Professor David Wilson, the UK's leading criminologist, presents the third series of Crime Files, this time, focusing on cold cases. In episode 2, he discusses mysterious deaths and how the circumstances surrounding them can lead to decades old unsolved cases which remain unanswered to this day.
David visits Boarhills in Fife to investigate the death of former soldier Sandy Drummond. Sandy was thought to have died of natural causes because of the absence of visible injuries but following a post mortem it was determined he was murdered by a martial arts move on his neck.
Crime writer Douglas Skelton talks to David about the unusual behaviour displayed by Sandy in the days leading up to his death and how his mother Effie died without ever finding out the answers she was searching for.
David, this series, is joined in studio by our resident Forensic Scientist Helen Meadows. Helen will dissect the evidence which surrounded Sandy Drummond's case and will also inform David of the curious death of Robert Higgins from Kirkliston near Edinburgh.
David travels to Kirkliston to examine the last weekend of Robert Higgins, who was murdered in 1995. Robert, who was usually a creature of habit spent his last days away from family and friends in the presence of a mystery couple. Crime reporter Jane Hamilton covered the case at the time and speaks to David about the unusual location where Robert Higgins was discovered as well as the questions still left behind by the mysterious murder.

Professor David Wilson, the UK's leading criminologist, presents the third series of the crime talk show Crime Files. This season David is focusing primarily on Scotland's Cold Cases. In episode 4, he explores the relationship between cold cases and the media with the help of his guests.
David begins by travelling to The Granite City: Aberdeen. Here he delves into the cruel and vicious attack on a local taxi driver, George Murdoch in 1983. George was left for dead after picking up a ruthless killer on a dark September evening. So brutal and unusual was the cheese wire murder weapon found at the scene, that the culprit was inevitably dubbed the "Cheese Wire Killer".
In the studio, David is joined by George Murdoch's nephew, Alex McKay. Together they discuss the difficulty when years begin to pass and leads run dry, when there's little else the police can do and it's up to the family to take matters into their own hands. Alex shares what it's like for the family when a case goes cold and his concern for his uncle's murder remaining unanswered.
David then ventures to Irvine to examine the tragic death of young mother, Shona Stevens in 1994. At lunchtime, Shona had left the house to nip to the local shops, but on her return she was savagely attacked and left for dead only 200 yards away from her home. Shona's brutal murder sent shockwaves through the local and wider communities, so much so that it has been featured on Crimewatch twice.
In the studio David is joined by Daily Record's Crime Reporter, Jane Hamilton. Jane tells David why Shona's case made national headlines and the relationship between police investigations and press media.
David's final guest is criminologist Kirsty Bennett. Kirsty is a specialist in policing and cold case homicides. She and David discuss why certain cases might be favoured by the media and the benefits and pitfalls of mass media attention. They divulge what is meant by the term ‘the ideal victim' and why the public might have more empathy with these sorts of people.