White House Farm (2020) s01e02 Episode Script
Episode 2
My sister Sheila, she ought to be in a bloody nuthouse for what she's done here.
Jeremy.
Your sister, your parents, the boys.
They're all gone.
Dead.
You said everything would be all right.
You're saying it's murder suicide, then? I'm not just saying it, that's what happened.
Daughter killed them all then she shot herself.
You're looking after the family, all right? SOFT CHUCKLING What's this, then? MAN: Looks to me like a second bullet wound.
What, so she's been shot twice? You ever seen that happen? Not that I can recall.
I don't know where to start.
Perhaps you can tell me about Sheila.
When you met.
It would've been ten years back, I suppose.
She was doing a secretarial course in London.
We moved in pretty quick and we got married a couple of years later.
Her parents, they bought us a place.
Like a reward, I guess, for doing the right thing.
The right thing in their eyes anyway.
Bambs was pregnant.
That was with the twins? No, we lost that pregnancy.
The boys, they came after.
But by that time, the marriage was breaking up.
We'd just argue.
We'd argue.
The most terrible arguments.
Was Sheila violent when you argued? Well, she put her hand through a window once.
And she would She'd throw things.
And smash things.
Things that I loved.
Later, she had a nervous breakdown.
They put her in a hospital.
Her parents did, I mean.
When she was ill like that did you ever think she was a danger to the boys? Do you think I'd've left them with her if I believed that? She was their mother.
Well, since her last breakdown, I had the boys full-time.
But she drove them up to the farm on Monday? No, I did.
No, I took them.
And I left them there.
COLIN CRYING It's hard, but we need to go and make a formal identification of the family and the boys.
I couldn't do that.
Some people find it helps, gives them closure No, I can't.
I can't do that.
You're telling me my boys are dead, OK? And I accept that but I don't wanna see them like that.
I wanna remember them as they were.
Right.
I think that's enough for the time being.
I will need someone to identify them.
Someone who knew the whole family.
No, I can't face it.
Fine.
I'll do it.
Nevill and June were like my second parents, it's the least I can do for them.
I'll go with you.
Are you sure? Ann's doing it, Jules.
I don't think they need you No, I want to.
I want to help.
Things had been going well recently, for you and Jem? Getting serious? SHE SCOFFS I don't mean to pry, it's just I am family, but for you it can't be easy, being dragged into this.
Something so shocking and completely out of the blue.
It wasn't completely out of the blue.
Sheila'd been acting crazy all week.
Did you see her, then? At the farm.
Jem said so.
Sorry for the wait, ladies.
The way this'll work is I'll show you them one at a time, just the face, and you confirm it's who we think it is.
I only need one of you to give me the yes, so if the other disagrees or has anything to add, you just speak up, all right? Mrs Eaton? I just erm I don't know how I'm gonna go.
Seeing the boys again.
I'll do it.
I said I would.
You didn't even need to come.
One is enough.
I keep thinking everything looks so normal.
Like, I had breakfast, made tea.
So this can't have happened because this isn't normal.
HE EXHALES I have to tell you something, Col.
It was getting late yesterday evening and we were bringing the last bales in and I saw some rabbits.
The first thing I thought was to grab the Anschutz, you know, and sort 'em out.
But by the time I got back, they'd gone, so I went back inside and I put the gun down.
And then I heard some voices in the kitchen.
Mum, Dad and Sheila.
Upset.
You know, like they were arguing.
What did they say to her? Jem.
Mum said that the kids needed a proper home.
Somewhere stable.
She said Col, she said that they'd find a foster family through the church.
They couldn't do that.
I've got shared custody of those boys.
I know, I know.
I should've said something.
But I didn't.
The whole thing, it rattled me and so I forgot about the gun.
I just left it out there, on the bench, you know? The gun that she used.
It was just a mistake.
They're all gone.
My whole family are gone because I left that gun out.
Hey, hey.
You've got - You've got family, Jem.
- Yeah.
You've got me and we've got each other.
You always will.
We always will.
DMC reckon the press have already got the names of the victims, so you can go ahead and confirm them.
And the perpetrator? Tomorrow she'll be on every front page in the country, but for now they want us to avoid a confirmation that she's done it.
Until the coroner's report's in.
After that, well Bloody hell.
Detective Chief Inspector? We're ready when you are.
Evening, all.
I am Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Jones.
As you're aware, a major incident has occurred at a farm just outside the town of Tolleshunt D'Arcy in Essex.
After an unavoidable delay, due to the concerns about firearms in the house, officers entered the premises and found all five occupants deceased.
Obviously, I won't pre-empt the coroner's findings, except to say that we are currently treating this as a case of murder suicide.
INDISTINCT CHATTER CROWD CLAMOURING ALL TALKING AT ONCE MAN: Can you confirm that your ex-wife was the killer? CLAMOUR CONTINUES CROWD CONTINUES SHOUTING So, our shooter, Sheila Jean Caffell, 28.
Ex fashion model, currently unemployed.
Recently discharged from St Andrew's, a posh little psych hospital up in Northamptonshire.
We spoken to anyone up there? They'd been treating her following a major psychotic episode, but she has a long history of schizophrenia, so - Violent? - Well, the doctor said no, but she'd been getting regular injections of an anti-psychotic and they'd just dropped the dose by 50%.
- That's what's set her off, then.
- Doctor didn't think so, but But he didn't rule it out either, am I right? Sheila's mum was seeing the same guy.
What, the same headshrinker? Yeah, June Bamber, also hospitalised at St Andrews, for psychotic depression, May '82.
Press are gonna wet themselves.
Things like that do run in families.
But these two aren't related.
Not by blood anyway.
Hey? Sheila's ex, Colin Caffell, told me that she was adopted.
Her and the brother both, from different birth parents.
It's like an episode of Dallas.
LAUGHTER Anything from you, Ron? Post-mortems are scheduled for 9:00am tomorrow, so we'll know more when they're done.
Nothing we don't already know, then.
Well, I think that's us done.
Says here one of the uniforms at the scene may have seen movement from inside the house.
- Upstairs window.
- And your point, Stan? As we discussed, Guv, it looks like Sheila was shot twice, which doesn't sit so well with suicide, so I'm thinking, could someone else have been present and exited the house before the firearms squad set up a cordon? There was a full security inspection carried out as soon as the premises were secured.
The place was locked from the inside, no sign of forced entry, no means of exit.
So, no-one went in, no-one went out.
As we discussed.
Well, gentlemen, if Stanley's done playing Sherlock Holmes, I think we'll wind this up.
As we discussed.
I told him Ann? Your brother's here.
- So, they asleep? - More or less.
How do you talk to a child about something like that? How do you explain it to anyone? We all need time.
To process it.
- Accept that it actually happened.
- If it did happen.
- Sorry? - I don't know.
I just Do you really believe Sheila was capable of doing something like that? Apparently, she was very ill.
Far worse than we knew.
Ill or not, she was gentle, a gentle person.
Hard to believe that any mother would hurt her children.
But it does happen.
You can't smoke in here.
- Since when? - 1979.
Morning, all.
Stanley.
Didn't expect to see you here.
I'm minding the family.
Thought they should know how we're getting on.
All right.
I'm due back in Goldhanger for 11, so let's get started.
We not waiting for the DCI, then? Taff can't make it.
I'm standing in.
I did ask for someone from ballistics to attend.
I called it through, no-one available.
But they're happy for you to take the residue swabs yourself, given that it's a murder suicide.
Well, if ballistics are happy and Peter's willing, I see no problem.
Very well.
All five victims died as a direct result of gunshot wounds.
We have a total of 25 such wounds.
25 shots fired from a rifle with a magazine that holds ten rounds.
I'd say some shots were fired wildly, while others were accurate and lethally precise.
Calculated to cause death.
Any idea of the order of deaths? I'd need more information about the crime scene to determine that.
I'm sure that will be forthcoming, if required.
In the meantime? First up, Ralph Nevill Bamber.
61, shot eight times, including four closely grouped shots fired into his head, presumably in quick succession.
Another to the jaw and one to the mouth, as well as a number of blunt trauma injuries to his face, neck and arm, which are clearly defensive.
Inflicted with the rifle butt? Given the shape of the contusions, I'd say that's highly likely.
Kelly.
And then there are these.
STRAINING - Burns? - Mmm.
But at this point I can't give you any idea what caused them.
Maybe he was tortured.
A poker, perhaps.
Oddly, there are no corresponding marks on his pyjama top, even though the burned area was covered by his shirt, so they are something of a mystery.
- He's heavy.
- He's a big man.
But we're saying he was bludgeoned into submission by Sheila, who was built like Twiggy's thinner sister? I've seen women show incredible strength when riled.
And if he was already wounded It's probable he was, in which case he might well have been a less formidable opponent.
Again, I would need more evidence about the crime scene before determining that.
Next, June Bamber.
Also 61, shot 7 times.
In her neck, her right forearm, her right knee, twice in the chest and twice in the head.
The last shot, placed directly between her eyes and fired at close range, was the cause of death.
The boys, Nicholas and Daniel Caffell, both six.
Nicholas was shot three times, Daniel five.
All shots closely grouped, likely fired in quick succession.
The only saving grace I can find about this horrible business is that they appear to have died instantly.
- And Sheila? Two marks on her.
- Both bullet wounds.
How does that work? Well, I've experienced four or five such cases in the course of my career.
That's the first bullet.
Trajectory upwards and backwards, finishing up here, to the side of the spine.
But it didn't kill her? No.
Essentially, it was a serious flesh wound.
She'd have been quite capable of pulling the trigger a second time and inflicting this wound, which killed her instantly.
The body, any sign it's been manipulated? What are you getting at, Stanley? Could she have died somewhere else and been moved? Hypostasis is clearly evident, so there's no doubt she died where she was found.
If you're asking, "Could her suicide have been stage managed?" I doubt it, unless she was heavily drugged or otherwise incapacitated.
So, Peter, can I tell the guv we're done and dusted? I'll want toxicology before I make a final report, but based on the evidence available, I see nothing to contradict the murder suicide theory.
Well, that's it, then.
Well done.
Good work.
Taff'll be well pleased.
Stan.
Guv asked you to mind the family.
Candles and sandals.
So, you mind the bloody family.
All right? Never seen this place look so tidy.
Keeping busy.
If I slow down, I think I'll scream.
I take it you've not seen these.
Might make you reconsider the screaming.
"Neighbours revealed that Sheila Bamber, also known as Bambi due to her long shapely legs, had slid into a twilight world of hard drugs.
" If she wasn't of sound mind, then she started taking drugs, it might explain what happened.
I always tried to downplay it.
Would've destroyed Mum and Dad.
So, did she take drugs in front of the boys? - What do you think? - I don't know, I rarely saw her.
Well, what makes you think I'd know about her drug taking? Come on, Jeremy, I know what you get up to.
Look, give it a couple of days.
The police'll be able to tell you exactly what she was on.
Once they cut into her fatty tissue.
It all gets stored there, you know.
- Jem? Erm - Detective Sergeant, good morning.
I'm afraid I've got a meeting, with my parents' lawyer, so Don't worry, it shouldn't take too long.
Just tying up a few loose ends.
Well, sit down, please.
SOCO are finishing up at the farm today and the boys have asked if you'd like their help cleaning up.
There are a lot of blood-stained items.
Anything with blood on, you can burn.
I want it all gone.
We'll be replacing the door we smashed down getting into your parents house.
Putting in an alarm.
I can meet you over there tomorrow.
Give you the new key, show you how the alarm works.
I couldn't go back in there again.
OK.
I assume you've seen the papers.
A lot of rumours flying around about your sister.
I'm no expert on her private life.
You know, she lived in London, we moved in different circles.
Is there someone who could tell us? Frankie, I suppose.
Frankie Bidiwi.
Was he her boyfriend? Sheila's career as a model it had tanked.
Even before she went crazy.
Frankie would buy her presents, he'd pay the bills sometimes.
Sugar daddy.
Your parents weren't short of a quid.
She didn't go to them? No, she got plenty from them.
Mind, with Sheila, plenty was rarely enough.
So, that appointment.
Of course, yeah.
We'll leave you to it.
DOG YIPPING Oh, looks like he wants to be out.
- Jules, can you? - Here, let me.
One more thing.
- The rifle Sheila used, the Anschutz.
- Mmm.
She had a lot of experience with that, did she? No, I wouldn't say that.
When you first spoke to the police, you said she'd done target shooting.
She'd definitely been out on shoots once or twice, up in Scotland.
Why do you ask? Like Mickey said, just tying up loose ends.
Were you fishing for something back there? STAN CLEARS THROA Sheila had fancy finger nails.
Long, glossed.
And I'm thinking, unless she was an Olympic shooter, how did she manage to reload that magazine twice, without even chipping a nail? Good question.
Glad you like it.
REPORTER: As investigations continue, speculation is mounting that Sheila had incurred huge drug debts.
What role, if any, this played in the tragedy remains unclear.
Peter! Thanks for coming.
Word I got is you're winding up here today.
Thought you might like to look around the crime scene first.
Answer some of them questions.
We found all 25 bullet casings, so we do have a pretty good idea of where they were fired from.
Now, we're thinking Sheila must've fired from here.
11 shots.
Seven for June, which leaves four for Nevill.
He was shot eight times in total, which means he copped four more in the kitchen.
11 shots also means Sheila emptied the magazine then went downstairs to reload then came back up for a final shot, to June's head.
And how do we know the final shot was to June? Because this blood trail is hers.
Which means after the first volley of shots, before the last one, the killing shot, between her eyes, June had enough time to come all the way around here and back to the other side, where she died.
But what was she doing? What's over here? Mystery number one.
Now Sheila's fired ten shots.
Nevill's down, June's injured, but they're still alive, so she has to reload.
- And the bullets are downstairs.
- So she heads down.
Meanwhile, Nevill gets to his feet, makes his own way down.
- Why? - Maybe chasing Sheila.
Equally, he could have been after the phone.
Jeremy said his dad called him and the phone cut off.
We also know Nevill was attacked fairly close to that phone, bludgeoned numerous times.
But with all that shooting and mayhem going on, how is it the boys didn't wake? So maybe they were shot first.
You said three shots for Nicholas, five for Daniel.
All fired at close range in quick succession.
The shell distribution supports that.
If eight shots had been fired in here, then Nevill and June are up and awake and Sheila's only got two rounds left.
That's not enough to stop our Nev, much less June too.
What the hell's going on here? I thought this was a clean-up.
What the bloody hell's he doing here? I asked him in.
- You running this now, Sarge? - No, Guv.
Then why the hell are you managing my crime scene?! Those bodies shouldn't have been moved.
- Is that right? - There's something off.
Those bodies, this crime scene.
That was evidence.
Well, you think I've botched this.
Anyone else agree with the detective sergeant? Anyone?! You get this place cleared up.
And you! Outside.
You know how big this is? I've got the regional bloody superintendent on my back and he's got the Home Secretary riding him.
I've got reporters coming out of my arse I don't think Sheila did it.
You got one shred of evidence? Because I got plenty.
The woman was a nut job.
This house was locked up from the inside.
- The murder weapon was in her hands.
- There's something off.
Yeah.
A fucking mad woman killed her kids! Shot them in the head.
Do you not care about that? Look, I'm running this and I say it's tied up.
So you get behind me or you'll be gone.
And when I say gone, I mean gone.
Go on, have a bit.
It's bloody brilliant.
I'm fine.
I'm not gonna drink the whole bottle myself.
Really, I think we're both OK, Jem.
Er, well, I saw their lawyer about the will.
Assumed you'd want a report on where we all stand.
To tell you the truth, I hadn't given the will much thought.
How nice for you.
I, on the other hand, have farm workers who need to be paid.
I take it you've done well, then.
Aside from the fact my whole family's dead.
- CLEARS THROA - Go on, Jem.
Well, it's bad news, I'm afraid.
I've been told that I'm facing massive death duties, so I'm gonna be selling the lot.
- ASAP.
- You can't be serious.
I know it'll be hard for you both with mum's share of the caravan park going to strangers, but I don't have any choice.
You can't do this.
I'll talk to my lawyer.
I'm teasing.
Your face.
I'm teasing.
There's loads of money.
What?! Jesus Christ.
Seems like maybe you do care about the will.
Just a little bit.
Fine.
What does it say, Jeremy? Well, there's a bit of cash for you both, but the land holdings and businesses all go to me.
As to whether I'll be selling or not, well, I'll decide that in good time.
I'd like to have Auntie June's wedding ring.
- What? - She promised it to me and - When was that? - Years ago.
And it would mean a lot to me, as a keepsake.
EXHALES I can't help.
All their personal effects will be going with them.
Seems a shame to bury such a lovely piece of jewellery.
It won't be buried, I'm having them all cremated.
- What? - Their bodies aren't whole.
I think it's better that way.
You know Auntie June would've wanted a traditional funeral.
I don't care.
A traditional burial in a churchyard.
She's not in charge any more.
I am.
And I've made my decision.
You're ex-Army, right? Infantry.
Too much bloody marching.
You ever wonder why a 50-year-old career cop's still a DS? Police isn't that different from the Forces.
It's all about the team.
Follow orders, back the guv, play for the team.
And Stan he never did get that.
- You used to call him the cuckoo.
- I was a teenager.
- Still, you said it.
We both did.
- So? So I just want to be sure our judgement isn't being clouded by other factors.
We both know what we need to do and I'm going to do it.
Whether you come with me or not is up to you.
Watch out! INDISTINCT CHATTER Mrs Eaton, the farmhouse was secure.
No-one went in or out.
I don't care.
I'm telling you Sheila was not capable of murder.
She was mentally ill, schizophrenic.
Ill or not, we knew her, you didn't.
And how often had you seen her over the past five years, eh? Not much, I'm guessing.
Maybe Christmas? Your auntie's birthday? One thing I am sure of, Sheila knew nothing about guns, so how she could have shot them all? Your cousin Jeremy says different.
He said she'd been out shooting.
- Well, he's wrong or he's lying.
- Why would he do that? Look, we aren't here to accuse anyone.
We just We're concerned that you're jumping to conclusions, treating this as a closed case.
- Stop writing.
- Why? I want a record of this.
Stop writing or you'll get out.
If you're going to ignore the vital evidence You're helping me out, are you? Giving me vital evidence? I am telling you that Sheila couldn't have done this.
POUNDS FIST ON DESK Who the hell do you think you are?! Hey? Miss Bloody Marple?! Get out of my office! Ann, I think we should go.
Mrs Eaton.
Hold up.
We put an alarm in over at the farmhouse.
I need to take someone over there, show 'em how it works.
What business is that of mine? Jeremy doesn't wanna go in there.
If you will, we could take a walk through the house.
Have a chat.
INDISTINCT CHATTER I used to pretend these were German bunkers.
Drop in a grenade, clear out the Nazis.
So you took the boys up here? Yeah, Sheila used to take them.
They'd play fairy rings with the tyres.
No grenades required.
It wasn't all bad, you know, this place.
They had fun here too.
I remember this time Bambs and I decided to walk down to the seawall together.
Your dad, he had rapeseed in all the fields.
It was just the most brilliant yellow.
So I suggested to her we should take some photos, you know, for her portfolio.
We were messing around.
Bambs took off her top.
- But - My mum found you.
It was later, back at the house, and June said something to her.
Something bad.
Bambs wouldn't talk about it, but I knew.
Sometimes I wonder how things went so wrong for Bambs.
And I think maybe it was me, walking out on her.
- It wasn't.
- But then I remember that time.
I remember that time in the rapeseed and I think your mum did this.
- Planted the poison.
- Maybe.
But she's a pillar of the community.
And Sheila's the villain.
And that's how she'll be remembered.
The mad model who murdered her family.
HE GROANS We won't remember her that way.
HE EXHALES And that's what matters.
Right? Col.
COLIN SNIFFLES Yeah.
MICKEY: Press this to arm it.
When you wanna turn it off, just enter your four digit code again.
BEEPING We also replaced the door our boys knocked down coming in here.
That's your new keys.
There was a rug here.
It was burned.
Badly blood-stained.
This is where my uncle was found? That's right.
The rest of them? Upstairs, in the bedrooms.
I don't understand.
The moment one shot was fired, wouldn't they have all rushed out? The Anschutz had a sound moderator, like a silencer.
There was no silencer on the gun when we found it.
Well, there should've been.
Nevill always left it on the rifle.
Jeremy says he was shooting rabbits that afternoon.
He might have taken it off.
Mickey, I'd like Mr Boutflour to check the outbuildings, see that they're secure.
- Could you take him? - Yeah.
So, you don't think Sheila did this.
No.
I don't.
If it wasn't her? - Jeremy.
- Why? It's not right, the way he's been behaving.
He almost seems glad.
And that's it? He claims Nevill called him.
Said Sheila had gone wild with a gun.
I simply don't believe she would've done that.
So, Jeremy's lying.
And there's only one reason why he'd lie about that, isn't there? Detective Chief Inspector's a busy man.
You have anything more you need to tell, about Jeremy or anything else, you come to me, all right? DOOR SHUTS You! With me.
Now.
We were friends, nothing else, I swear.
But you had a key to her flat.
I looked after the place while she was away.
You're married, right, Frankie? The missus know about this house-minding arrangement? FRANKIE SIGHS Look.
I just try to help, OK? Poor Bambs.
She had a lot of problems.
What sort of problems? Money.
Sometimes I helped her that way.
I lent her money.
Drugs.
You help her that way? No.
Never.
We'll get toxicology back soon.
Find out if she's been using.
Might bring you in again when we do.
Have another chat.
Look, maybe she did drugs sometimes, but not from me.
What? Marijuana? Cocaine? And when she was coked up, was she violent? Oh, I can't believe she'd hurt her boys.
Was she violent? Sheila, you know, she erm She had a kind heart but a terrible temper.
Wild.
Look, before she went into hospital, she got crazy.
Really, really crazy.
Told me she was the Virgin Mary.
And her boys You know.
She said the devil was in them.
Her boys.
I told her, "No, you're confused," but she kept raving about it, you know, about the devil.
"He's in me, he's in me," she said.
In her boys.
In her mother as well.
And what did the devil want? Erm She erm She said erm, he could make her do sex with the boys.
Do some violence together.
You know, hurt people.
CRYING Crazy.
Crazy.
Thank you, Frankie.
Thank you.
Not a soul.
No sign of disturbance.
So why would the alarm have gone off? When we arrived, the front door was open.
Banging in the wind.
Someone's broken in, then.
It wasn't forced.
It was unlocked.
But I've got the only key.
Maybe you left it on the snib and the wind blew it open.
I didn't.
You'll want to be careful.
There's a lot of valuables in there.
I realise that.
Can we lock up for you now or? I can do it myself, thank you.
FLY BUZZING It's around here.
You say the place was locked up from the inside, but watch the latch.
Seems like it was locked from the inside, but it wasn't.
Someone could've got out and left it looking like the house was locked, but only if they knew about this window.
And who'd know about that? Someone who lived here.
Who'd grown up here.
He's just in the shed here.
He's my mum's dog.
None of the family want him and I can't keep him myself, so I could ask around.
I can't see him getting along without my mum.
This is kinder.
It's your call.
Just seems a shame.
DOG WHIMPERING Good dog, aren't we? Good dog.
Good dog.
Good boy.
It's done.
Some dogs do struggle when their owner passes.
Still, it seems a shame.
Jeremy.
Your sister, your parents, the boys.
They're all gone.
Dead.
You said everything would be all right.
You're saying it's murder suicide, then? I'm not just saying it, that's what happened.
Daughter killed them all then she shot herself.
You're looking after the family, all right? SOFT CHUCKLING What's this, then? MAN: Looks to me like a second bullet wound.
What, so she's been shot twice? You ever seen that happen? Not that I can recall.
I don't know where to start.
Perhaps you can tell me about Sheila.
When you met.
It would've been ten years back, I suppose.
She was doing a secretarial course in London.
We moved in pretty quick and we got married a couple of years later.
Her parents, they bought us a place.
Like a reward, I guess, for doing the right thing.
The right thing in their eyes anyway.
Bambs was pregnant.
That was with the twins? No, we lost that pregnancy.
The boys, they came after.
But by that time, the marriage was breaking up.
We'd just argue.
We'd argue.
The most terrible arguments.
Was Sheila violent when you argued? Well, she put her hand through a window once.
And she would She'd throw things.
And smash things.
Things that I loved.
Later, she had a nervous breakdown.
They put her in a hospital.
Her parents did, I mean.
When she was ill like that did you ever think she was a danger to the boys? Do you think I'd've left them with her if I believed that? She was their mother.
Well, since her last breakdown, I had the boys full-time.
But she drove them up to the farm on Monday? No, I did.
No, I took them.
And I left them there.
COLIN CRYING It's hard, but we need to go and make a formal identification of the family and the boys.
I couldn't do that.
Some people find it helps, gives them closure No, I can't.
I can't do that.
You're telling me my boys are dead, OK? And I accept that but I don't wanna see them like that.
I wanna remember them as they were.
Right.
I think that's enough for the time being.
I will need someone to identify them.
Someone who knew the whole family.
No, I can't face it.
Fine.
I'll do it.
Nevill and June were like my second parents, it's the least I can do for them.
I'll go with you.
Are you sure? Ann's doing it, Jules.
I don't think they need you No, I want to.
I want to help.
Things had been going well recently, for you and Jem? Getting serious? SHE SCOFFS I don't mean to pry, it's just I am family, but for you it can't be easy, being dragged into this.
Something so shocking and completely out of the blue.
It wasn't completely out of the blue.
Sheila'd been acting crazy all week.
Did you see her, then? At the farm.
Jem said so.
Sorry for the wait, ladies.
The way this'll work is I'll show you them one at a time, just the face, and you confirm it's who we think it is.
I only need one of you to give me the yes, so if the other disagrees or has anything to add, you just speak up, all right? Mrs Eaton? I just erm I don't know how I'm gonna go.
Seeing the boys again.
I'll do it.
I said I would.
You didn't even need to come.
One is enough.
I keep thinking everything looks so normal.
Like, I had breakfast, made tea.
So this can't have happened because this isn't normal.
HE EXHALES I have to tell you something, Col.
It was getting late yesterday evening and we were bringing the last bales in and I saw some rabbits.
The first thing I thought was to grab the Anschutz, you know, and sort 'em out.
But by the time I got back, they'd gone, so I went back inside and I put the gun down.
And then I heard some voices in the kitchen.
Mum, Dad and Sheila.
Upset.
You know, like they were arguing.
What did they say to her? Jem.
Mum said that the kids needed a proper home.
Somewhere stable.
She said Col, she said that they'd find a foster family through the church.
They couldn't do that.
I've got shared custody of those boys.
I know, I know.
I should've said something.
But I didn't.
The whole thing, it rattled me and so I forgot about the gun.
I just left it out there, on the bench, you know? The gun that she used.
It was just a mistake.
They're all gone.
My whole family are gone because I left that gun out.
Hey, hey.
You've got - You've got family, Jem.
- Yeah.
You've got me and we've got each other.
You always will.
We always will.
DMC reckon the press have already got the names of the victims, so you can go ahead and confirm them.
And the perpetrator? Tomorrow she'll be on every front page in the country, but for now they want us to avoid a confirmation that she's done it.
Until the coroner's report's in.
After that, well Bloody hell.
Detective Chief Inspector? We're ready when you are.
Evening, all.
I am Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Jones.
As you're aware, a major incident has occurred at a farm just outside the town of Tolleshunt D'Arcy in Essex.
After an unavoidable delay, due to the concerns about firearms in the house, officers entered the premises and found all five occupants deceased.
Obviously, I won't pre-empt the coroner's findings, except to say that we are currently treating this as a case of murder suicide.
INDISTINCT CHATTER CROWD CLAMOURING ALL TALKING AT ONCE MAN: Can you confirm that your ex-wife was the killer? CLAMOUR CONTINUES CROWD CONTINUES SHOUTING So, our shooter, Sheila Jean Caffell, 28.
Ex fashion model, currently unemployed.
Recently discharged from St Andrew's, a posh little psych hospital up in Northamptonshire.
We spoken to anyone up there? They'd been treating her following a major psychotic episode, but she has a long history of schizophrenia, so - Violent? - Well, the doctor said no, but she'd been getting regular injections of an anti-psychotic and they'd just dropped the dose by 50%.
- That's what's set her off, then.
- Doctor didn't think so, but But he didn't rule it out either, am I right? Sheila's mum was seeing the same guy.
What, the same headshrinker? Yeah, June Bamber, also hospitalised at St Andrews, for psychotic depression, May '82.
Press are gonna wet themselves.
Things like that do run in families.
But these two aren't related.
Not by blood anyway.
Hey? Sheila's ex, Colin Caffell, told me that she was adopted.
Her and the brother both, from different birth parents.
It's like an episode of Dallas.
LAUGHTER Anything from you, Ron? Post-mortems are scheduled for 9:00am tomorrow, so we'll know more when they're done.
Nothing we don't already know, then.
Well, I think that's us done.
Says here one of the uniforms at the scene may have seen movement from inside the house.
- Upstairs window.
- And your point, Stan? As we discussed, Guv, it looks like Sheila was shot twice, which doesn't sit so well with suicide, so I'm thinking, could someone else have been present and exited the house before the firearms squad set up a cordon? There was a full security inspection carried out as soon as the premises were secured.
The place was locked from the inside, no sign of forced entry, no means of exit.
So, no-one went in, no-one went out.
As we discussed.
Well, gentlemen, if Stanley's done playing Sherlock Holmes, I think we'll wind this up.
As we discussed.
I told him Ann? Your brother's here.
- So, they asleep? - More or less.
How do you talk to a child about something like that? How do you explain it to anyone? We all need time.
To process it.
- Accept that it actually happened.
- If it did happen.
- Sorry? - I don't know.
I just Do you really believe Sheila was capable of doing something like that? Apparently, she was very ill.
Far worse than we knew.
Ill or not, she was gentle, a gentle person.
Hard to believe that any mother would hurt her children.
But it does happen.
You can't smoke in here.
- Since when? - 1979.
Morning, all.
Stanley.
Didn't expect to see you here.
I'm minding the family.
Thought they should know how we're getting on.
All right.
I'm due back in Goldhanger for 11, so let's get started.
We not waiting for the DCI, then? Taff can't make it.
I'm standing in.
I did ask for someone from ballistics to attend.
I called it through, no-one available.
But they're happy for you to take the residue swabs yourself, given that it's a murder suicide.
Well, if ballistics are happy and Peter's willing, I see no problem.
Very well.
All five victims died as a direct result of gunshot wounds.
We have a total of 25 such wounds.
25 shots fired from a rifle with a magazine that holds ten rounds.
I'd say some shots were fired wildly, while others were accurate and lethally precise.
Calculated to cause death.
Any idea of the order of deaths? I'd need more information about the crime scene to determine that.
I'm sure that will be forthcoming, if required.
In the meantime? First up, Ralph Nevill Bamber.
61, shot eight times, including four closely grouped shots fired into his head, presumably in quick succession.
Another to the jaw and one to the mouth, as well as a number of blunt trauma injuries to his face, neck and arm, which are clearly defensive.
Inflicted with the rifle butt? Given the shape of the contusions, I'd say that's highly likely.
Kelly.
And then there are these.
STRAINING - Burns? - Mmm.
But at this point I can't give you any idea what caused them.
Maybe he was tortured.
A poker, perhaps.
Oddly, there are no corresponding marks on his pyjama top, even though the burned area was covered by his shirt, so they are something of a mystery.
- He's heavy.
- He's a big man.
But we're saying he was bludgeoned into submission by Sheila, who was built like Twiggy's thinner sister? I've seen women show incredible strength when riled.
And if he was already wounded It's probable he was, in which case he might well have been a less formidable opponent.
Again, I would need more evidence about the crime scene before determining that.
Next, June Bamber.
Also 61, shot 7 times.
In her neck, her right forearm, her right knee, twice in the chest and twice in the head.
The last shot, placed directly between her eyes and fired at close range, was the cause of death.
The boys, Nicholas and Daniel Caffell, both six.
Nicholas was shot three times, Daniel five.
All shots closely grouped, likely fired in quick succession.
The only saving grace I can find about this horrible business is that they appear to have died instantly.
- And Sheila? Two marks on her.
- Both bullet wounds.
How does that work? Well, I've experienced four or five such cases in the course of my career.
That's the first bullet.
Trajectory upwards and backwards, finishing up here, to the side of the spine.
But it didn't kill her? No.
Essentially, it was a serious flesh wound.
She'd have been quite capable of pulling the trigger a second time and inflicting this wound, which killed her instantly.
The body, any sign it's been manipulated? What are you getting at, Stanley? Could she have died somewhere else and been moved? Hypostasis is clearly evident, so there's no doubt she died where she was found.
If you're asking, "Could her suicide have been stage managed?" I doubt it, unless she was heavily drugged or otherwise incapacitated.
So, Peter, can I tell the guv we're done and dusted? I'll want toxicology before I make a final report, but based on the evidence available, I see nothing to contradict the murder suicide theory.
Well, that's it, then.
Well done.
Good work.
Taff'll be well pleased.
Stan.
Guv asked you to mind the family.
Candles and sandals.
So, you mind the bloody family.
All right? Never seen this place look so tidy.
Keeping busy.
If I slow down, I think I'll scream.
I take it you've not seen these.
Might make you reconsider the screaming.
"Neighbours revealed that Sheila Bamber, also known as Bambi due to her long shapely legs, had slid into a twilight world of hard drugs.
" If she wasn't of sound mind, then she started taking drugs, it might explain what happened.
I always tried to downplay it.
Would've destroyed Mum and Dad.
So, did she take drugs in front of the boys? - What do you think? - I don't know, I rarely saw her.
Well, what makes you think I'd know about her drug taking? Come on, Jeremy, I know what you get up to.
Look, give it a couple of days.
The police'll be able to tell you exactly what she was on.
Once they cut into her fatty tissue.
It all gets stored there, you know.
- Jem? Erm - Detective Sergeant, good morning.
I'm afraid I've got a meeting, with my parents' lawyer, so Don't worry, it shouldn't take too long.
Just tying up a few loose ends.
Well, sit down, please.
SOCO are finishing up at the farm today and the boys have asked if you'd like their help cleaning up.
There are a lot of blood-stained items.
Anything with blood on, you can burn.
I want it all gone.
We'll be replacing the door we smashed down getting into your parents house.
Putting in an alarm.
I can meet you over there tomorrow.
Give you the new key, show you how the alarm works.
I couldn't go back in there again.
OK.
I assume you've seen the papers.
A lot of rumours flying around about your sister.
I'm no expert on her private life.
You know, she lived in London, we moved in different circles.
Is there someone who could tell us? Frankie, I suppose.
Frankie Bidiwi.
Was he her boyfriend? Sheila's career as a model it had tanked.
Even before she went crazy.
Frankie would buy her presents, he'd pay the bills sometimes.
Sugar daddy.
Your parents weren't short of a quid.
She didn't go to them? No, she got plenty from them.
Mind, with Sheila, plenty was rarely enough.
So, that appointment.
Of course, yeah.
We'll leave you to it.
DOG YIPPING Oh, looks like he wants to be out.
- Jules, can you? - Here, let me.
One more thing.
- The rifle Sheila used, the Anschutz.
- Mmm.
She had a lot of experience with that, did she? No, I wouldn't say that.
When you first spoke to the police, you said she'd done target shooting.
She'd definitely been out on shoots once or twice, up in Scotland.
Why do you ask? Like Mickey said, just tying up loose ends.
Were you fishing for something back there? STAN CLEARS THROA Sheila had fancy finger nails.
Long, glossed.
And I'm thinking, unless she was an Olympic shooter, how did she manage to reload that magazine twice, without even chipping a nail? Good question.
Glad you like it.
REPORTER: As investigations continue, speculation is mounting that Sheila had incurred huge drug debts.
What role, if any, this played in the tragedy remains unclear.
Peter! Thanks for coming.
Word I got is you're winding up here today.
Thought you might like to look around the crime scene first.
Answer some of them questions.
We found all 25 bullet casings, so we do have a pretty good idea of where they were fired from.
Now, we're thinking Sheila must've fired from here.
11 shots.
Seven for June, which leaves four for Nevill.
He was shot eight times in total, which means he copped four more in the kitchen.
11 shots also means Sheila emptied the magazine then went downstairs to reload then came back up for a final shot, to June's head.
And how do we know the final shot was to June? Because this blood trail is hers.
Which means after the first volley of shots, before the last one, the killing shot, between her eyes, June had enough time to come all the way around here and back to the other side, where she died.
But what was she doing? What's over here? Mystery number one.
Now Sheila's fired ten shots.
Nevill's down, June's injured, but they're still alive, so she has to reload.
- And the bullets are downstairs.
- So she heads down.
Meanwhile, Nevill gets to his feet, makes his own way down.
- Why? - Maybe chasing Sheila.
Equally, he could have been after the phone.
Jeremy said his dad called him and the phone cut off.
We also know Nevill was attacked fairly close to that phone, bludgeoned numerous times.
But with all that shooting and mayhem going on, how is it the boys didn't wake? So maybe they were shot first.
You said three shots for Nicholas, five for Daniel.
All fired at close range in quick succession.
The shell distribution supports that.
If eight shots had been fired in here, then Nevill and June are up and awake and Sheila's only got two rounds left.
That's not enough to stop our Nev, much less June too.
What the hell's going on here? I thought this was a clean-up.
What the bloody hell's he doing here? I asked him in.
- You running this now, Sarge? - No, Guv.
Then why the hell are you managing my crime scene?! Those bodies shouldn't have been moved.
- Is that right? - There's something off.
Those bodies, this crime scene.
That was evidence.
Well, you think I've botched this.
Anyone else agree with the detective sergeant? Anyone?! You get this place cleared up.
And you! Outside.
You know how big this is? I've got the regional bloody superintendent on my back and he's got the Home Secretary riding him.
I've got reporters coming out of my arse I don't think Sheila did it.
You got one shred of evidence? Because I got plenty.
The woman was a nut job.
This house was locked up from the inside.
- The murder weapon was in her hands.
- There's something off.
Yeah.
A fucking mad woman killed her kids! Shot them in the head.
Do you not care about that? Look, I'm running this and I say it's tied up.
So you get behind me or you'll be gone.
And when I say gone, I mean gone.
Go on, have a bit.
It's bloody brilliant.
I'm fine.
I'm not gonna drink the whole bottle myself.
Really, I think we're both OK, Jem.
Er, well, I saw their lawyer about the will.
Assumed you'd want a report on where we all stand.
To tell you the truth, I hadn't given the will much thought.
How nice for you.
I, on the other hand, have farm workers who need to be paid.
I take it you've done well, then.
Aside from the fact my whole family's dead.
- CLEARS THROA - Go on, Jem.
Well, it's bad news, I'm afraid.
I've been told that I'm facing massive death duties, so I'm gonna be selling the lot.
- ASAP.
- You can't be serious.
I know it'll be hard for you both with mum's share of the caravan park going to strangers, but I don't have any choice.
You can't do this.
I'll talk to my lawyer.
I'm teasing.
Your face.
I'm teasing.
There's loads of money.
What?! Jesus Christ.
Seems like maybe you do care about the will.
Just a little bit.
Fine.
What does it say, Jeremy? Well, there's a bit of cash for you both, but the land holdings and businesses all go to me.
As to whether I'll be selling or not, well, I'll decide that in good time.
I'd like to have Auntie June's wedding ring.
- What? - She promised it to me and - When was that? - Years ago.
And it would mean a lot to me, as a keepsake.
EXHALES I can't help.
All their personal effects will be going with them.
Seems a shame to bury such a lovely piece of jewellery.
It won't be buried, I'm having them all cremated.
- What? - Their bodies aren't whole.
I think it's better that way.
You know Auntie June would've wanted a traditional funeral.
I don't care.
A traditional burial in a churchyard.
She's not in charge any more.
I am.
And I've made my decision.
You're ex-Army, right? Infantry.
Too much bloody marching.
You ever wonder why a 50-year-old career cop's still a DS? Police isn't that different from the Forces.
It's all about the team.
Follow orders, back the guv, play for the team.
And Stan he never did get that.
- You used to call him the cuckoo.
- I was a teenager.
- Still, you said it.
We both did.
- So? So I just want to be sure our judgement isn't being clouded by other factors.
We both know what we need to do and I'm going to do it.
Whether you come with me or not is up to you.
Watch out! INDISTINCT CHATTER Mrs Eaton, the farmhouse was secure.
No-one went in or out.
I don't care.
I'm telling you Sheila was not capable of murder.
She was mentally ill, schizophrenic.
Ill or not, we knew her, you didn't.
And how often had you seen her over the past five years, eh? Not much, I'm guessing.
Maybe Christmas? Your auntie's birthday? One thing I am sure of, Sheila knew nothing about guns, so how she could have shot them all? Your cousin Jeremy says different.
He said she'd been out shooting.
- Well, he's wrong or he's lying.
- Why would he do that? Look, we aren't here to accuse anyone.
We just We're concerned that you're jumping to conclusions, treating this as a closed case.
- Stop writing.
- Why? I want a record of this.
Stop writing or you'll get out.
If you're going to ignore the vital evidence You're helping me out, are you? Giving me vital evidence? I am telling you that Sheila couldn't have done this.
POUNDS FIST ON DESK Who the hell do you think you are?! Hey? Miss Bloody Marple?! Get out of my office! Ann, I think we should go.
Mrs Eaton.
Hold up.
We put an alarm in over at the farmhouse.
I need to take someone over there, show 'em how it works.
What business is that of mine? Jeremy doesn't wanna go in there.
If you will, we could take a walk through the house.
Have a chat.
INDISTINCT CHATTER I used to pretend these were German bunkers.
Drop in a grenade, clear out the Nazis.
So you took the boys up here? Yeah, Sheila used to take them.
They'd play fairy rings with the tyres.
No grenades required.
It wasn't all bad, you know, this place.
They had fun here too.
I remember this time Bambs and I decided to walk down to the seawall together.
Your dad, he had rapeseed in all the fields.
It was just the most brilliant yellow.
So I suggested to her we should take some photos, you know, for her portfolio.
We were messing around.
Bambs took off her top.
- But - My mum found you.
It was later, back at the house, and June said something to her.
Something bad.
Bambs wouldn't talk about it, but I knew.
Sometimes I wonder how things went so wrong for Bambs.
And I think maybe it was me, walking out on her.
- It wasn't.
- But then I remember that time.
I remember that time in the rapeseed and I think your mum did this.
- Planted the poison.
- Maybe.
But she's a pillar of the community.
And Sheila's the villain.
And that's how she'll be remembered.
The mad model who murdered her family.
HE GROANS We won't remember her that way.
HE EXHALES And that's what matters.
Right? Col.
COLIN SNIFFLES Yeah.
MICKEY: Press this to arm it.
When you wanna turn it off, just enter your four digit code again.
BEEPING We also replaced the door our boys knocked down coming in here.
That's your new keys.
There was a rug here.
It was burned.
Badly blood-stained.
This is where my uncle was found? That's right.
The rest of them? Upstairs, in the bedrooms.
I don't understand.
The moment one shot was fired, wouldn't they have all rushed out? The Anschutz had a sound moderator, like a silencer.
There was no silencer on the gun when we found it.
Well, there should've been.
Nevill always left it on the rifle.
Jeremy says he was shooting rabbits that afternoon.
He might have taken it off.
Mickey, I'd like Mr Boutflour to check the outbuildings, see that they're secure.
- Could you take him? - Yeah.
So, you don't think Sheila did this.
No.
I don't.
If it wasn't her? - Jeremy.
- Why? It's not right, the way he's been behaving.
He almost seems glad.
And that's it? He claims Nevill called him.
Said Sheila had gone wild with a gun.
I simply don't believe she would've done that.
So, Jeremy's lying.
And there's only one reason why he'd lie about that, isn't there? Detective Chief Inspector's a busy man.
You have anything more you need to tell, about Jeremy or anything else, you come to me, all right? DOOR SHUTS You! With me.
Now.
We were friends, nothing else, I swear.
But you had a key to her flat.
I looked after the place while she was away.
You're married, right, Frankie? The missus know about this house-minding arrangement? FRANKIE SIGHS Look.
I just try to help, OK? Poor Bambs.
She had a lot of problems.
What sort of problems? Money.
Sometimes I helped her that way.
I lent her money.
Drugs.
You help her that way? No.
Never.
We'll get toxicology back soon.
Find out if she's been using.
Might bring you in again when we do.
Have another chat.
Look, maybe she did drugs sometimes, but not from me.
What? Marijuana? Cocaine? And when she was coked up, was she violent? Oh, I can't believe she'd hurt her boys.
Was she violent? Sheila, you know, she erm She had a kind heart but a terrible temper.
Wild.
Look, before she went into hospital, she got crazy.
Really, really crazy.
Told me she was the Virgin Mary.
And her boys You know.
She said the devil was in them.
Her boys.
I told her, "No, you're confused," but she kept raving about it, you know, about the devil.
"He's in me, he's in me," she said.
In her boys.
In her mother as well.
And what did the devil want? Erm She erm She said erm, he could make her do sex with the boys.
Do some violence together.
You know, hurt people.
CRYING Crazy.
Crazy.
Thank you, Frankie.
Thank you.
Not a soul.
No sign of disturbance.
So why would the alarm have gone off? When we arrived, the front door was open.
Banging in the wind.
Someone's broken in, then.
It wasn't forced.
It was unlocked.
But I've got the only key.
Maybe you left it on the snib and the wind blew it open.
I didn't.
You'll want to be careful.
There's a lot of valuables in there.
I realise that.
Can we lock up for you now or? I can do it myself, thank you.
FLY BUZZING It's around here.
You say the place was locked up from the inside, but watch the latch.
Seems like it was locked from the inside, but it wasn't.
Someone could've got out and left it looking like the house was locked, but only if they knew about this window.
And who'd know about that? Someone who lived here.
Who'd grown up here.
He's just in the shed here.
He's my mum's dog.
None of the family want him and I can't keep him myself, so I could ask around.
I can't see him getting along without my mum.
This is kinder.
It's your call.
Just seems a shame.
DOG WHIMPERING Good dog, aren't we? Good dog.
Good dog.
Good boy.
It's done.
Some dogs do struggle when their owner passes.
Still, it seems a shame.