse that exists in Britain’s elite schools – and those responsible for covering it up. Originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4, this series will leave you dizzy trying to comprehend the complex web of power, privilege and class it exposes. One of the most shocking revelations is the number of complicit adults – parents, headteachers, politicians – and the lengths they went to protect their own reputations. A survivor himself, Alex also investigates the evil Paedophile Information Exchange campaign and its dark history. This pod is a stark reminder of how vulnerable our children are and how we must do better to protect them. Whitney Jones The Cliff’s Edge…

When Barry and Suzanne Morphew and their daughters moved from Indiana to Colorado in 2018, it was meant to be a fresh start. The couple had been experiencing marital unrest and hoped to strengthen the family unit. They'd already weathered many storms. Having dated since high school, they went on to attend the same university, eventually marrying in 1994. But two years into their new life in a sprawling mansion, the cracks in their marriage had become irreparable. Suzanne had long suspected Barry of infidelity, but she was also conducting an affair, a revelation that would only surface following the events of May 2020. VANISHED Big-game hunter Barry had his own landscaping company. Successful and hardworking, many of his employees saw him as an inspiration, but he could also be…

Roy Barclay has been found guilty of murdering Anita Rose as she walked her dog in Suffolk last year. The mum of six, 57, was subjected to a ‘vicious and brutal attack’ by the 56-year-old fugitive with ‘numerous kicks, stamps and blows’ to her face, head and body. Barclay – who had been recalled to prison following an attack on a pensioner in 2015, and was living in makeshift countryside camps – was arrested at a library months later. Anita’s pink jacket was found at one of Barclay’s camping locations, which prosecutors said he kept as a ‘trophy’, along with his walking boots, which ‘amounted to the murder weapon’. Her phone case and earbuds were found at another camp. ‘Roy Barclay took Anita Rose’s life in an explosion of violence.…

For years, Monica Sementilli appeared to live a charmed life. Her husband Fabio, 49, was a beloved celebrity hairstylist, known for mentoring rising stars – but behind closed doors, Monica was plotting his death with her secret lover. On 23 January 2017, Fabio was found stabbed to death outside their upscale home in Los Angeles. He’d been attacked from behind and left bleeding by the family pool. He suffered seven stab wounds to the neck, chest and thigh, and his femoral and carotid arteries were cut. He was found by one of their daughters, who later described the trauma of trying to revive him. The house was ransacked and Fabio’s Porsche was stolen, leading police to initially suspect robbery as a motive – but they soon uncovered the sordid truth.…

Already serving multiple whole-life orders for murdering seven babies and attempting to kill seven more, Lucy Letby is now facing the possibility of further criminal charges. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has confirmed it has received a fresh file from Cheshire Police detailing additional fatal and non-fatal incidents that occurred between 2012 and 2016. The new evidence comes after detectives reviewed over 4,000 medical records as part of Operation Hummingbird, which examined Letby’s work at both the Countess of Chester Hospital – where she committed her known offences – and the Liverpool Women’s Hospital, where she trained before moving to Chester in 2012. The CPS is now carefully assessing the evidence to decide whether more charges will be brought, a process that could take a number of weeks. ‘We have…

Spea king to a packed press room last month, José R. Figueroa, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Miami, said, ‘To the brave survivors, your courage was the driving force in this case. I hope the life sentence of this predator brings you some measure of justice and relief.’ He was talking about last month’s sentencing of Stefan Andres Correa, a Florida-based pharmacist who committed heinous acts against children. Correa’s abuse came to an end on 19 April 2024, when – through coordinated policing efforts – he was arrested at Miami International Airport for a string of sex crimes in Colombia. The 42-year-old serial predator had visited the South American country on 45 occasions over a two-year period, during which time he committed repeated rapes of underage…

ITV/ITVX LATE AUGUST The great Adrian Dunbar (Line Of Duty) once again dons his flat cap and leather field jacket to deliver a compelling performance as the emotionally scarred former DI-turned-police consultant Alex Ridley. And he’s reunited with DI Carol Farman (Bronagh Waugh, The Fall), who is now the lead officer on investigations. Series one proved to be a worthy entry in the cannon of gritty police procedurals featuring a lead character with ‘issues’, and series two will hopefully expand on the character’s backstory. Comprised of four new feature-length episodes, all inspired by the experiences of real-life retired detectives brought back to ease stretched resources, the series promises more emotionally resonant cases. Set against the brooding landscapes of northern England, filmed on location in Lancashire and Yorkshire, and with its…

A Particularly Nasty Case ADAM KAY (ORION, £20) When an unpopular hospital consultant dies, it seems like a none-too-tragic accident – except for the fact fellow doctor Eitan thinks he was murdered. Now, he needs to convince others before more die on the wards. Darkly funny. The Cut RICHARD ARMITAGE (FABER, £18.99) Three decades ago, the village of Barton Mallett was shattered by a murder. Now, a film crew has come to town and as old wounds are reopened, dedicated dad Ben Knott is faced with a terrible choice. Thrilling. The Bolthole PETER PAPATHANASIOU (QUERCUS, £20) Off the coast of South Australia, the formerly peaceful Kangaroo Island is becoming an enclave for the rich and entitled. And when a man goes missing, the inhabitants’ pent-up tensions spill over. Chilling. The…

Whether you’re jetting off somewhere hot or holidaying in your back garden, we’ve lined up the perfect escape. This summer, we have teamed up with Spotify and Simon & Schuster to bring you the best in crime fiction, from exclusive giveaways to unmissable new releases. This month, to celebrate the release of One Dark Night by Hannah Richell, we’re giving away a free audio download of The Search Party. When five friends reunite for a glamping weekend to celebrate old times and mend past wounds, a violent storm traps them in the remote wilderness. Soon, buried secrets, betrayals and lies surface, turning their idyllic escape into a fight for survival – and the truth. TO CLAIM YOURS: Send an email titled The Search Party to crimemonthly@bauermedia.co.uk – we’ll send you a…

CBC On a regular day in 2019, Nathaniel Frum decided to dust off some mysterious old tapes inherited from his grandfather. What he discovered led him on the investigation of a lifetime. As he pressed play, he was greeted by the voices of his grandfather Peter Worthing ton and that of a young journalist called Arlene By non, and within minutes he knew immediately that he must track her down. Decades earlier, Arlene answered a reverse-charges call that changed her life. On the other end of the line was Clifford Olson, a man convicted of killing 11 children and teenagers in the 1980s. For the next few years, he continued to call Arlene and disclosed details and secrets he’d never previously confessed. Arlene secretly recorded the killer, enlisting the help…

She was the all-American girl next door who began her acting career at just seven and went on to become a huge star, winning awards for her TV work by her early teens. But, as with so many child actors before her, Amanda Bynes was not destined for a fairy-tale ending. As she entered her twenties, things appeared to be going well, with movie roles including What A Girl Wants, She’s The Man, and Hairspray suggesting a glittering Holly wood career was on the cards. Then, in 2012, came her first brush with the law when she was arrested on a DUI charge after clipping a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s patrol car. She pleaded no contest to reckless driving and received probation and a mandatory alcohol education course. In May…

PRIME VIDEO, AVAILABLE NOW As far as hard launches go, The Assassin is pretty full-on, beginning as it does with an extraordinary action sequence set decades ago, in which a gun-toting masked figure somehow manages to kill dozens of men who stand in the way of the character’s ultimate target. Mission accomplished, it turns out the killer is a young woman who sounds a lot like Keeley Hawes. Flash-for ward to the present day and we meet retired assassin Julie herself (played by Hawes), who’s living in a nice cottage on a lush Greek island. A long comes a nerdy young man called Edward (Freddie Highmore), who’s come to visit her because he’s her son – and he wants to know more about his mysterious father. Then, just as you…

BBC IPLAYER, AVAILABLE NOW The first series of this eye-catching crime drama series aired on BBC Four, and is available on BBC iPlayer if you need to catch up. It followed Irish detective Theo Richter (Richard Flood) as he teamed up with New Zealand cop Diana Huia (Acushla-Tara Kupe) to investigate the disappearance of an Irish couple in a rural New Zealand town called Mt Affinity. This new second series focuses on another mysterious disappearance, this time of Irish journalist Aileen Ryan from the same small town. As the duo lead the investigation, they get help from Māori trackers exploring the mountainous terrain, but it isn’t long before they discover that someone else is missing. The series is told in English, with some subtitled Māori, and airs Thursdays and Fridays…

PRIME GETS A GIRLFRIEND Prime Video has unveiled the first-look images for its upcoming psychological drama The Girlfriend, starring Robin Wright (House Of Cards) and Olivia Cooke (Slow Horses). The show is based on Michelle Frances’ best-selling novel, and Wright plays Laura, a woman whose seemingly perfect life unravels when her son introduces his mysterious new girlfriend Cherry (Cooke). The newly released images tease the series’ tense atmosphere and complex character dynamics. Produced by Imaginarium Productions and Amazon MGM Studios, The Girlfriend promises to be a gripping exploration of trust, ambition, and maternal instinct. The six-part series will premiere on 10 September. FIRST LOOK SURANNE IS HELD HOSTAGE New British political thriller Hostage will premiere on 21 August on Netflix. The five-episode mini-series stars Julie Delpy (Before Sunrise) as French president…