A "chilling" true crime series praised as "unmissable" is currently available to stream. Donal MacIntyre's Released To Kill, which examines how one in five murders in the UK are carried out by former prisoners, can now be watched on ITVX.
Series Overview
Fronted by journalist and criminologist Donal MacIntyre, the programme spans 10 episodes and "explores the stories of ex-prisoner murderers and the reasons behind their terrible acts," while posing the question: "Why did they kill and could they have been stopped?"
The series features numerous high-profile UK cases, including that of Matthew Williams. He attacked Cerys Yemm at a hostel in Argoed in 2014, in what the narrator called a "horrific" crime as the series aired, reports the Mirror.
Synopsis and Expert Analysis
A synopsis for the programme says: "From violent offenders originally sentenced for assault to cold-blooded killers who served life sentences, this chilling series reveals how criminals, once released from prison, went on to kill innocent people, some in a matter of days."
"Reviewing the evidence, Donal and our expert panel examine how much of a threat they believe our killer posed to society on the day they embraced freedom and what red flags were missed which allowed their murderous impulses to come to fruition as they ask the ultimate question: could a life have been saved?" it continues.
Notable Cases
The programme originally launched in 2021, with critics at the time describing it as "chilling" and "unmissable" television. One instalment recounts the case of Theodore Johnson, who killed three former partners, while another chronicles Joanna Dennehy, who murdered three men.
Further episodes in the series feature Ian McLoughlin, who stabbed someone while on day release from prison, and an episode chronicles Marvyn Iheanacho, who had been free for just six months before killing a child. Another instalment centres on a man who murdered someone weeks after informing probation officers that he was contemplating reoffending.
Donal MacIntyre's Career
Donal rose to prominence as a journalist but has also ventured into reality television, having previously taken part in programmes such as Dancing on Ice and The Jump. He has subsequently produced numerous documentaries examining real-life crimes, including Donal MacIntyre's Murder Files, Donal MacIntyre: Unsolved, A Life in Crime, and Donal MacIntyre's UK Killer Evidence.
Donal MacIntyre’s Released To Kill is available on ITVX.
