We're back in Victorian South London with a case so grim it became known as the Barnes mystery. In March 1879, widow Julia Martha Thomas hired a new servant, Kate Webster - a decision that would prove fatal. Within weeks Julia was dead, dismembered in her own kitchen copper, and Kate was strutting around Richmond in her employer's clothes, even trying to sell off the furniture.

In this episode we unravel the murder, the cover-up, and the sensational Old Bailey trial that made Kate infamous as the "Richmond Murderess". Along the way, we talk about whether we thrive under our own jurisdiction (spoiler: no), how not to make coffee when you're already in a mood, and the ongoing curse of smashed plates and dead mice.

Sources include:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14034969

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9dORAA9Ll4

https://radar.brookes.ac.uk/radar/file/5536ba5a-c8d3-4492-ae2d-2836a0f6cad3/1/Chapter%206%20Kilday%20%28True%20Crime%20Histories%29.pdf

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/104299579/julia_martha-thomas

https://historianandrew.medium.com/why-kate-websters-murder-of-julia-martha-thomas-captivated-london-in-1879-adbc17dd0b63

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0lfwfjc

https://truecrimearchives.blog/kate-webster-axe-murderess-of-richmond/

https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna43653402

https://www.irishpost.com/features/ten-facts-kate-webster-irish-maid-hanged-dismembering-employer-victorian-london-131185

Support the show

Thanks for tuning in! If you loved diving into the dark corners of South London with us, don't forget to hit that subscribe button to never miss an episode of "Sinister South."

Also, follow us on Instagram @SinisterSouthPodcast for sneak peeks, behind-the-scenes content, and more cheeky banter, or www.sinistersouthpod.co.uk. Remember, every crime tells a story... and South is the best side of the river...

Produced and hosted by Hannah Williams & Rachel Baines
Mixed & edited by Purple Waves Sound (A.K.A Will)

We're back! Season 3 is a go... what does season 3 do differently from season 2 you ask? Well... nothing really! HOWEVER... We're back with a big ol’ case – the brutal murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby in Woolwich in 2013.

In this episode we cover the events of that shocking day, the life of Lee Rigby, and the aftermath that rippled far beyond South London. From the horrific attack in broad daylight, to the courage of bystanders, the trial of his killers, and the way far-right groups tried to hijack his memory – this is a tough one, but one we felt we had to do justice to.

Of course, it wouldn’t be Sinister South without a bit of life admin first. Expect chat about hen dos and weddings, near-death experiences with kids wielding water guns, Hannah’s bright pink dress, Rachel’s new obsession with painting by numbers, and why running a virtual farm might just be more stressful than real life.

Sources include:

Support the show

Thanks for tuning in! If you loved diving into the dark corners of South London with us, don't forget to hit that subscribe button to never miss an episode of "Sinister South."

Also, follow us on Instagram @SinisterSouthPodcast for sneak peeks, behind-the-scenes content, and more cheeky banter, or www.sinistersouthpod.co.uk. Remember, every crime tells a story... and South is the best side of the river...

Produced and hosted by Hannah Williams & Rachel Baines
Mixed & edited by Purple Waves Sound (A.K.A Will)

We start this week chatting about Hannah’s all-consuming new farming obsession (no, not in real life – in a mobile game) and Rachel’s daughter delivering the line of the year to a would-be eight-year-old suitor.

But soon we turn to the devastating story of Lakanal House. In July 2009, a fire tore through the Camberwell tower block, claiming the lives of Catherine Hickman, Dayana Francisquini, her children Thais and Felipe, and Helen Udoka with her newborn daughter Michelle. It exposed fatal flaws in fire safety, building regulations, and the infamous “stay put” policy. This was a tragedy that should have been a wake-up call, yet eight years later, Grenfell showed how little had changed. We explore the events, the victims, the investigation, and the warnings that went unheeded.

Sources include

https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2013/mar/28/lakanal-house-fire-inquest-verdict

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-39211598

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/lakanal-house-fire-the-human-cost-39170

https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/lakanal-house-fire-what-architects-must-learn/8650805.article

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/11461/2170793.pdf

https://assets.grenfelltowerinquiry.org.uk/LFB00032148_Exhibit%20RJD_9%20-%20Report%20‘Coroner’s%20Inquests%20following%20the%20fire%20at%20Lakanal%20House%20on%203%20July%202009.pdf

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/14887/fire-safety-purpose-built-flats.pdf

Support the show

Thanks for tuning in! If you loved diving into the dark corners of South London with us, don't forget to hit that subscribe button to never miss an episode of "Sinister South."

Also, follow us on Instagram @SinisterSouthPodcast for sneak peeks, behind-the-scenes content, and more cheeky banter, or www.sinistersouthpod.co.uk. Remember, every crime tells a story... and South is the best side of the river...

Produced and hosted by Hannah Williams & Rachel Baines
Mixed & edited by Purple Waves Sound (A.K.A Will)