Findmypast's ‘Was Justice Served?’ podcast returns: Can you solve real crimes?
TV presenter and former police officer Rav Wilding kicks off the new season, challenging listeners to solve real historical crimes
The second season of podcast series, Was Justice Served? from Findmypast, launches on today - with an episode featuring Crimewatch presenter and former police officer Rav Wilding, and a murder which led to one of the last public executions at Newgate.
Following a successful first season, the podcast offers a refreshing twist on the true crime format. By giving free access to case files for each crime – a set of historical records detailing events as they happened – listeners can become jurors and decide for themselves whether justice was served.
In the first episode, Rav Wilding is joined by co-hosts, criminologist Professor David Wilson and professional genealogist Jen Baldwin from Findmypast, to re-analyse the notorious murder of Mary Emsley.
Mary was a wealthy widow who inherited more than 500 properties after her husband’s death. In 1860, she was found murdered in her London home, and two men were arrested for the crime. Drawing on historical records and modern-day criminal analysis, the hosts delve deeper into the case, before asking listeners to decide for themselves - Was Justice Served?
Remaining episodes for the podcast will go live weekly following the launch episode on Tuesday, 12th August, unpacking six historical crimes with big twists and turns along the way.
The crimes covered include a scandalous love triangle which led to the poisoning of the husband, a potential fraudster or a shipwrecked son returning to claim a family fortune, a brutal murder fueled by alcohol and love rivalry, two murders which occurred two weeks apart in the same town, and a shooting in a fascinating LGBTQ case.
Listeners can explore archive materials brought together in curated ‘case files’ for free using Findmypast’s Collections feature. These files include historical newspaper reports covering the crime scene, evidence, trial, and key figures involved, helping listeners piece together a detailed picture of how the events unfolded. Aspiring jurors and digital detectives are then invited to share their verdicts on social media using the hashtag #WasJusticeServed.
Was Justice Served? can be downloaded via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. For each episode, a complete collection of the historical newspapers referenced is available online at www.findmypast.co.uk/wasjusticeserved.