The Witness - Netflix

31 replies

summermidnightsun · 06/06/2026 18:08

I’ve never heard of this case before. Netflix has a new drama based on the real life Rachel Nickell case, who was murdered on Wimbledon Common in 1992. Her 2 year old son witnessed the murder and it took 12 years to find and convict the murderer.

Horrendously sad.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y0y8w278zo

A young child with curly hair is being held closely by an adult with light-coloured hair; both are positioned outdoors against a bright blue sky, with grassy landscape visible in the background.

Rachel Nickell's murder retold in Netflix drama The Witness

More than 30 years after Rachel Nickell was murdered, her family speak about their ordeal.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y0y8w278zo

OP posts:

Meredusoleil · 07/06/2026 20:50

Binge watched all 3 epsiodes today after watching the documentary before that.

Was impressed with the casting of older Alex, who I thought looked just like little Alex and Andre who looked a lot like the real Andre!

Was a bit shocked in parts, like when Alex threatened Andre with a knife at the dinner party. Although not sure if that just invented for dramatic effect to show how much Alex had gone off the rails?

Also impressed with both actors ability to speak Catalan so well 👏

buffyajp · 08/06/2026 16:44

MyThreeWords · 06/06/2026 18:25

It's not the first drama to have been made about this terrible murder, which I remember from when it occurred. It was so shocking and horrible a killing that I'm not sure I could be at peace with myself if I decided to watch this drama, or the new documentary that is also on Netflix.

All of the facts of the case and the investigation have already been fully covered in various formats. The only reason for returning to them now is to cash in on the true crime obsession.

Having said all that, it wouldn't surprise me very much if I did end up watching it. True crime is a low-effort chewing-gum kind of telly that i resort to it if can't find anything i truly want to watch.

It's goulish and horrible of me, and the programme makers, to exploit something so awful.

The documentary features Alex and Andre as they wanted to tell their story so I really don’t think it’s for anyone else to judge them for that.

PollyDarton1 · 09/06/2026 12:07

I remember the case but from years afterwards when Colin Stagg was let free after the trial. I also read a book (that I can’t remember the name of frustratingly) which was scathing in its criticism of Paul Britton who is introduced loosely into the adaptation. Deceit as another poster mentioned highlighted how rogue that line of investigation was and it was a v good series.

I’ve just watched the series and about to start the documentary.

colouringindoors · 09/06/2026 23:11

Watching it now. I remember it well.

What winds me up most is the behaviour of the press. Hounding them at home snd his mum's. If they were shouting out to Andre and Alex when they went back to Wimblefon Common like the series shows, then they're disgusting.

Empress13 · 10/06/2026 09:34

This was such a sad story that poor poor boy made me cry watching him

Empress13 · 10/06/2026 11:02

GhostOrchid · 07/06/2026 14:04

Also, while Andre and Alex Hanscombe have every right to guard their privacy, both the drama and documentary were frustratingly opaque about what they were doing with their lives - jobs, other relationships etc. - which kind of added to the thinness.

Yes agreed. having just watched the documentary out now on Netflix I would have liked to have known how it affected them both in future relationships though I’m guessing Andre remained single as he said he had never found that love he had for Rachel again. Not sure about Alex? The police made such terrible errors with catching the killer both Rachel and Samantha and Jasmine’s deaths could so easily have been prevented had they done their job properly without being fixated on Colin Stagg. Made me cry watching little Alex crying at the murder scene.

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