Beyond Reasonable Doubt?

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5 live uncovers the incredible story of Kathleen and Michael Peterson

BBC Radio 5 live


    • May 24, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 29m AVG DURATION
    • 44 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Beyond Reasonable Doubt?

    A Birthday Greeting from Peter

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2022 12:30


    Peter explains why the podcast may be taking a break but his hunt goes on. He also has a birthday message for Kevin Parle…

    #21 Mind Games

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2022 31:39


    An assessment of Kevin Parle's state of mind after 17 years on the run. And Peter meets another informant who thinks he met the fugitive just a few weeks ago.

    #20 Dubai

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2022 41:52


    There have been reported sightings of Parle in Dubai. Peter decides to go there to try to meet one ex-criminal who has allegedly been harbouring the fugitive, but the trip doesn't go to plan…

    #19 Dunlough Bay

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2022 33:16


    Peter travels to Ireland to investigate whether the gang Parle could now be working with was involved in a huge attempted drug smuggling operation off the west Cork coast in 2007.

    #18 Father and Son

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2022 43:33


    Danny and Liam Poole went missing in Spain in 2019. Peter has been told that their disappearance is linked to the gang said to be working with Kevin Parle.

    #17 It's Like They Knew We Were Coming

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2022 36:45


    Trying to piece together the activities of a criminal gang in Spain, Peter wonders whether his phone has been tapped- or the criminals have been tipped off. Warning: This episode contains some strong language

    #16 Spanish Steps

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2022 44:09


    Peter is on the road again - heading to a golf resort where he's been told Parle has been living. Warning: This episode contains some strong language.

    #15: “He's Dead Mate”

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2022 35:50


    The many deaths of Kevin Parle; Peter sets out to dismantle the persistent - but inconsistent – rumours that the man he's hunting died on the run….

    #14: Lockdowns and Lock Ups

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2022 30:01


    The pandemic and Parle; Peter may not have been able to travel during the lockdowns but his hunt for the fugitive intensified….

    #13: Catching Up

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2022 27:51


    The hunt so far - a recap on how Peter's investigation progressed before the lockdowns put a stop to travel. New listeners can start here, but if you want more background and detail please head back to episode #1.

    The hunt continues...

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2022 3:01


    As the world opens up and international travel returns as an option, Peter Bleksley heightens his search for Kevin Parle.

    #12: Small World

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2020 29:16


    Peter finds out how lockdown might affect Parle and takes audience questions on the progress of his investigation: From how the fugitive might be supporting himself to whether "supergrasses" are coming forward to help.

    #11: Mission Possible

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2020 31:16


    Peter assesses the psychological impact on a fugitive who may be in lockdown and two ex-girlfriends paint a disturbing picture of Parle as a manipulator.

    #10: Change of Plan

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2020 33:32


    Peter finds out a lot more about Parle - where he might be and who he's connected with, before the coronavirus forces him to continue his hunt from home.

    #09: The Review

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2020 47:52


    Peter gathers some of his advisors together to look at how his investigation is progressing and to decide the next lines of enquiry.

    #08: Ghost Stories

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2020 34:36


    Peter is still following up suspected sightings of Kevin Parle. He visits a cannabis club where he's told the fugitive is a member, but gets a big breakthrough at a bar in Albir.

    #07: Spain

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2020 24:37


    Peter heads to a campsite that Parle is thought to have stayed at in 2006, but also investigates information the fugitive may have been in that part of Spain a lot more recently.

    #06: The Running Men

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2020 34:52


    Peter ends his search in Old Swan, talks to fugitives about how they survived on the run and decides his next step is abroad.

    #05: Liverpool

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2020 35:41


    Peter explores Liverpool's reputation as a city that stands against injustice, while investigating reports that Parle could still be on Merseyside.

    #04: Kevin

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2020 26:56


    A social misfit who ended up living a life of crime? Or a clever charismatic man whose life took a wrong turn? People who knew Kevin share their views.

    #03: Peter

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2020 36:01


    A drug gang wanted to kill him. A murderer on the run pointed a shotgun into his face. Peter Bleksley reveals why his Met experiences prepare him for this manhunt.

    #02: Lucy

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2020 30:39


    An innocent mother is shot dead in her own front room. Peter Bleksley shares what he knows about the killing which shocked a city - and why he wants Lucy's family to get justice.

    #01: Liam

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2020 37:02


    A teenager is gunned down in Liverpool 15 years ago. Peter pieces together what happened that night, shares what we know about Liam and starts to get information from the public.

    #00 The Preview - Manhunt: Finding Kevin Parle

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2020 0:40


    A live investigation: Two murders, one fugitive and a hunter tracking down the target.

    Beyond Reasonable Doubt: Just one more thing...

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2019 1:13


    A short message from Chris about his new podcast: End Of Days

    Beyond Reasonable Doubt: #18 'The Last Few Steps'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2018 47:42


    This all action final episode features the first broadcast interview with Michael Peterson’s own sister and has reflections on the final 3 episodes of The Staircase TV series.

    Beyond Reasonable Doubt: #17 'The Peterson Show'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2018 42:20


    The podcast series returns to review new episodes of the TV hit “The Staircase” and features an interview with the film’s director. (reuploaded with fixed audio levels)

    Beyond Reasonable Doubt: #16 'Where Are They Now?'

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2017 50:16


    The final episode of this series of Beyond Reasonable Doubt tries to tie up some of the loose ends of the case, Chris explains how we've tried to speak to some of the other people involved in the case and find out how the tragic events of 2001 affected them long after. This episode was recorded in front of an audience at the London Podcast Festival and is presented here as performed in front of - and with the help of - a room full of BRD obsessives .....

    Beyond Reasonable Doubt: #15 'According To Michael'

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2017 50:00


    In the penultimate episode of the series, Chris talks to Michael Peterson himself. In a tense and unedited interview, Mr Peterson tells Chris what he thinks is wrong with the series, re-affirms his innocence and answers some of your listener questions. He also explains why - as heard in the last episode - why he bought three blowpokes while his original trial was still going on.

    Beyond Reasonable Doubt: #14 'Judge and Jury'

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2017 46:32


    Chris goes behind the scenes of the original Peterson trial and is given rare interviews with Judge Orlando Hudson, the then D.A Jim Hardin - now also a judge - and juror Kelli Colgan. They talk about the stresses and strains of the long and high profile case and reveal details not heard before including the fact that Michael Peterson bought 3 blowpokes while his trial was still going on. Kelli Colgan tells Chris how every juror- bar none- finished the case in tears. There's also a preview of the next episode - which features an interview with Michael Peterson himself.

    Beyond Reasonable Doubt: #13 'A Sister's Story'

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2017 53:46


    Candace Zamperini sits down with Chris and talks openly and powerfully of how the loss of her sister and the twists and turns of the tragedy since then have affected her and her family....

    Beyond Reasonable Doubt: #12 'Compromise and Confrontation'

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2017 27:03


    Michael Peterson returns to court in the hope of doing a deal. Kathleen's sisters are determined that he should be reminded that their loss hasn't got any easier over the 16 years since she died...

    Beyond Reasonable Doubt: #11 'Alford Schmalford'

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2017 19:50


    After nearly 3000 days in jail, Michael Peterson is out – but should he get a new trial, have his case thrown out – or something else ?...

    Beyond Reasonable Doubt: #10a 'Owl Theory Q&A'

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2017 18:54


    Chris goes back to the man behind “Owl Theory” and gets answers to your Twitter questions about whether a bird could have contributed to the death of Kathleen Peterson…

    Beyond Reasonable Doubt: #10 'The Return of Duane Deaver'

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2017 24:49


    A character from the original trial re-appears and gives Michael Peterson hope of getting out of jail, nearly 3000 days after he was imprisoned and 10 years after the death of his wife Kathleen...

    Beyond Reasonable Doubt: #9 'Owl Theory'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2017 17:27


    Almost 7 years after Kathleen Peterson was found at the bottom of the staircase, friend, neighbour and respected attorney Larry Pollard presents an alternative version of events…involving an owl!

    Beyond Reasonable Doubt: #8 'Judgement Day...'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2017 18:39


    Five months after the Michael Peterson trial began the jury is sent out to consider their verdict ; they looked at 500 pieces of evidence and heard from 70 witnesses. They will decide whether Michael is a murderer, or a grieving husband coping with the accidental and tragic death of his wife Kathleen….

    Beyond Reasonable Doubt: #7 'The Blood And The Blow Poke'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2017 29:49


    Following the revelations about Michael’s sexuality and the death of Liz Ratliff 17 years earlier in similar circumstances, Chris concentrates on the physical evidence presented to the Michael Peterson trial jury – including the blood and the blow poke.

    Beyond Reasonable Doubt: #6 'Sex, Lies and Videotape'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2017 31:17


    The prosecution try to establish a motive, and look at the couples' finances.

    Beyond Reasonable Doubt: #5 'Christmas In Jail'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2017 26:44


    Chris Warburton looks at the principal players in the Michael Peterson murder trial as the prime suspect prepares to face Christmas in jail.

    Beyond Reasonable Doubt: #3 'Mike The Suspect' and #4 'The French Connection'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2017 31:55


    An autopsy report and a lot of blood: how and why the police decided Michael Peterson killed his wife Kathleen, and the first suggestion that a fireplace blow poke could have been the murder weapon. Plus, how the Michael Peterson trial attracted the attention of the world's media - especially an Oscar winning film crew. But did both sides of the story get told? And the odd relationship between the French documentary makers and this podcast.

    Beyond Reasonable Doubt: #1 'At Home with the Petersons' and #2 'The Truth About Mike'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2017 29:10


    Chris Warburton introduces the shocking story of Michael and Kathleen Peterson. What was life at 1810 Cedar Street, Durham, NC, like? What kind of couple were they? Chris talks to friends and neighbours who remember and how all that changed one December night. The 911 call all these years later still chills.

    Beyond Reasonable Doubt: Preview 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2017 3:38


    BBC Radio 5 live's Chris Warburton presents the most captivating real life true-crime story you have never heard of - the famous novelist, a body at the bottom of the staircase, a series of extraordinary events and a court case that grabbed the attention of the world. Series starts Tuesday 20 June 2017.

    Beyond Reasonable Doubt: Preview 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2017 3:44


    The most captivating real life true-crime story you have never heard of - the famous novelist, a body at the bottom of the staircase, a series of extraordinary events and a court case that grabbed the attention of the world. In this unique podcast series BBC Radio 5 live uncovers the incredible story of Kathleen & Michael Peterson. Kathleen was a successful business woman and head of a multi-national communications company; her husband Michael was a famous novelist. The pair lived an idyllic life with their children in a beautiful mansion in the enclave of Durham, North Carolina. But on the evening of December 9th 2001, everything changed. BBC Radio 5 live tells the story of what happened that night through exclusive archive material and interviews with those directly involved. In a case that stretches over more 16 years, the twists and turns will shock you; make you question your own beliefs and leave you pondering the ultimate question…what did actually happen on that fateful evening and who was responsible.

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