In Denial of Murder (TV 2004)

Stephen Downing is in prison, classed as IDOM, In Denial of Murder. Downing maintains his innocence for the murder of a young woman, Wendy Sewell, in the village of Bakewell in 1973. Don ... See full summary »

Director:

David Richards

Writer:

Neil McKay

Stars:

Stephen Tompkinson, Caroline Catz, Jason Watkins

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Stephen Tompkinson	...	Don Hale
Caroline Catz	...	Wendy Sewell
Jason Watkins	...	Stephen Downing
Steve Jackson	...	John Marshall
David Troughton	...	Ray Downing
June Watson	...	Nita Downing
Lisa Millett	...	Christine Downing
Judy Flynn	...	Kath Hale
Wayne Foskett	...	David Sewell
Jennifer Hennessy	...	Jackie Dunn (as Jennifer Hennessey)
Neil Boorman	...	Ron Duggins
Malcolm Raeburn	...	Adrian Duggins
Andrea Mason	...	Lesley Shooter
Ewan Hooper	...	Charles Hale
Jeanne Hepple	...	Doreen Hale

Storyline

Stephen Downing is in prison, classed as IDOM, In Denial of Murder. Downing maintains his innocence for the murder of a young woman, Wendy Sewell, in the village of Bakewell in 1973. Don Hale is the crusading journalist determined to prove Downing's innocence.

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Plot Keywords:

murder | crusading journalist | prison | false accusation | trial

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

BBC [uk]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 February 2004 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Bakewell, Derbyshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hat Trick Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min 120 min (2 parts)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

'Julia Roberts', Bob Hoskins and Liam Neeson were apparently originally slated to play the three main characters in a rather larger-budget version of this story.

User Reviews

Good idea...bad film

Based on the fight for Stephen Downing's release from prison after being wrongly convicted for the 1973 murder of Wendy Sewell, and his subsequent acquittal in 2001, this true dramatisation "In Denial of Murder" was a good idea, but was transformed into a wishy-washy soapy splurge.

Bad casting, bad direction, indifferent acting, a sketchy script and irritating flashbacks made it into a flat and utterly tedious non-event.

It's a thumbs-down to all concerned in this dire production of a story which deserved far better treatment. It could have, and should have, been given a more meaningful airing.