Netflix’s drama The Witness about ‘unimaginable tragedy’ is a true crime must-watch

Netflix has unveiled a first look at its upcoming true story-inspired drama, The Witness, about the 1992 murder of Rachel Nickell, a mother killed in front of her young son on Wimbledon Common in London. 

The series, which arrives on 4 June, follows the experiences of Rachel’s son Alex and her partner André Hanscombe, who became a single parent overnight after Rachel was stabbed. 

As a true crime drama fan, I’m definitely marking my calendar for this one. The series is produced by STV Studios Drama, the production company behind acclaimed police dramas Blue Lights and Criminal Record. Meanwhile, the show’s creator and writer Rob Williams’ impressive writing credits include Killing Eve, Screw and The Man in the High Castle. 

Plus, both Alex & André Hanscombe acted as consultants on the series, so viewers can rest assured that the drama will remain faithful to their experiences. 

Keep reading to find out more…

What is The Witness about? 

The official synopsis reads: “The Witness follows the experiences of Alex and André Hanscombe as they deal with the devastating impact of a brutal act of violence. When Rachel Nickell was murdered on Wimbledon Common in 1992, André became a single parent overnight. Putting his own grief to one side, he made his son Alex – the only eyewitness to the attack – the centre of his world. 

© Courtesy of Netflix

“Navigating the unscrupulous media furore and the urgency of an increasingly desperate police investigation, his sole concern became the welfare of his traumatised son. This is the story of how a father and son moved through the aftermath of unimaginable tragedy, from darkness into light.”

Who stars in The Witness?

Jordan Bolger stars as André Hanscombe, alongside Max Fincham as Alex Hanscombe, Neil Maskell as DI Keith Pedder, Kevin Eldon as DCI Mick Wickerson, Mark Stanley as DS Ivan Agnew, Jon Pointing as DC Nick Sparshatt, James Dryden as DC Paul Miller, Kerry Godliman as June, James Bradshaw as DCI Tony Nash and Claire Rushbrook as Dr Jean Harris-Hendriks.

The Murder of Rachel Nickell

Netflix will also release a standalone documentary alongside the three-part drama series, which will delve into the years-long police investigation into Rachel’s murder. 

On 15 July 1992, Rachel was walking with her son on Wimbledon Common when she was attacked in broad daylight.

Serial sex offender Robert Napper admitted to the crime only in 2008.

© Courtesy of Netflix

In the trailer, a voiceover of André is heard saying: “My son witnessed his mother’s murder but nobody could have possibly known how long it was gonna take to find the person who did this.”

In a joint statement, Alex and André said: “Our life has been a battle. We can never express how indebted we are to everyone that’s been a part of this, for the kindness and generosity they’ve extended to us, for the chance they took with us in bringing our story to the screen, and for the care they have taken.”

They added: “Our journey has all been by the grace of God and a promise to go on together, and we feel incredibly blessed to be able to share our story in this way.

“We hope that audiences will be left with a testament to the tough battle of life we all face and to the power of faith, hope, love – and never giving up.”

The Witness and The Murder of Rachel Nickell will both premiere on Netflix on 4 June.