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S8E3

Executed in Error

Premiere: 10/1/2008 | 0:30 | NR

In 1910, American doctor Hawley Crippen was convicted in England of poisoning and dismembering his wife. The vicious murder-and execution that followed made international headlines. It was a landmark case — the first trial by media, and the first to be dominated by forensic science. But did the prosecutors get it right?

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About the Episode

One of the most sensational crimes of all time has been re-examined by forensic detectives – with results that are equally sensational. Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen ranks second only to Jack the Ripper in the murderers’ hall of infamy. He was hanged in 1910, convicted of poisoning, then chopping to pieces his wife Cora, before fleeing to America with his young lover. Thanks to new DNA analysis investigators have now proved that the victim was not his wife at all. Crippen was executed for a crime he didn’t commit. Their further DNA work — secret up until now — throws up startling new evidence on what may have really happened. The investigation reveals a historic miscarriage of justice — and poses uncomfortable questions for the 1910 police and prosecutors who claimed to have solved the crime of the century.

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PRODUCTION CREDITS

Produced and Directed by
ANDY WEBB

Narrator
LIEV SCHREIBER

Executive Producer for Films of Record
ROGER GRAEF

Executive in Charge
WILLIAM R. GRANT

Executive Producer
JARED LIPWORTH

A Films of Record production for Thirteen/WNET New York,
in association with FIVE and History UK.

© 2008 Educational Broadcasting Corporation. All Rights Reserved.