The Boy in the Woods - strongly recommended

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m001byjx

New BBC 10-part podcast. Also going out at 1.45pm this week and next on Radio 4. Winifred Robinson tells the story of the investigation into the murder of six-year-old Rikki Neave in 1994. Very sad, and extremely thought-provoking.

This came up on my BBC suggestions. I’ll give it a go.

It’s very good

I'm laid low with a nasty cold at present so listened to the whole thing this afternoon. Winifred Robinson does an excellent job as presenter.

Conflicted about the mum. She wasn’t a great parent but had had an awful childhood herself.

She was a dreadful parent. However, it's a huge leap to go from the smacking, shouting and neglect described to the assumption the police made, that she'd killed him by accident and then tried to cover it up. They had no evidence, they actively covered up evidence that didn't support their case, and she was very, very lucky not to be convicted. As it was, she got 7 years for child cruelty, which compared to many other cases I've heard about seems very harsh.

I loveWinifred Robinson as a broadcaster. She sounds like someone you'd like as a big sister.

I'm listening to this too and I agree it's very well done. Winifred Robinson is very good and Sue Mitchell the producer has done a lot of interesting series in her own right on things like The Untold. It's a really good insight into the complex world of "problem families". I volunteer for Homestart and although we don't usually deal with families in such extreme situations (as that would be given to social services), we do see parents struggling because of a lack of experience of good family life themselves, so they have no template to refer to. They nearly always want to do the right thing for their children (especially the mothers) but are unsure about how to do it.

It's very good - I've been in the car at just the right time all this week to listen. Winifred Robinson is a good broadcaster and should have a much higher profile imo.

The subject matter is tough, for sure. Yesterday's was a difficult listen, his mother talking about Rikki being beaten by his stepfather.

I've been listening to this - she was interviewed 20 times for 45 mins or so over three days. There were three teams of two officers taking turns to interview her.
Gruelling.

It's incredibly well produced and with it that awful sensationalist that puts me off most crime stuff.

I'd not heard/remembered this case until tripping into it before the lunchtime Archers. It is difficult listening at times.

I listened to Serial: series 1 at least 5 years ago.

I've never been asked to be a juror, I'd like to think I'd be more questioning about "compelling evidence" now.

Gently, but firmly, done R4. Well done to the production team.

It is a terrific listen. Next week there'll be the follow-up programme:

The Boy in the Woods: The Discussion
In this one-off special documentary linked to her recent series 'The Boy in the Woods', Winifred Robinson brings together Lord Laming who led the inquiry into Rikki Neave’s death (and later Victoria Climbie’s) with others who are playing key roles in protecting the most vulnerable children in society.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001cdrw

Thanks, @nauticant, I'll look out for that.

Just a reminder that the follow-up programme will be starting at 8pm this evening.

I recommend the entire series, and the follow-up. I'm glad I heard it.

i have just listened to the discussion and about to start part 1
seems very interesting, obviously sad

The repeat of the discussion programme has just started on Radio 4.

The whole series is really worth listening to MrsLargeEmbodied. Very thought provoking and a revealing look at how Police investigations can go wrong through bias and looking for easy answers.

and it was not that long ago
and very soon after jamie bulger.

bit of unconscious bias training needed

It's now being discussed on Feedback on Radio 4.

(But without Roger Bolton which I'm still sad about.)

I've found this series fascinating too (I'm on episode seven). I often find myself wondering about Rikki's older sister Rebecca, who was put into care at the age of eight because her mum was struggling with three young children and another on the way (this was before Rikki was killed). You can see why she was struggling, but I do feel for poor Rebecca and wonder how she felt about this.

Interesting split between listeners who could see the point of the programme and those who were critical, claiming it to be sensationalist and voyeuristic. There's also the criticism that "true crime" should have no place on Radio 4 which I think is a very reductive characterisation of this programme.

As presented in Feedback, women praised the programme while men criticised it.

did anyone see the tv programme regarding catching the right man?

@MrsLargeEmbodied do you remember which channel?
Love your user name BTW. I am very fond of the Large Family.

Was that 24 Hours in Police Custody on Channel 4?