In July 1992, Rachel Nickell was murdered on Wimbledon Common in broad daylight, sexually assaulted and stabbed 49 times in front of her two-year-old son, Alex. The case became one of the UK's most notorious crimes, dominating news coverage for years. Now, a new three-part Netflix drama, The Witness, tells the story from the perspective of Alex and his father, André Hanscombe, who served as consultants on the project.
From Tragedy to Television
Screenwriter Rob Williams, known for Chasing Shadows and The Victim, was 18 when Rachel was killed. Decades later, he discovered Alex's memoir about the murder's aftermath. 'There had been this huge amount of interest in this little boy but actually no one knew what happened next,' Williams says. 'No one knew what happened to the tragic tot as the media called him.'
The media is portrayed critically in the series, having hounded André and Alex relentlessly, even shouting racist remarks to provoke a comment. The family moved to France, then Spain, where they still live in Barcelona.
A Father-Son Story
Williams emphasizes that the series is not a typical true-crime excavation. 'There has to be a good reason for excavating this kind of thing when people who are alive are still touched by it,' he says. 'I really felt there was a purpose to tell this story, not least because this is a father-son story.' The drama shows how Rachel's death fractured Alex and André's relationship, which has since healed stronger than ever.
'They were really keen to talk about what life looks like on the other side of what happened, how you can make a positive out of it,' Williams notes. 'I've never met anyone who talks about trauma the way they do – and indeed they don't particularly like that word either.'
Systemic Failings and Justice
The series also highlights police errors, including the wrongful focus on Colin Stagg, who spent 13 months in custody and later received £706,000 in damages. An IPCC report ordered the Metropolitan Police to apologize for 'a catalogue of bad decisions and errors' that allowed the real killer, Robert Napper, to continue a violent spree.
Williams says Alex and André were reluctant to vilify individuals. 'What it did show was that there are huge systemic failings,' he adds. 'Those were the last days of the police being an institution that people trusted and believed in.'
Understanding the Killer
The drama contextualizes Napper's crimes, showing his violent childhood and sexual assault at age 12. In a moving scene, Alex seeks out Napper's therapist to understand the man who killed his mother. Williams won't confirm if the encounter happened in real life, but says, 'What we wanted to get across was Alex's willingness and desire to understand. It's incredibly brave.'
Williams concludes by recalling Alex and André's smiles. 'How they could go through something that most of us find unimaginable and come out of it with hope and a smile. That's what they want viewers to take away from The Witness: making a positive out of a negative.'
The Witness is streaming now on Netflix.
