Uncovering the Horrors of the Wests’ Crimes: A British Horror Story
The Netflix documentary series, Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story, has shed new light on one of the most heinous serial killer cases in British history. The series, directed by Dan Dewsbury, features previously unseen police video and unheard audio recordings, offering a fresh perspective on the crimes committed by Fred and Rose West.
According to an article by The Independent, in February 1994, Gloucester Police stumbled upon one of the worst serial killer cases in British history. The case involved Fred West, a builder who had murdered his daughter Heather, cut up her body, and buried her under the garden where his other children played. The police soon discovered that Fred had an accomplice, his wife Rose, and that they had killed many more women and girls.
The case stunned the world in 1994, and its impact is still felt today. As Dewsbury notes, "These were killings that had been happening, for the most part, in a terraced house in central Gloucester. Some went back as far as the Sixties and had gone undiscovered for decades. The fact that many of them were committed by a couple with children, within the walls of their family home, only added to the horror."
Dewsbury’s documentary series aims to show the ripple effect of the Wests’ crimes on the people who got tangled up in their web. The series features interviews with people who had never been interviewed about the case before, including Dezra Chambers, sister of victim Alison Chambers; Rachel Carlyle, the first local journalist on the case; and Sir Brian Leveson, the prosecutor.
The interviews are harrowing and emotional, with many of the participants sharing their struggles to come to terms with the crimes. Marian Partington, the sister of victim Lucy Partington, talks about her struggle to accept her sibling’s death because it was "so brutal and meaningless". Mary-Ann Mitchell, the sister of victim Juanita Mott, recalls watching their mother "crumble" at the news that her daughter’s body had been found.
The documentary series also explores the police investigation and the missed opportunities along the way. The police were advised by forensic psychologist Paul Britton to allow Fred to think he was taking part in a shared, equal conversation, so they let him "smoke, wax lyrically, relax", and ask open questions. This technique led to Fred stumbling into new confessions, at one point accidentally referring to three bodies at a point when only two had been discovered.
Dewsbury believes that there are "huge, huge lessons" to be learned from the Wests’ case. "We know how unintegrated the systems are still, but they were even more so in Britain at that time – with the NHS and police and social services not talking to each other," he says.
One of the most significant moments in the case was when Caroline Roberts, a former nanny of the Wests, was abducted and sexually assaulted by Fred and Rose in 1972. She went to the police at the time, but the case only went to the magistrate’s court, and the Wests got away with a £25 fine each. If only this incident had been taken more seriously, the Wests may never have gone on to kill so many people.
The documentary series also highlights the importance of listening to survivors and giving them a voice. Roberts, who died of cancer in 2016, was a witness in Rose’s 1995 trial, and her evidence was crucial in securing Rose’s conviction.
Dewsbury’s approach to the documentary series is a stark contrast to other true-crime dramas, such as Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. While that series was criticised for romanticising the killer and not consulting with the families of the victims, Dewsbury’s series aims to bring a different perspective to the story.
As reported by The Independent, Dewsbury says, "Look, I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t believe I could do it with integrity, and if it hadn’t been proven that Netflix would allow me to do it [that way]. Every person who is involved in that case has had a phone call from me… The reason why I stand by this series is because I know I’ve done it the right way. I’m not a salacious person. I want to bring the biggest audience to this, but I also want to make that audience understand there is a different POV."
The documentary series, Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story, is a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of one of the most heinous serial killer cases in British history. It is a testament to the enduring impact of the Wests’ crimes and a reminder of the importance of listening to survivors and giving them a voice.
The documentary series is now available on Netflix, and it is a must-watch for anyone interested in true crime stories and the complexities of human nature.
As Dewsbury notes, "Life isn’t tied in a bow, and you can’t just switch off and walk away… I want [viewers to] remember the fact that these people have had to go through something terrible. It’s not a funny story to me. It’s not a piece of culture, or whatever you want to want to call it. I’m not interested in that museum or anything like that. What I’m interested in is hearing these people’s stories and trying to tell them with emotion and integrity."
The Independent has spoken to various individuals for this article, using information and insights provided by them to offer a picture of what it was like for those who have suffered in the case of Fred and Rose West. The Independent has provided, and will continue to provide, coverage of the case. The Independent will continue reporting as more information is confirmed.
‘Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story’ is out now on Netflix.
