65. Bloody footprint: What rights does a dead body have?

In 1987 in the town of Royal Tunbridge Wells, a “peeping Tom” is spotted lurking by the windows of women. Soon after, Wendy Knell and Caroline Pierce are both found brutally murdered and sexually assaulted after their deaths.

Thirty year later, a special task force dedicated to cold cases finally track down the man who became known as the “Bedsit Killer”. The case takes a nasty turn when the police make a horrifying discovery at the killer’s home.

On this episode of Bad People, Dr Julia Shaw and Sofie Hagen unearth the secret life of the UK’s most prolific necrophile and discuss what legal protection and rights a dead body has. Also - is calling someone a monster ever justified in the court room?

Warning: This episode contains descriptions of violence, necrophilia and child abuse.

CREDITS Presenters: Dr Julia Shaw and Sofie Hagen Producer: Louisa Field Music: Matt Chandler Editor: Rami Tzabar, Anna Lacey and Martin Smith. #BadPeople_BBC Commissioning Assistant Producer: Adam Eland Commissioning Executive: Dylan Haskins Bad People is produced in partnership with The Open University and is a BBC Audio Science Production for BBC Sounds.