Part 1
Following one of the nation鈥檚 biggest cold cases - the murder of Caroline Glachan, a Scottish schoolgirl who never came home.
Gripping documentary series Murder Trial returns with two haunting new cases under the spotlight. As murder suspects go on trial, the victim鈥檚 families seek justice in Scotland鈥檚 High Courts.
The first two-parter, Girl in the River, follows one of the nation鈥檚 biggest cold cases - the murder of Caroline Glachan, a Scottish schoolgirl who never came home. Now, three suspects stand accused of brutally killing the 14-year-old, more than two decades after her body was found, face down in the River Leven, Dunbartonshire. Shocking revelations unfold in court as Caroline鈥檚 family seek justice in one of Scotland鈥檚 most haunting cold cases.
On the 24th August 1996, Caroline Glachan was violently assaulted before being left in the river. Some 27 years later, Robert O鈥橞rien, Andrew Kelly and Donna Marie Brand stand accused of her murder at the High Court in Glasgow.
The original police investigation was hampered by an unwillingness to cooperate with the police and only re-opened in 2019. Throughout that time, Caroline鈥檚 heartbroken mother, Margaret McKeich, kept fighting for the truth about who murdered her only child. 鈥淗ope. Hope is the only thing that I have got and I hope that I get some kind of justice for Caroline,鈥 says Margaret. 鈥溾t鈥檚 going to be a hard trial, it鈥檚 going to be hard to hear and see things but I鈥檓 going to be there because I feel, as Caroline鈥檚 mother, I鈥檝e got to be there. I鈥檝e waited long enough for it. I just thought that this was a day that would never come.鈥
As the jury discover, Robert 鈥楻obbie鈥 O鈥橞rien was 18-years-old in 1996 and in a relationship with Caroline as well as his co-accused, Donna Marie Brand, who was pregnant with his child. The Crown suggest O鈥橞rien and his friends lured Caroline to her death whilst they were babysitting four-year-old local boy 鈥楢rchie鈥 on that fateful night. The defence, meanwhile, argue that the friends never left the house and played no part in Caroline鈥檚 murder. Featuring interviews with Caroline鈥檚 mother and testimony from her friends, Murder Trial: Girl In The River also hears from DCI Stuart Grainger the SIO on the case as well as testimony from the mother of key witness 鈥楢rchie鈥.
As the truth begins to emerge in this gripping murder trial, shocking revelations and chilling details unfold for the very first time, shedding light on a crime that鈥檚 proved impossible to solve.
Murder Trial: Girl In The River is a Firecrest Films production for 大象传媒 Scotland and 大象传媒 Two.
On TV
More episodes
Previous
You are at the first episode
Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Director | Matt Pinder |
Producer | Kirsty MacFarlane |
Executive Producer | Iain Scollay |
Production Company | Firecrest Films Ltd |