Netflix has released a trailer for three-part drama The Witness, a retelling of the 1992 murder of Rachel Nickell which had her two-year-old son Alex as the sole witness. The series follows the aftermath of the brutal killing and its impact on Alex and Rachel’s partner, André Hanscombe.

Netflix announces documentary to accompany series on Rachel Nickell's murder - PA Media

Promoted Content

Created by Rob Williams, The Witness has released a first-look trailer, opening with the fateful moments leading up to Nickell’s death.

Nickell was stabbed repeatedly as she was walking her dog in Wimbledon Common, in southwest London, with her son Alex being left unharmed. Her killer, Robert Napper, was only linked to the murder after the case was reopened in 2002, leading to his conviction in 2008.

Ana Blumenkron//Netflix

Rachel Nickell's son remembers moment of murder: 'I saw the knife'

Looking back on the murder and the subsequent investigation, The Witness sees the father and son duo — played by Jordan Bolger as André and Jahsaiah Williams and Max Fincham as Alex — attempting to navigate “the aftermath of unimaginable tragedy”.

“Putting his own grief to one side, [André] made his son Alex – the only eyewitness to the attack – the centre of his world,” the synopsis for The Witness reads.

“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.”

The Rachel Nickell murder case | Rachel Nickell | The Guardian

Also starring Kerry Godliman as June, The Witness is released on Netflix on 4 June. The streamer is also releasing a true crime documentary accompanying the drama.

Titled The Murder of Rachel Nickell, the doc directed and produced by Lucy Bowen features “exclusive archive footage, first-hand accounts from family members, and insights from leading forensic experts” and explores the events behind the drama series, including the wrongful arrest of Colin Stagg, who was initially believed to be responsible for the murder.

Netflix

In a statement, André and Alex Hanscombe said they feel “blessed” to be able to share their story.

“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 said.

“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 are released on Netflix on 4 June.