The Babes in the Woods Murders cover art

The Babes in the Woods Murders

The Shocking True Story of How Child Murderer Russell Bishop Was Finally Brought to Justice

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The Babes in the Woods Murders

By: Paul Cheston
Narrated by: Karl Jenkinson
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About this listen

The heartbreaking true story of two families' 30-year fight for justice for their murdered daughters

On 9 October 1986, Russell Bishop sexually assaulted and strangled nine-year-old Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway, in woods near Brighton. He did not answer for his crimes for over 30 years.

Bishop - a petty criminal known to both girls' families - was charged after his suspiciously close involvement in the search for the bodies. But a last-minute change of testimony from his then-girlfriend allowed him to go free, and the Babes in the Woods murders became one of Britain's most infamous cold cases.

In this first book on the case, veteran crime reporter Paul Cheston brings to life this 30 year saga of murder, betrayal and injustice - before three decades of hurt led, at last, to healing, justice and hope for the parents of two murdered girls.

Written with the approval and cooperation of the Fellows family, The Babes in the Woods Murders sheds light once and for all on the awful truth behind what happened on 9 October 1986 and how the courtroom dramas that unfolded over a generation finally brought down one of Britain's most depraved killers.

©2019 Paul Cheston (P)2019 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc Murder True Crime Emotionally Gripping

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No parent should go through torment like this, I really think men like this should have the death penalty, they will never change. I was only young when this happened so I just wasn't aware of things that happened like this obviously my parents did say don't talk to strangers by this man was not a stranger, so sad.

So utterly sad

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It is so important that we remember the victims and this book captures that so well. Poor poor family.
RIP girls xx

Brilliant

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This story reveals a lot about injustice to the innocent & how monsters can escape justice for years. A bugbear for me is when they talk about the guilty having rights. If I could change the law they would lose any rights once convicted. They chose not to live in our society so why should they have rights like someone who is innocent would.

Distressing but very detailed.

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Wonder book so we'll written and full of facts not fiction.. Highly recommended. A must listen to five stars

Fantastic

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Telling the stories of the families rather than focusing too much on police procedure etc, thus is a painful insight into that most awful of crimes.

The families involved lived on an estate in Brighton where life was a bit rough and ready. The story is full of everyday domestic violence and affairs on the estate, where many of the inhabitants are more like children, shouting and swearing and gossiping about each other

That being the case it would gave been a good idea to have someone with the right type of voice narrating this; or, have two or more voices, one to read the story and one or more to speak the dialogue, of which there is plenty. Instead, they chose a narrator with the usual queen’s English type voice who then adopts a sort of Danny Dyer type accent for the men and also attempts a rough female voice. He does his best and no disrespect to him but posh people doing rough voices does jar slightly when listening

Minor point though - the book was grimly fascinating. The cliche “every parent’s worst nightmare” is shown to be true here as the very worst of humanity is exposed for the scum that it is

Horrible story but interesting

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As the author warns at the beginning there are a lot of names to keep in mind made more difficult by some having the same first name, but eventually the important ones emerge and the gripping, true story emerges. It's an amazing tale of dogged persistence by the families of the two murdered girls. The police who first investigated the case 30 years earlier certainly don't come out of the story well. Thank goodness for the recent strides made in DNA analysis that is reaping rewards in clearing up cold cases.

Took a while to get into it but then gripping

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I really enjoyed how it was read. Such a tragic story 😪 God bless them both

passed a few hours

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It was a hard listen in parts 😢 I’m glad the families got justice but for it to take so long it’s heartbreaking god bless those two little girls young lives taken way to soon xx

Heart wrenching

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The heartbreaking story of the horrific murder in Wild Park Brighton in 1986, and the amazing strength and fortitude shown by the families of the two 9 year old friends, Nicola and Karen, and their fight for Justice and the life sentence of the dangerous paedophile Russell Bishop.
Their fight took them 31 years before they were to hear the Guilty and correct verdict for this evil predetor at the Old Bailey in 2018. RIP now Nicky and Karen.

Heartbreaking

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Loved this, perfect English true crime story, heard the story numerous time but felt I was there with this book

Excellent

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