Living History Episode – Todmorden – Bikes and Shops

Join Jamie and Mackie as they take a look at
Todmorden and tell you the story of Todmorden

Travelling through England and europe’s landscapes, towns and villages, Jamie and Mackie offers a personal take on the history of them towns and city’s and villages

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And hello everybody. Hope everybody’s all right. Hope everybody’s looking after themselves. We’re in Todd Midden today in Calderale. Let’s uh go and have a look and tell you a little bit about Todd Midden. Nestled between the valleys on the Yorkshire Lancasher border, Tommed is home to Stuty Park, stunning penine res and a thriving market and amazing architecture. At the village of Wals, George Stevenson might summit tunnel bust through the penines and into Lanasher. So this is Tottenham Market. Two times. Outdoor Okay. How old it is? In front of you is Tom Miden Town Hall. It is a mar building in on Halifax Road, Tobed in West York, England. The town hall which is the meeting place of Tobin and town council is a grade one listed building built in 1875. Toban town hall is the meeting place for the as I said for the Tob town council. While the town hall is owned and managed by Cerville council, to town council actually supports the town by acting established and vital roles. As you can see, a lot of shops in Todd Midden. private independent uh shops. You hardly see any big chains shops. They’re mostly independent. You might get the one or two chain shops, but most of them have independent. You got Top Miden Library, which has been a public library since 1896, believe it or not. You can just still make out the old uh text on the library. Just going over the canal. So this is your the canal. Oh, you may uh notice some of the areas today while we’re on this little sh of Todd Miden because a lot of these areas have been used for filming of quite a few uh shows that have been on television. I’ll just uh give you a rough idea of some of the shows. Last time going Halifax, Happy Valley Diaries Diaries and many uh more. Awesome. the market was you’ve just seen we just walked around um in uh I think it was 2023 um Colorado council potted a load of money into uh refurbishing uh and making it more hygienic and cleaner but as you can See, it’s not really that good of a market because they’re charging to way too much for stalls. So, uh, nobody goes or uses it. You have to have to remember that this Burough is run by called Dale Council. So you have to remember the areas um of uh Collidale Council that um manage of course. So you got to remember towns like Todd Miden don’t really get that much investment poured into them regularly as uh Halifax does like many uh councils do. They tend to concentrate more on the main area that they’re based and of course that being uh Halifax. Also bear in mind as well that is main council in Colale has been for quite a lot of years is a labor ran council with the knowledge of control of uh Labor counselors with the odd scattering of uh other parties being uh they like only two three counselors of them uh other parties in there. So you wonder why your council tax keeps going up and uh why Tommy doesn’t get money spent on it because like I said you labor in they seem to concentrate more on the wards that they live in. In front of you is Tombertton Uranian Church. So Ukrainian church located in West Yorkshire, England has a visit tied to the Field family and the growing of Ukrainian in the area. It was built in 1869 by the Fielding brothers in memory of their father John Fielding, a local mill owner and specialist reformer. There is um a project in uh top miden known uh as safer green where they uh grow vegetables and all sorts along those lines and uh you can legally just take it um and use it as well. But it’s not advised to do it because of the area that actually Tom situates is sadly um a drug pit like many of these little towns that are struggling. Yeah. This is the family basically who who built this church. Sadly, like many uh little towns, Todd Midden’s uh got a majority that are workingass people and people that are struggling trying to find ends meet of course probably on universal credit and find struggling for work. So the only way that they can actually manage and uh look after themselves sadly is growing uh large amounts of cannabis and uh drugs dealing it um and making a profit that way. Uh but that’s uh a majority of these towns at the moment. a large drug and crime population because they can’t get work. And the sadly the po reason why they can’t get work is because your illegal migrants that come in on your boats are getting the jobs first because they won’t uh because they work for stupid amounts of money on uh that uh the British English people um aren’t willing to work for. Plus the uh home office and the government helped these businesses for uh taking in uh illegal immigrants as well. But there again, you can’t say that they’re legal immigrants because soon as they uh get asylum in this country, they class them as refugees because uh they blame stuff like we’re escaping war. And so you can’t turn around and uh refuse them due to the uh European Union law of uh taking in illegals, the constitution of human rights, which obviously is a European law, but if they’re willing to work for 30p an hour, a business owner that’s struggling is going to I sadly and I know a lot of people are going to say it’s racist saying this but it’s actually the truth and it’s about time actually told and uh people want laying back and uh thinking it’s all a bed of roses. That’s why you get the government blaming people that are on benefits like personal independence payment and everything along those lines. And the reason why is because you’ve got too many illegal immigrants claiming it that I never put a penny into the uh country. What they told to do it? They’re told to claim it. Put note in and take out. But they turn around and what you don’t you don’t realize is you turn around and you say, “Oh, it’s labor. It’s labor. It’s labor. It’s labor. We need to get labor out and all this lot.” But you still get some dopey [ __ ] that votes them. So you uh not ever going to get them out cuz you’ll always get someone that votes them thinking they’re doing a good job. But that’s the freedom you get in this country though for uh voting. here and though the voting system in uh the UK can be fixed because you just basically writing on a bit of paper and shoing it into a black box. Anybody well and you got to remember is anybody can write or squiggle on a piece of paper as many votes as they like when no one’s actually in there. So it can be easily fixed. But that’s the voting system. I can’t go against that. Supposed to be a fair vote, but give you my opinion on it. Top miden is also uh famous sadly um for a lot of things. Um one being a suicidal maniac that liked going around and uh killing people. Um, he actually ended up getting a prison sentence should me for it. Should Yep. I actually ended up getting a prison sentence for it. Getting housed at Monster Mansion, of course. What’s Monster Mansion, Jamie? Well, it’s HMP Wakefield High Security Prison in uh West Yorkshire. Um, you can actually have a look and uh watch our uh documentary if you like on HMP Wakefield on you watch our Wakefield documentary as well if you do so wish. But I will tell you a bit more later on about uh Dr. Shipman and uh his antics. show you where his uh surgery actually was located as well. It’s now been pulled down cuz it used to be in a mill. Um pulled down and uh made into a big supermarket. Uh but I’ll show you where it was uh today and then I’ll uh play you a uh video of uh Dr. shipman and tell you the story in more in depth about him. But it’s quite a gruesome story of how he killed people and uh took the money in a sense. On January 31st, 2000, Dr. Harold Shipman was found guilty of murdering 15 of his patients. However, an inquiry launched shortly after and that inquiry came out that he has actually killed more than 250 of his patients, making him one of the most pacific serial killers in history. Shipman killed his patients, which was mostly elderly women, by giving them high doses of morphine injections. On the 13th of January 2004, he was found dead after hanging himself to the bars of his prison cell. If you do that again, you’ll be locked up. All right, those barriers are there. Come on. Holy Christ. You need that. That was a little You got to remember as well that uh Todd Midden is part of uh the area of uh West Yorkshire goes into uh Manchester as you found the border borders. goes uh onto uh Rodale is uh part of the canal system uh of course by the Rodale Canal and then obviously you got the canal system in uh in Manchester which goes onto the Manchester Ship Canal and of course from the Manchester Ship Canal you go on to River Murzy and then onto the sea. Um and uh it all congregates and uh opens uh the area for flooding and uh this is one of the areas that is prone uh to it. They do have a food management system as well. Uh Corville Council put in uh but imagine 2 3:00 in the morning. Uh you’re fast asleep in uh in bed and uh you get an airring siren going off. So uh imagine if you’re a veteran as well. It’s not very very uh wise is it to have a air siren going off. But um I’ll show you more around uh that um on our uh Heaven uh Heaven Bridge um video which you can uh check out later on if you like and tell you a bit more about the flooding system that the council’s put in place. You got to remember as well that uh this area was uh was known for uh mills. So you had a lot of uh pollution in uh the olden days. Um a lot of people uh sick poorly uh as well. Um very little money. So you had uh a lot of people dying at uh a very uh young age, believe it or not. I think the uh maximum age for somebody back in uh them days were about 20 year old uh before the uh father died. You also have to remember there were no uh national health service either in them days. Uh that came in um a lot later on. Uh so you had more people uh dying and fall falling ill. So all these people that are saying, “Oh, get rid of the National Health Service.” You have to look the old the old days where uh the population was younger and uh dying younger. So uh you got to see why now uh the government wants to get rid of it. because they don’t want uh you living till uh an old age because you’re paying in for your pensions and uh the government don’t want you to get pension. That’s why the uh uh pension age keeps going up a year upon year. So it all uh it all loops in. You just have to dig a little bit deeper to realize uh what they’re doing and why they’re doing it. But you’ll still bought them thinking they’re doing a good job and all they’re doing is thinking of the self. Every single one of But you also have to remember back in them days as well it was uh it was rich in industry uh because of the canal system. Um, like I said previously, you got the Rodale Canal that’s go obviously goes into Manchester and then uh Manchester obviously branches off um onto the ship canal and then obviously the ship canal goes onto the river M and the river goes onto the sea. about 11. Okay, behave yourself. Be a fine thing. We’ll start off at 50 there. 50 ft. Well done. 50. Lovely. Now go here. A pound. Gent pound there. Gentleman there. A pound. How about a little gentleman there? 1 pound 20. Lovely. Now 1 pound50. Thank you, sir. 1 pound50. Now then, is there any advance on 1 pound50? Oh, come on. You can do better than that. Especially for our Dr. Fred. All I’m asking is two pound. Who will give me two pound? Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you. Thank you. Uh, are you be happy to know that the grand total of this quarter’s contributions to Dr. Shipman’s patient fund is £761 38. Thank you, Len. Thank you. Once again, Primrose and I express our grateful appreciation. Running a medical practice single-handed in this day and age sometimes seems like an uphill struggle. But the continuing loyalty of you, my patients, makes it all worthwhile. This money will go towards the purchase of an electroc cardioraph machine for the uninitiated. That’s to help me detect any problems with your lot’s dodgy tickers. Surgery’s not open till more. You’ll not begrudges a seat till then, will you? Oh, it’s you. I do have an appointment, you know. It’s me arm again. Doctor, I ought to get a plaque for that seat. Ivy will cling. Go on then. Best come in now before the rush is on. You ought to know what to do by now. All right, Ivy, let’s give you the once over. I think I might try you on a new medication. Just make a fist, will you? Thank you, doctor. The ECG machine’s playing up. I’ll see the others now. Come in, Julie. I uh I want the morning after filled up to South 4 in the afternoon. You won’t tell me, ma’am. Will you? The best prescription for you, Julie, is the word no. Cheers, doctor. See you. This will do you the world of good. It’s what you need, so you shall have it. It’ll cost my practice a small fortune. So, don’t go telling the other ladies it was me who prescribed it, will you? Thank you, doctor. Um, could you step inside for a moment? Shall I call for an ambulance? It’s a little late for that, don’t you think? I’ve tried resuscitation. She’s died on me. Yes. Oh, I am sorry to hear that. No, you just leave all that to us. Had your mom been ill very long? I can’t understand it. She were full of beans on her last night. I am sorry. Perhaps it’s for the best. She would have wanted to drag on in hospital, our mom. I’m going to ask my dad about this. Oh, sorry. You’re still at it? Just checking out him. Can’t be too careful. It’s one of Dr. Reynolds’s. There’s nothing wrong, is there? Who knows? Stab wounds, bullet holes. One day I might find something suspicious. Then we’ll be on the news, won’t we? Are you right to counter sign the authority decree late now, doctor? I certify that I know of no reasonable cause to suspect that the deceased died either a violent or unnatural death or sudden death of which the cause is unknown. And there’s your £43 then doctor. My ashkash. But he’s your doctor, Debbie. You’ve not had any problems with him, have you? What exactly are you saying, Debbie? I just want to know from your experience, Dad. Does that seem right for heart trouble? Well, thinking about it, since I came into the firm, I can only remember one of Fred Shipman’s patients who died in bed in her 90y. You didn’t say anything to the family, did you? What do you think I said? The summit on toward you. You ought to think about a postmortem. Not dafted, am I? Anyway, what do I know? We only bury them. All right, love. I’ll go and see a shipment. Get away from me. Oh, thank God. Doctor Jim’s upstairs. He’s delirious. I think he has pneumonia. I’ll be the judge of that. Has he been taking his medication? He’s been trying to cut down. Oh, has he? Is that your dear? No, he doesn’t need any more of that stuff. Dying, woman. He needs pain relief. It’s killing him. He needs antibiotics. He needs to go to hospital. Let me do my job. Help. Are you going to call an ambulance or am I your head be it, Mrs. King? It is pneumonia. Has he been taking any medication, Mrs. King? Diamorphine. My husband has terminal cancer. Jim was given 18 months to live about a year ago. Have you noticed any side effects? Shakes, depression, insomnia, vomiting. Do you happen to know what dosage he’s on? Sure. He’s on 560 mil. What? A week? A day? Oh my god. It’s usually about 10. Come in Alan. What do you want? Do you want my books? I don’t quite know how to broach this. It’s just that Well, I’ve been in this business nearly 40 years, doctor. Well, not to beat about the bush. I’ve been having concerns about the number of cremations we’ve been arranging for patients of the surgery. I appreciate your concern, Alan. It’s entirely professional. Here, this is my death certificate registry. Anyone can look at the book. Take as long as you like. I have nothing to hide. He’s what everybody says he is. A caring doctor who doesn’t believe in sending his patients off to hospital to die. I was shaking like a leaf in there. The things I do for you. Oh, it’s not for us to go around asking such things of a doctor. I don’t think he’s going to sue us. The business is still safe. All right, Dad. I’m sorry. Best be getting back. Jim, doctor’s popping in to give us a flu jab before he shoots some shot for Christmas. There’s an epidemic, apparently. Deborah reckons we should find another practice dad. You know how she thinks about shipment. Well, I did have some doubts myself, but I raised the matter with him. You did what? I had word with the doctor about your treatment. I was worried about you. You shouldn’t have done that. It’s all right, man. I’m convinced he thought he was doing his best for you. Oh, thank you. Happy Christmas. Hello. Thank you so much. Happy Christmas. And the compliments of the season to you and your family and to you and yours, Dr. Shipman. Oh, while I’m here, Debbie, could you let me have a couple of three spare cremation forms? I’m right out. You’re not going to call us out over Christmas, are you? Death never respects bank holidays, I’m afraid. mighty tidings of great joy I bring to you and All right. Oh, sorry, Dr. Reynolds. Didn’t realize you were still on duty. It’s all right. Um, I’m I’m off home now. Merry Christmas. Same to you. My dad’s dead. What’s this? Glue vine. Glue vine. Oh, let’s get stuck in. Stuck in. There’s no excuse for bad jokes, even on Christmas Eve. Yes. Well, Of course, Mr. King. Oh. Oh, I am sorry. We’ll be right over. Of course. No rest for the wicked. Christmas is always my busiest time. Old people die in the winter, I’m afraid. Fact of life. Even apparently healthy old folk like your poor old dad. Jim, what do you want me to put on the death certificate? Won’t there be an autopsy? Not in the United States now, Deborah. Fortunately, I saw him earlier today. He had very high blood pressure actually. By the way, you’re looking much better, Jim. I’ll be in touch when your results come back. Hello, Debbie. Happy New Year. It’s another one of Dr. Fred’s. Yes, he does like to keep us busy. You doctors from the brute surgery should move in here. These statistics suggest that his cremation rate must be higher than that of our entire practice. The five of us have over 10,000 patients and we had 14 cremations and burials last year where a shipman, a single practitioner with about 3,000 patients, has had 41 that we know of. And that’s just the ones that doctors from this practice have been asked to sign the part two forms for. Recently, it’s getting to be one every 10 days. Shipment issues the death certificates. There’s no prior potentially fatal illnesses and no postmortems. Even Debbie from Masses has noticed something’s up. Is she saying malpractice? Well, no, but she’s examining the bodies and found no obvious signs of neglect. She’s only an undertaker when all said and done. You must admit that these figures would be suspicious in a group practice like ours, yet alone a singlehander. How many times have any of you been present at a death in the home? In my 19 years of practice, I can only remember two, no, three. Perhaps that’s because none of us are in the habit of making unannounced house calls these days. These figures are suggesting that Shipman may well be doing his patients deliberate harm. Then perhaps you should contact the Medical Defense Union. I already have. You have? What do they say? They say I should be very cautious as to what I allege about a fellow GP, but I’m going to call the coroner anyway. I had a letter from that specialist you saw. You’ve won the lottery. Oh my god. Am I in remission? It would seem you never had cancer in the first place. The hospital diagnosis was incorrect. What? I’m afraid these things sometimes happen. I believe I’m in the clear. Had a good holiday, Stan. First rate. A thanks, Lord. Don’t drink it all at once. Now, stick another couple of rashes on here. There you go. Lovely. Hey, up Smitty. All the bad lads on strike in your division. Jam bastard. Editton. You picked the right time to go away well from the station. You wouldn’t be gushing me a couple of weeks off, would you? The coroner tells me I can’t talk to any of the relatives. Mustn’t let the good doctor know we’re looking into him. And of course, I have to protect the anonymity of the complainant. Another doctor. I mustn’t let her professional relationship be affected. Has anybody else found a medical complaint? Some undertakers worried. Alan Massie, it’s all rumor. It’s like platting bloody sawdust. Either he’s done something or he hasn’t, but we’ll never find out like this. Here, Shitman’s not your quack, is he? He’s not as it happens, but I’ve never heard a bad word spoken against the man in hide. My inquir is I’ve been unable to substantiate any of your suspicions, whatever they might or might not be. And you’re sure of that, are you, Inspector? We thoroughly checked the causes of death on the certificates for all patients cremated in the last year against medical records. There appears to be no discrepancies, and there’s nothing more you can do. He’s a conscientious doctor. Can you honestly suggest any apparent motive for him to be negligent of his patients? He doesn’t know of your investigation, does he? I can assure you of that, Dr. Reynolds. I hope your chaps find out he’s just a well-loved GP whose elderly patients have a habit of pegging out on him. We’re not trying to cast our spersions on the good name of a a highly educated man. Honest. But Deb is really worried. Christ, I’m probably just getting paranoid in my old age. You did the right thing, Alan. Entirely appropriate for a man in your position expressing grave concerns. That’s all done. Sound a little. Can you hear me, mother? Thank you, Dr. Shipman. Oh, uh, by the way, Mrs. Grundy, I’m involved in a study with Manchester University into the aging process. I wonder if you’d consent to take part, seeen as you seem to show no signs of aging at all. What does it involve? Oh, just a few routine tests, blood samples. Nothing very elaborate. Of course. Good. Oh, well, I’ll need to get you to sign a consent form. Uh, Paul, Mrs. Hutchinson, would you two mind popping in here and witnessing a signature for me? You sure about this, Kathleen? Positive. It’s okay. Yes. Pop your name and addresses there. Then just print it there and sign it at the bottom, would you? Good. It’s for the university. I’m surprised your doctor’s not signed you up, May. You’re even longer in the tooth than I am. I suppose he must be fascinated why there’s so many of us old and still around. He wants to take a blood sample tomorrow. That’s your day for the lunch club. Oh, he’s coming around tonight first thing before surgery. He said it’s no trouble. He’s very thoughtful that way. Just roll your sleeve up. Won’t take a second. Mrs. Grundy with you? No, she’s not here yet. We should should bring revenge. Not like her to be late. This is Grande. Kathine. It’s open around the back. Call the doctor. I’ll take care of the death certificate. Uh, well, what are we supposed to do now, doctor? Oh, you might try ringing us in the cities. Hamilton’s, you don’t have a Kathleen Grand as a client, do you, Mr. Burgess? Not that I’m aware of. We’ve just had a call. I can’t find her name on the records. Hang on. Dear sir, I enclose a copy of my will. I think it is clear in intent. I wish Dr. Shipman to benefit by having my estate, but if he dies or cannot accept it, then the estate goes to my daughter. I would like you to be the executive of the will. I intend to make an appointment to discuss this and my will in the near future. Did you make the appointment? Caller said she’d just died. I told them she wasn’t with us. Is the daughter one of ours? Mrs. Woodruff, my sympathies. Your mother’s death was as much a shock to me as it obviously must be for you. Thank you, doctor. She thought the world of you. Would you please step inside? I went to see her early on the day. Did you know? When I popped in at 8:00 in the morning, she was still in her night clothes. Was she really? That’s not like mother. You’re happy with the cause? What does this mean exactly? Old age. Sometimes people of an advanced age, like your poor mother, Mrs. Woodruff, complain of feeling unwell, then they just die. No specific reason. I called the coroner’s office to confirm that I could put old age on the certificate. I made the assumption that you wouldn’t want the upset of a postmortem, would you? All right, early love. Kathleen Grundy’s passed away. Oh no. How were we going to take her to the station the weekend? She were looking forward to seeing her daughter. Kathleen was on Shipman’s books and all. I’ve told you, John. Leave that alone. I know something’s going on. You know nothing, John. And you’ll say nothing or they’ll have you up in court for slander. Either that author think you mentally got some sort of grudge against him. But it’s all here. Angela Woodruff. Brian Burgess is here from Hamilton Ward Solicitors in Hyde. I’m ringing about your mother. She was buried a fortnight ago. Yes. I’m sorry. I I have a will here with me. No, her will’s here. I drew it up myself. She had no need of legal representation. I’m her solicitor. Her office received Mrs. Grundy’s will on the 24th of June. That’s the day my mother died. Uh, I I can’t believe she did this. Did you witness it? I never saw your mother, Mrs. Woodruff. The will came through the post. I I think I’d better come back up to hide, Mr. Burgess. Excuse me. Are you Paul Spencer? I got your address from Hamilton’s. No, he’s not here anymore. Then why have you got Paul tattooed on your neck? Paul, please. You’re not in any trouble. I just need you to help me, please. It looks like mine, but it isn’t. Would you mind giving me a specimen of your signature? I can’t believe this. I thought it was just some medical form routine. Like I never knew it was a will. Why would that have made a difference? I don’t suppose it would. I mean, if some chap comes up to you in a pub and asks you to sign a legal document, then you tell him where to stick it, but when it’s a doctor you’ve had since you was a kid, you don’t think twice, do you? I can’t believe she could have done this. There was another woman who’s witnessed it. Yes. Yes. She says it’s not her signature either. How’s your day out the office, O’Brien? You free to drive me down to Lamington Spa. What you got, Inspector? A murder. Now, don’t get all laded up. Obe, there’s only a report about a possible duff will. All my estate, money, and house to my doctor. My family are not in need, and I want to reward him for all the care he’s given to me and the people of Hyde. He is sensible enough to handle any problems that this may give him. My doctor is Dr. HF Shipman 21 Market Street High do better with a bloody jumbo printing outfit. Did you know my mother inspector? Only by sight. I have voted for her mind. I was in her award when she was a counselor. Mrs. Mrs. Grundy was very well respected in hide. Mrs. Woodruff, this is my mother’s will, Inspector. I drew it up for her myself. She would never have produced anything so shoddy. She’d been a professional secretary. That is her signature. And these are the two witnesses. You’ve been to see them, have you? I’m not trying to do your job for you, Inspector Editton, but this is a crude forgery. She never mentioned anything about making a new will in her diary. all my estate money and my house to my doctor. Whoever made that will had no idea that the Kathleen Grundy owned other property. So what you thinking, Stan? We do know that Shipman was round at her place at 8 that morning to take a blood sample. She confirms that in a diary. Doctors don’t turn up at your home for a routine procedure in this day and age, do they? You saying this doctor’s at it? I don’t want anyone in the office to know about this yet. Obi, I’m going straight to the top with this one. We’re dealing with a pillar of society here, so you just keep your dog shut. We’re opening Pandora’s box. You know you’re asking, don’t you? Have you ever done one? Well, neither have I. I don’t know anyone in the division who has. I’ve checked the procedure. All we’ve got to do is go and see the coroner. He’ll loc it if we’re investigating a serious criminal matter. Who does the actual u you know? Don’t worry, boss. I found a specialist firm. Have you really? They were in the yellow pages listed under excumations. You’re absolutely sure there’s no other way forward. Very well. I want this handled as tastefully and tactfully as possible. And I don’t want Shipman finding out what you’re up to till it’s over and done with. We’ll do the searches of his surgery in the house on the same day. I need three teams. Boss, whatever you want. When do you propose? 2:00 Saturday morning. Saturday is the last day the press will get hold of it. Sunday would be even better, but have no idea how long it’ll take. And you can’t go digging up a cemetery on a Sunday morning, can you? I hope we’re not just flying a kite here, Stan. What the hell am I doing? disturbing the remains of an ex lady Marx suspected a wellrespected doctor of doing her in for a money if I’m wrong it’ll be my bloody funeral you know what you have to do boss I’ve only got 5 months to go last big case my whole career will be up in smoke hey letting you out to dry this is about as much use as a chocolate bloody fire guard like them grave rabbits. It was it Birken head. Yes. Have they really? Well, tell them to mind their own blood. No. Thank them for their concern and inform them that the police are aware. Would you credit it? night staff. The old talk to called in to report black magic rights going on in the cemetery. Hope to god we’ve got the right grave. This is all wrongster. We put these good people into the ground. It’s not our business to take them out. I never thought I’d be doing one of these. God willing, I’ll never have to do another. Dr. Harold Frederick Shipman and DS Hamster. We have a warrant to search your premises on suspicion of murder and obtaining monies by deception. I suppose you know what you’re doing. Why all the secrecy, Dan? It’s an explanation. Oh, really? Buried how long? About a month. Cause of death? That’s what I need you to tell me badly. Oh, well, who needs a lie in a sack of eh? Would you mind showing us where you see your patients? Very well, come inside. I suppose you have no objection if I ring a solicitor. That is your right, sir. This is Primro Shipman. I’m Sergeant Jones. We have a warrant to search these premises on suspicion of murder and obtaining monies by deception. I notice there’s a typewriter mentioned in your warrant. I presume this is what you’re looking for. Mrs. Grundy used to borrow it. What’s he doing? Growing his own penicellin. I’m sorry, Stan. I honestly can’t tell you how she died. So, that’s it. Is it the big zilch? One thing’s for certain. It was definitely not old age. She was a remarkable woman for 81. Her heart in fine condition, all her organs totally intact. So the death certificate still iffy. She should not have been buried without a postmortm. There’s nothing more conclusive I can tell you. I’m afraid it’s all down to toxicology now. Whose are these? Mine to wipe your feet when you leave that house. You’ll never believe it, sir. He said he lent this to Mrs. Grandundy. What the hell? You know what he’s telling us? That the will was tight on this. Get it to forensic. Since word got out about the exeumation, we’ve been swamped with calls from relatives of Dr. Shipman’s patients who have uh harbored misgivings in some cases for years. Now, however experienced some of you may be on murder inquiries, this will be unlike any major incident you have ever worked on, this is not the usual case where a body is found and we have to match it to a suspect. We have a suspect. What we don’t know yet is whether we have any bodies, and we certainly don’t know how many. So, we have to keep an open mind. He may very well be an innocent man. And some of these people who called us are very angry. Some of them are depressed. All of them want us to find out what occurred in relation to their loved ones deaths. And this we will endeavor to do at all costs. So what we’re going to do is take all Shipman’s deaths over the last year going back to September 97. Who found the body? When did the doctor last visit? Did the families express any concern at the time? Was there a repulse martyr? Was the body buried or cremated? Is there anything left in the will for Shipman or the surgeon? Bloody disgraceful what you lot are doing. Hounding Fred Shipman. He’s one in a million. I come in here for a quiet game of dummies. I leave me duties at the door. Can we agree not to talk about it? Best bloody doctor I’ve ever had. Nothing less than a witch hunt. I can’t get him in its peace in me old bloody club. And you should know better then. An ex policeman. I’m a friend of Fred. Inspector Edjetton. Just standing here. John Shaw. Oh, I the taxi man. I used to be a copper. Not a bloody another one. Oh, well a long time since. I’m a friend of Kathleen Grundy. Was a friend of Katherine Grundy. There’s something you want to tell me, John. Now then, she wasn’t the only one. I made a list. All my regulars, all ladies who died suddenly, all in good health, and all shipments patients. How many names are on it? Couple of dozen. You are. It goes back to 92. Oh, dear hell. I shall want a full statement from you tomorrow. I feel terrible, Stan. If I come to see you before, Kathleen might still be with us. Tell you what, John, if you would have come to me with this last month, I’d have thought you were a bloody crackpot. Dr. Shiman, I’m Jess Walker and I have a warrant to search. Yes. Yes. Yes. Computers now. Is it? This is Detective Sergeant John Ashley from the GMP computer examination unit. I’m a master and five slaves, Sergeant. Right. Then can we start with the master, doctor? Very well. This way. I hope you’re not going to mess up my system. Took me a lot of time and effort to install this. I was one of the first practices in the Northwest to computerize. You know, he knows what he’s doing, Dr. Shim. What exactly are you doing? Imaging your system onto an external scuzzy drive. Part of our investigations. I hope you’re not expecting me to hang around. My tea will be on the table. Will you let us get on with our jobs, please? All right, Ellis. Go and find a pizza place. Large pepperoni with extra antivies. We might be here for some time. The level of morphine in the liver was 4.8 mg per gram of tissue. And that’s enough to kill her. That’s enough to kill an elephant. far higher than you’d expect to find in a regular heroin user, even one who’d taken an overdose. I’m assuming this subject is not an addict. Fortunately, there are further tests we can do on the hair to determine opiate naivity to find out if we’re dealing with a regular user or whether this dose was a fatal oneoff. Excellent. What about overcounter medicines like the d diarrhea stuff? Kaine and morphine very unlikely at these levels. Yeah. Is it in any way possible that the chemicals used in imbalming or any other postmortem activity for that matter might have affected your result? Not according to the literature, but I must admit that I’ve not had much experience with excumations. Neither have I. I’ve got terrible feelings. You would be prepared to state on oath that an overdose was definitely the cause of death. Well, there’s no doubt about it. Whoever did this was evidently not banking on an excumation. I take it this is a murder inquiry. Superintendent Definitely an overdose of goods. I’m going to bring in the CPS. I think it’s time to talk to Shipman himself. Thought you’d want to see this boss. Our man’s previous. His what? 22 years ago, sir. On his first posting in Tottenham. Caught dipping his hand in his medical bag. controlled substances for his own use. Apparently, Shimmer was a drug addict. Magistrate’s Court February 1976 pleaded guilty to three charges of obtaining Pthodine by deception, three more of unlawful possession, and two more charges of forging forging prescriptions. He asked for 67 more offenses to be taken into account. That’s a lot of stuff for one junkie. He must have been injecting himself, would you believe, 14 times a day? I should have known about this. Why didn’t we turn this up before? With respect, sir, we’re not in charge of the medical fraternity. I’ve always assumed if a doctor straight from the straighten, it was down to the general medical council to strike the booger off. Not to let him set himself up again in another practice on his own. Stan Dennis just popped tend to gather me thoughts. I know very well why you’re here. I’m not exactly the town’s pet plot at the minute, are there’s anything you want to get off your chest that you can’t discuss at work that you’d want to take home? If you want to talk to me about the exumation exumations? What? Looks like I’ll be digging up behind till I dare retire. I think I might be in need of some counseling. No, I must be off home now. Spirituous, not spiritual. It’s only circumstantial that points to forgery as yet. But now, supposedly there’s all these others crawling up out the woodwork. Sorry, Vic. Unfortunate phrase. You really believe you may have killed more than poor, Mrs. Grandy. You have to suspect your own suspicions. It comes with the turf. But the local GP is supposed to save lives. We can’t trust a doctor to act in our own best interest. Then we’ve lost, haven’t we? We might as well just shut up shop. They could be dozens. Going back years. No. How could you have kept them hidden for so long? I’ll tell you what, Dennis. If you got designs on me going to mass murderer, you couldn’t get a better cover than General Practitioner. Have I got to dig them all up? Have I got to cause grief to all them families all over again? It’s not just for the relatives, Stan. You have to do this for all of us. If he has betrayed the trust that we place at a family doctor, if it’s as bad as losing faith in the police. Oh, why? And I’ve known a fair few duffers in me time and all. Dr. Shipman, any comments on the exeation of Kathleen Grundy? How did she die? There are six people waiting to see me. Dr. Shipman. Dr. Shipman, have you spoken to the police? Do you intend to carry on practicing? Dr. Shipman, are you a murderer? You can have 5 seconds of my time for photographs, but you must direct any questions to my lawyers. I’m Paul D. Edgson, I understand you’re acting for Harold Frederick Shipman on behalf of the medical defense union. Yes. I’d like to arrange a meeting with your client at Ashton underline police station next Monday. How does 9:30 suit? Yeah, I’ve arranged with the West Penine Area Health Authority for a locom to conduct his surgery that day. Well, that’s entirely up to you, of course, but I can assure you we’ll be well within our rights to question your client at any time that’s convenient to us. Not one that suits him or you for that matter. So, unless you’d welcome a call in the middle of the night, I suggest you bring him in on Monday. Thank you very much, Miss Ball. Good morning, Dr. Shipman. Miss Ball, would you like to step this way? If you’ve got anything to say, Inspector, you can say it here. My client’s got nothing to hide. Very well, if that’s what you want, we can do this in public. Dr. Harold Frederick Shipman, listen very carefully to what I’m going to say. I am arresting you on suspicion of murder, attempting to obtain property by deception, and three counts of forgery. You do not have to say anything, but it may arm your defense if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence. Do you understand what I’ve just said? Now, would you please step this way? You’re stupid. You are This is Detective Sergeant Walker and Detective Constable Denim. This interview is being tape recorded and is being conducted in an interview room at Aston Police Station. This interview may be the subject of remote monitoring. When the red light above the machine is illuminated, this means that the interview is being monitored by others assisting in the investigation. What is your name? You know who I am. This is for the benefit of detain. Harold Frederick Shipman. Where do you live? Rocross Green Mortram in Londonale. And who else lives there with you? The wife. The cat. We love this Joker. Mrs. Kathleen. He was a patient of yours. She became a patient in 1992. What were you treating her for? IBS. Irritable bowel syndrome. Was that why you went to see her on June the 24th? I went to take a blood sample. She wasn’t looking well. Nothing anyone else would have been aware of. Was she expecting you that morning? I saw her the previous day and told I need a fresh blood sample and would call at 8:00 a.m. the next morning. And you took a blood sample at that time? I did. How was Mrs. Grundy when you arrived? She was in her dressing gown. And was she still wearing that when you returned that afternoon? She was fully dressed on the seti, obviously dead. Did you carry out an examination over at that time? Yes. No obvious signs of death. Why did you not consider a postmortem? I rang the coroner’s office and described the circumstances and asked if I could put old age on the death certificate. The coroner’s assistant said the doctor’s recommendation would be sufficient. Mrs. Grundy was taking part in an aging survey. She mentioned it in her diary. Yes. It was something being done in the practice. You weren’t expecting that. Patients aged 75 and over. She said you told her it was for Manchester University. I have no recollection of intimating that. Is there any record of her taking part in this aging survey? It was routine geriatric screening. And you never considered a postmortem? I’ve already told you people do die of old age. But would you not be interested in the precise cause of death if you were doing a survey? I’m inside him. What happened to the blood sample you took from Mrs. Grundy that morning? When I returned to the surgery, I bagged it up for the pathology department. It went to Tameside General Hospital by Courier Service. They can’t remember ever receiving it. Was definitely sent. It definitely didn’t arrive. There could be any number of reasons. Lost in transit, incorrectly labeled. That happens often, was it? It has. And it was normal to attend the patient’s home to take blood. Was it? Yes, it was for me. I’m a good GP, a caring GP. Would you be surprised to know that you were the sole beneficiary of Mrs. Grunty’s estate? Astonished. The name of Hamilton’s the solicitors was written in your handwriting on the back of Mrs. Grundy’s medical records. Then she must have told me they were her solicitors. She’d never had any dealings with Hamilton’s. Nothing would surprise me. Have you seen this will before? No. This will is a forgery. The signatures are all forged. Any comment, Dr. Shim? No. This will was received at Hamilton’s along with a letter typed on the same machine. Your typewriter, doctor, I have no knowledge of it. Mrs. Grundy was exumed on 1st of August. Obviously, there were extensive tests, toxicology. I’ll quote what the forensic scientist said to us that her death is consistent with the use or administration of a significant quantity of morphine or diamorphine. Do you have any comment to make about that? Yeah, I think it’s a moment here to go back to some of the entries in your GP notes. Which? Well, do you want to look at them? Right, we go back to the entry on the 12th of the 10th 96 where I’ve commented odd pupils small at her age codine query meaning I wonder if she’s taken codine tablets then next July pupil small dry mouth possible drug abuse I’m sure you’re well aware that drugs like morphine heroin, pathogen, all cause small pupils. Then on the 26th of the 11th, I’ve commented real difficulty as she denies everything. Not an intravenous user, as far as I was aware. I’m not sure. Clinically, nothing of note to confirm my suspicions. Wait and see. So over that period of time, I wondered very seriously whether this lady was taking drugs other than which I prescribed. Are you seriously suggesting that Mrs. Grundy, a wellrespected lady who led a hard, decent life, inflicted a fatal overdose upon herself? Are you seriously suggesting that? I’m not suggesting anything. I’m just telling you of my fears and worries of this lady at that time. that I had my suspicions that she was actually abusing a narcotic of some sort for over a period of a year or so. I’m not suggesting that she took drugs every day. Far from it. But the scenario was she may have given herself accidentally an overdose. If you suspected she was taking drugs, then when she died, why didn’t you order a postmortem? The scenario, doctor, is that you tell Mrs. Grundy that you’re involved in some aging survey in conjunction with Manchester University. This is what she told her family, that you go to her home address at 8:00 in the morning. You take a blood sample which conveniently goes missing. And later when the body’s exumed after an extremely sudden death really supporting medical history to explain it, we discover that she’s died from a fatal overdose of morphine, a drug to which she had no access. You tell me that people in high do not have access to drugs. I think you should talk to your drug squad. Why? What did she do then? Drive down to my side to score some smack. An 81y old lady Maris. I strongly suggest to you that you injected Mrs. Grundy with a fatal dose of morphine which brought about her death. No. I put it to you that you forged the will. No. Is it not coincidence? Is it not significant that you would have been the sole beneficiary? Who else could have done it? Anyone with a deranged mind could have done it? Can I have a word with my solicitor? He’s going to cough. My client is ready to resume questioning. Push him on that typewriter. How did Mrs. Grundy know you had a typewriter? It was in my cupboard. She may have seen it. Why did she want to borrow it? I don’t know. Did you loan it out to other patients? She was the only one I loaned it to. When did she return it? I can’t remember. When the police came with a warrant to search your premises, how did you know that the typewriter was back in your surgery? How do you use it on the day before the Friday? All the signatures on the will were forgeries. You suggested Mrs. Grundy forge her own signature. My client has nothing further to say at this point. We have no further questions at this stage. We may have at a later stage. You anything more to say, doctor? This interview has concluded at 18:15. Sorry, boss. None of that. Have we got enough? You did great, both of you. I’ll leave him there when it sinks and he’s not going home tonight. Mrs. Woodruff, Angela Hitstan, I wanted to tell you personally. We’re going to charge shipment. No, not just the forgery. These entries are ordered chronologically, right? So, this one for instance, dated 12th of the 10th, 1996. Odd pupils small blah blah coding query. So, he’s suspecting she might have been taking opiates 18 months ago. Right. Wrong. This is when he actually created that record. 25th of the 6th 98, the day after she died. Whatever date Shipman put on an entry, the internal clock in this program still registered an indelible record of the actual date it was really created. It’s all stored in the ghost files. Cockyod didn’t know that, did he? That’s fantastic, John. After he killed with a massive dose of morphine, the bastard goes into his files and tries to make it look as though she was a drug addict. Shipman’s created a false medical history for Kathleen Grundy to justify her destiny. Let’s see if we can find what else is in here. Dr. Shipman, I charge that you did attempt to obtain money by cruel deception by means of a forged will. And that I can’t hear you. Okay, doctor. Can we have some hushing here? and that you did on the 24th of June 1998 in the county of Greater Manchester murder Kathleen Grundy contrary to common law. Do you understand? I’m not guilty. This way. Okay. Now, if you’d remove your belt tying shoelaces. I can’t take my laces out. I have an injury to my hand. Allow me, doctor. So, we now have evidence to prove that Shipman continued to prescribe morphine to his cancer patients, even after some of them had died. And that goes back at least until 1993. But I thought the medical authorities had banned him from having addictive drugs, but not from prescribing them. According to unaccounted for discrepancies, he had enough to knock off a regiment. What kind of monitoring system is that? It’s ripe for abuse, sir. Yeah. What is it? Document analysis has come in. I thought you’d like to know. There’s a clear print of shipments on the will. Any of Mrs. Grundy’s? No, sir. Well, we’ll have him for the forgery at least. Thank you, dear Samson, sir. Why did he make such a crackanded job at that will? It’s almost as if he wanted to get caught. Was he taunting us? Not that arrogant bastard, but he’s not as bright as he’d have us believe. Can I have a quiet word, L? I’ve told you lot all I know and I don’t like what you’re up to. I never had you down as a drug addict, Len. Dr. Shipman was prescribing you diamorphine. Of course not. Why the hell would he? Were you aware that he was using you to stockpile his heroin? Fellow the bastard. So in the hidden files, we can see when his notes were actually created. Hang on, John. Just treat us like wooden tops for the sake of argument, who know nothing about your magic tricks. What exactly are you saying? That after the deaths of these patients, Shipman will create a false medical history to justify whatever cause of death he entered on the certificates. He doed the records. That’s why the first inquiry came to nothing. Of course, the the records from the registar match the entries on the death certificates. Dave Smith was working with Duff Jen. You can prove this, can you? Take Wifford Meer for instance. A surgery visit on the 16th of January 1998. Apparently ill, very vague pain in the night. Woke her still not wishing test or referral if worse TLK. What’s that mean? Like to let us know. 10 days later, supposedly he writes, “Chest pains and exercise doesn’t let it stop her. and Gina refuses test and referral. Both these entries were actually created the day after she died. The day after he killed her. The ghost records prove the pattern even for people who were cremated. This is amazing, John. We won’t just have to rely on toxicology anymore. Thank you very much, Sergeant Ashley. We’ve really got something to put before a jury at last. Best send someone round to see Winfred Miller’s daughter. It’s solid rock now, not shifting sand. I understand you got a phone call from Dr. Shipman about half 6 on the night Mrs. Mela died. She were fighting fit our mom. She did all the decorating herself, you know, a few weeks before. She were off on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land with a church. She was so excited. Trip of a lifetime. What did the doctor say when he rang you? He said that he was at my mother’s, as she’d called him. She had been portly with chest pains, but that she’d refused any medication. I said, “Are you sending it to hospital?” Well, there’s no point. You mean my mother’s dead? You understand? Come in, doctor. I suppose you know your mother’s been suffering from angina since last August. I wanted to send her to hospital for tests, but she dismissed her chest pains as indigestion and refused. It’s just so dismissive, abrupt. I was shocked because my mother had been a long-term patient, a shipman. She’d always spoken so highly of him. Dr. Fred, she called him. It was as though he’d never had that sort of relationship with her. I’ll record coronary thrombosis as the cause of death. I’m sure you’ll be pleased to know there’s no need to go through the distress of a postmortem, as I’ve seen her recently. Yes, doctor. Mrs. Ellis next door said she saw your car around here this afternoon. She said what? She saw nothing of the kind. I’ll make out the death certificate in the morning. You can come to the surgery to pick it up. My mother had picked up a pension that day. Shouldn’t have been done a bit of shopping on the market. Purse was on the mantle piece. Should have been about £50 left. It was empty. Father Mayor confirms that he heard Shipman say that Mrs. Miller had rung the surgery about 5:30. Did you check her item’s phone bill? No calls made to Shipman’s surgery from Mrs. Meler’s phone any time on the day of her death. So we just turned up on a doorstep unannounced and charmed his way in like the grim reaper. Question 17. Who was president of the United States at the time of the American Civil War? Question 18. Spell anesthetic. Oh, that’s not fair. He’s a sudden doctor. UK or American spelling. I thought I’d seen a lot, but I’ve never come across anything like him. I must have passed him in the street hundreds of times. He just seemed like everybody else. But he’s different from the rest of us. He must be. You sure it’s not just greed, pure and simple? That will was a one-off, as far as we know. All right, there might have been a few bits and bobs of tatty jewelry, a few quid here and there, but that’s not what this is about. Can a man be born evil? Then he wouldn’t be responsible for his actions, would he? No. I have to believe that he was created good. So, he chose to be a mass murderer. Same as you chose to be a vicar. Closeted child, overachiever from an early age. His mother gets cancer when he’s a teenager and he watches the doctor come and give her injections of morphine to ease the pain. Who knows what that does to a young impressionable mind. She dies in agony when he’s 17 and he spends the whole night running alone in the rain. With all due respect, bollocks as thousands of kids go through much worse than what he ever did. Granted, some of them turn out bad or mad. I come across that type every day. But they don’t end up like that warp bastard, do they? Is there a sexual dimension to the crimes? I could understand that. I’d hate it. It disgust me. But at least I’d know what kind of monster we were dealing with. Why did he kill old ladies? He killed whoever he could get away with killing. And the most vulnerable of his patients have to be mostly old ladies living alone. Who knows? If he’d worked in the inner city, he’d probably been knocking off junkies. You’ve been around the dying, Dennis. That does come with a turf, I’m afraid. You’ll never get used to it. What kind of person could get pleasure out of watching people die? Being there when they take the last breath? Sometimes you can be a blessing when the suffering’s all over. Could he have believed that somehow he was easing their pain? Absolutely not. There’s no element of mercy here, Dennis. I wish there was. Not that I’d ever condone it. I’m sorry, St. You’re a great help, Dennis. It’s just a bloody mystery. Did he get some sick gratification from having that power? Choosing whether he took a life or saved it, playing God. I’ve always objected to that phrase. God does a lot more than decide when people have to die, you know. Oh, why? Some might say he’s turned his back on Hyde of late. Didn’t do much to stop shipman killing, did he? Neither did the medical authorities, for that matter. Yeah, neither did we. Before you say it, you couldn’t be doing more than you’re doing now, Stan. God knows that. I think that’s what I see when I look in those eyes. I think the doctor reckons he is the supreme being. That he has the ultimate power over life and death. Heat. Heat. Oh my god. Hallelujah. Interview with Harold Frederick Shipman, 5th of October, 1998, 11:00 a.m. Detective Sergeant Wearing and Detective Constable Maurice Natinsky and Solicitor Anne Ball in the room. Dr. Shipman, could you tell us about your computer program? It’s called a doss program. Micro doctor was put in place about 5 years ago after the opening of the surgery. I was trained by them to use it. Do you consider yourself competent at these procedures? I would say I was fairly computer literate. Yes. How do you access the computer? You switch it on. Do you have a password to enter the machine? I can’t believe you’re asking me a question that is so self-evident. Do other members of staff have passwords? Everyone except the cleaner. I’m sorry I’m smiling. You have no concept of general practice. When do you update your medical records after a home visit? Usually on the same day, occasionally on the following day. Depends how busy the practice is. Do you enter those records onto the computer yourself? I enter them directly. I do it personally. That is my role as a GP. I’d like to clear up the procedure of issuing death certificates. This was covered at a previous meeting. Unless there’s a new question, I’m not going over old ground. Exhibit AJB22. Do you accept that these are the medical records of Winfred Miller? The records you placed in front of me are those of Mrs. Miller. Did she attend the surgery on the date stated therein? Yes. When did you record these notes? As soon as possible after seeing her. What contact did you have with Mrs. Miller on the day of her death? Monday, May the 11th, 1998. She came to the practice. I examined her. She was complaining of chest pains. But at that time, she was not wanting to be treated or have any investigations. And when did he see her again? I then saw her at 6:15 p.m. when she was dead. What was your diagnosis as to the cause of death? Angina. No rigger mortise had set in. She couldn’t have been dead long. Did you visit Mrs. Miller at home that afternoon? No. A witness, Mrs. Gloria Ellis, a neighbor of Mrs. Miller, saw a red car arriving at 300 p.m. Was that you at Renault? I suppose I could have been visiting other patients on the road. Why did you go back that evening? I’d gone back because I was sufficiently concerned about her. Mrs. Miller’s daughter, Kathleen Adansky, has stated that about 6:15 she received a call from you. You told her that her mother had suffered from angina from August 97 and she’d refused all forms of treatment. Yes. Mrs. Mela’s sleeve was rolled up. I didn’t see it. Would you roll up a sleeve in the normal course of a consultation? No. Your death certificate recorded coronary thrombosis. Can you indicate to me how severe the angina was at all? The severity of angina doesn’t indicate the likelihood of a coronary. I’m sure your medical experts would agree. We have a history of angina that’s of increasing severity. We have a relatively sudden death. was sudden in the sense that the patient hasn’t made the effort to dial 99 nine nine. How many nines is it? Um, three nights. Sorry. Um, um, hasn’t struggled around to the neighbors, and that’s often the story with elderly patients. Coronies come fairly rapidly. A home office pathologist, Dr. Rutherford, carried out a post-mortem examination. If you say so. His findings do not support that this lady died of a coronary thrombosis as you’ve diagnosed. Would you like to comment on that finding? Doctors don’t always diagnose a heart attack as a heart attack. They’ll call it a coronary thrombosis or my cardio schema, my cardian fracture. To the average run-of-the-mill GP, they’re all the same. The patient’s dead. Well, in his expert opinion, there was nothing to support your diagnosis is what I’m saying. With a coronary thrombosis, you would expect there would be a bit of heart muscle damaged, but you can just have an electrical disorganization of the heart, which kills you just as effectively and leaves no symptoms at all. No signs, sorry. No signs at all. Forensic examination of the samples taken, including muscle tissue at that postmortem, have been examined. These are the samples taken from Mrs. And there’s certainly a high level of morphine still contained in her body. A fatal level to be precise. Can you account for that? No. Well, I’ve got to put it to you, doctor, that you were the person who administered that lady with a drug, aren’t you? No. The levels were such that this woman actually died from toxicity of morphine, not as you wrongly diagnosed. In plain speak, you murdered her. No. One feature of these statements from the family was that they couldn’t believe their own mother had chest pains, angina, and hadn’t been informed by by whom? By her. By her. Thank you. They also found it out to believe that she would refuse any treatment she was given in relation to this diagnosis. And I think that now we can answer why that was. Because she didn’t have a history of chest complaints and heart disease and angina, did she, doctor? If it’s written on the records, then she had the history. Right now, the computer. We’ve got a statement from Detective Sergeant John Ashley, who works in the field of computers. Thank you. He has made a thorough examination of your computer, doctor, and the medical records contained on it. Because this man’s an expert, he’s able to interrogate computers, and he’s gone into this computer in some depth. And what he’s found is that there are a number of entries that have been incorrectly placed on this record to falsely mislead and to indicate that this woman had a history of chest pains and angina. What have you got to say about that, doctor? Nothing. Can I have a look at them? You attended that house at 3:00 and that’s when you murdered this lady. And so much was you a rush to get back to the surgery and immediately start altering this lady’s medical records. And we can prove that only minutes after 3:00 on that date, you are fabricating that false medical history for this woman. Can you tell me why you needed to do that? There’s no answer. Well, there is. There’s a very clear answer because you’ve been up to her house, rolled her sleeve up, administered morphine, killed her, and you were covering up what you were doing. That’s what happened, isn’t it, doctor? Exhibit JFA42. I am no showing you. And I’ll put this in the middle of the room because your solicitor could examine it as well. Then it’s an insertion. Behind your computer, there’s a ghost image and it records what’s placed in and what’s removed. Can you see that entry, doctor? It reads chest pains. All appears okay. Question mark. Question mark. Angina. When was that dated? Um, August the 1st, 1997. Now, can you see the record of the computer ghost? It confirms that you inserted that entry less than 4 minutes after you were seen leaving Mrs. Miller’s house on May the 11th, 1998. Can I just have a look at that? Have no recollection of putting that on the machine. You choose not to remember it. It wasn’t too long ago in this interview where you were explaining that you’ve been to see the family, checked the computer record, and told them about this angina, was it? It’s a rhetorical question. It’s quite correct, though, isn’t it? I’m well aware that that’s how an audit trail works. There’s no argument with that. I still have no recollection of entering that onto the machine. Seems to somebody sneaked into US surgery and updated these false records. The simple truth is you fabricated a history to cover what you’ve done. You murdered her and you make up a history of angina and chest pain so you could issue a death certificate to implicate this poor woman’s family, didn’t you? No, it doesn’t stop there. You’ll find that the clock is out by an hour because we don’t change it for summertime. I don’t think we should bother about clock timings. Well, you’re making a great point about me being there. I’m making a great point about somebody falsifying a person’s record on the date of a death to fabricate a medical history for them. We’ve got him. Can we have a consultation at this stage, please? Certainly. The time now by my watch is 171 12 hours. I’ll switch off the tape. Outstanding. Well done, Mark. I knew you could do it, Marie. Excellent. Just a matter of time now. He’s completely lost it. He’s not going to talk, is he? He’s not going to give us the satisfaction. We’re never going to know how many more he did. You arrogant bastard. There’s not a remorseful bone in his body. He’s not sorry for his victims. He’s crying for himself. My client’s not fit for further interview. I think we should be the judge of that. It’s my considered opinion that my client is having a nervous breakdown. Very well. We shall call for a police surgeon. Harold Frederick Chipman, stand up. You have finally been brought to justice by the verdict of this jury. I have no doubt whatsoever that these are true verdicts. The time has now come for me to pass sentence on you for these wicked, wicked crimes. Each of your victims was your patient. You murdered each and every one of them by the calculated and coldblooded perversion of your medical skills for your own evil and wicked purposes. You took advantage of and abused their trust. You were, after all, each victim’s doctor. I have little doubt that each of your victims smiled and thanked you as she submitted to your fearful ministrations. None realized that yours was not a healing touch. None knew that in truth you had brought her death. Death disguised as the caring attention of a good one of forgery. The jury foreman replied guilty 16 times. There were gasps and tears from the public gallery as the verdict sank in. Mr. Justice Forbes told that he murdered his patient. The sheer wickedness of what you have done defies description. It is shocking and beyond belief. You have not shown the slightest remorse or contrition for your evil deeds, and you have subjected the family and friends of your victims to having to relive the tragedy and grief you visited upon them. On each of the 15 counts for which I pass sentence upon you, the sentence is prescribed by law. Justice demands that for each and every count of murder I pass the sentence of life imprisonment. Verdicts in love. Guilty. Come to the firm conclusion that the crimes of which you stand convicted are so heinous that in your case, life should mean life. Yes. My recommendation will be that you spend the rest of your days in prison. take him down. Hide where our reporters with Mark Lupton who’s a deputy editor of local newspaper. Thank you Mark. It’s rush hour in hide. People going home to digest the news of the verdicts on Dr. Harold Shipman. His surgery is just a short walk down the hill from here. The surgery looks much like it did when the investigations began. The notice board giving the times of the surgeries is still there. But where there used to be the name Dr. HF shipment. There’s now a white strip of tape. Well, as we heard there from the Crown Prosecution Service, the police might charge Harold Shipman with even more murders. The final death toll could even run into hundreds. But what about the relatives of those who died? Such was the heenous nature of his crimes that he should spend the rest of his life behind bars. Life should mean life, the judge said. 54y old shipman showed no emotion. She was left We was put in a bulk order. I don’t reckon this is over. We are