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An Eye for a Killing – 2. The Lost Girl

Mary Paterson is 18 when she meets William Burke in a drinking dive in Edinburgh’s Old Town in 1828. By the end of the day she will be dead and her body sold for £10.

Welcome to hell. The true story of Scotland’s notorious serial killers, Burke and Hare.

Mary Paterson is 18 when she meets William Burke in a drinking dive in Edinburgh’s Old Town in 1828. By the end of the day she will be dead and her body sold for £10 to one of the city’s leading anatomy teachers, Dr Robert Knox.

In the witness box at the High Court in Edinburgh William Hare is cross-examined on his knowledge of another murder. In fact, he has detailed knowledge of 16 murders because he’s one of the killers – but he can never be charged because the authorities have given him immunity.

Powerful five-part drama-documentary series from ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 4 with bonus scenes on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Sounds.

Written and dramatised by Colin MacDonald.

Narrator ….. Jack Lowden
Mary Paterson ….. Helen Mackay
William Hare ….. James Boal
Burke ….. Gavin Mitchell
Galbraith ….. Andy Clark
Robert Knox ….. Simon Donaldson
Henry Cockburn ….. Jimmy Chisholm
David Paterson ….. Stuart McQuarrie
Janet Brown ….. Nicola Roy
Other parts played by the cast.

Producer/director: Bruce Young

Available now

42 minutes

Broadcast

  • Fri 5 May 2023 14:15

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