Posted on 09/21/2020 2:16:35 AM PDT by nickcarraway
Staffordshire University associate professor Fiona Graham, who has worked on true crime series, poses the question in the wake of the ITV drama about murderer
Fiona Graham’s involvement in true crime series has seen her delve into the world of some of Britain’s most notorious killers.
The programmes have thrown the spotlight on everyone from murderers like Harold Shipman to victims such as Jill Dando, Stephanie Slater and the schoolchildren of Dunblane.
But now the Staffordshire University associate professor and filmmaker has questioned whether there is ever a right time to contact a killer for research.
The debate has been prompted by the ITV series Des, which dramatised the case of Dennis Nilsen, who murdered at least 12 men and boys in London between 1978 and 1983.
Starring actor David Tennant as Nilsen, it drew on a book by Brian Masters, who spent many hours probing the mind of the killer and becoming his confidant behind bars.
Fiona, who previously worked on BBC’s Crimewatch as well as other series, said: “Contacting a killer or any criminal doesn’t come lightly, but it can be argued it’s what you need to do when trying to tell a story or make a documentary about true crime.
“But is there ever a right time to do this? I think there can be because developing crime programmes should always be about finding the truth and telling an accurate story.”
Keele and Staffordshire universities say campuses are safe for students despite calls to scrap face-to-face teaching Fiona contemplated getting in touch with Nilsen herself some years ago, although the idea for the documentary wasn’t taken any further.
“I realise the thought of contacting Nilsen may seem like a strange decision to some, but it should not be about giving any actual perpetrator of a crime a voice. Instead, it should be background research,” she added.
It is the ethical and moral questions that fascinate her.
One of the people she spoke to through her true crime TV work was Bruce Reynolds, who masterminded the 1963 Great Train Robbery.
She recalled: “His views were crucial to the story and, on this occasion, he became part of a documentary which saw him give one of his final ever interviews about the robbery. But Bruce was on the outside and had served his time.”
But while it may sometimes appropriate to meet a killer face-to-face – or via a phone call – there is always an important counterpoint.
“True crime storytelling shouldn't be all about the killers, they shouldn't always be our focus,” she said. “We must be the writer for the victims and families and the reasons why we write can be to push for justice or raise awareness.”
I suggest the right time to contact a serial killer is when you want some serial killing done. “I’ve got a little list”: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D1NLV24qTnlg&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjhlZ2q9vnrAhUEzqQKHYxYDAIQyCkwAHoECAwQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3VbGzUEEmCvyTj3y5PTA7R
From the grave would be appropriate if you believe in seances and holding hands around a table
I do not understand the fixation on crime and criminals. Maybe the world would be better focused on people who help others, rather than kill them. just sayin’.
The dems contract serial killers all the time. They are called abortionists. Some have actually been convicted of it.
“They are called abortionists.”
I am pretty sure that Dr. Kevorkian was a man who enjoyed killing and figured out a way to do it “legally.” I had a surgeon who I thought was a sadist. He performed surgery on the back of the throat and never gave anything beyond OTC pain relief. I have never experienced so much pain in my life. He didn’t care because he didn’t want to get me adducted to drugs. But he smiled when he said it. I also overheard him being discussed by two men in the gym and one of the men suggested the doctor was a sadist. I checked and nothing the doctor did was technically illegal.
There are people out there who aren’t technically doing anything illegal. My suggestion is that if they receive pleasure from their actions that something is wrong with them. My guess on abortionists is that they truly “enjoy” their work.
If she really wants to get inside some criminal minds she should be interviewing Bill and Hillary Clinton. The stuff going on inside those two heads would probably make Hannibal Lecter walk away in shock.
I find it fascinating. They go where few minds go. It’s easier to find people who do good deeds. That’s why it doesn’t make news so much
I used to drink coffee everyday with a coworker in the early 70s. Bill seemed like a really nice guy. Then one day, the FBI showed up and took Bill away in handcuffs. Everyone at work wondered what was going on. That night on the news we found out that Bill was picking up prostitutes and strangling them. He’d killed five. We never saw Bill again.
WOW! You win the worst evil coworker award!
I listened to the interview that Dr. James Dobson did with Ted Buddy just before he was executed. It was absolutely chilling.
Or maybe the influance of satan.
The Bundy interview.
https://castimonia.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/ted-bundy-interview-transcript.pdf
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.