0:00:00 > 0:00:00- Subtitles
0:00:00 > 0:00:02- Subtitles- - Subtitles
0:00:04 > 0:00:05- In a murder case...
0:00:05 > 0:00:08- ..it's a race against time - to discover what happened.
0:00:09 > 0:00:14- What, why and who's responsible?
0:00:16 > 0:00:21- I'm Mali Harries. I want to learn - more about a detective's work.
0:00:22 > 0:00:24- The scrutiny and analysis.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30- The interrogation and psychology.
0:00:35 > 0:00:39- Tonight, I discover - how the police solved the case...
0:00:39 > 0:00:42- ..of the Saturday Night Strangler...
0:00:42 > 0:00:47- ..decades after the rape and murder - of three young women.
0:00:50 > 0:00:54- This time, the criminals aren't - the only ones under the microscope.
0:00:54 > 0:00:56- We focus on the detectives...
0:00:57 > 0:01:00- ..and their unrelenting work - to discover the truth.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18- In this woods, - on a Sunday morning...
0:01:18 > 0:01:23- ..40 years ago, the bodies of - two young women were discovered.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27- How did their lives end here?
0:01:27 > 0:01:32- Why did it take so long - to capture the man who killed them?
0:01:36 > 0:01:39- September 1973.
0:01:39 > 0:01:43- The Top Rank nightclub in Swansea - was packed on a Saturday night.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47- Young people from across South Wales - were present.
0:01:50 > 0:01:52- The Rank was the place to be.
0:01:54 > 0:01:57- Part of the crowd - leaving one night...
0:01:57 > 0:02:00- ..were Geraldine - and best friend Pauline.
0:02:01 > 0:02:05- It was cold, raining and both needed - a lift home to Llandarcy.
0:02:06 > 0:02:11- A taxi was too expensive - and the last bus had already left.
0:02:12 > 0:02:16- Looking for a lift - was their only choice.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19- Everyone hitched - on a Saturday night.
0:02:31 > 0:02:33- They never arrived home.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47- Geraldine Hughes - came from Llandarcy.
0:02:48 > 0:02:50- Pauline Floyd came from Skewen.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53- Both were only 16 years old.
0:02:54 > 0:02:58- Their bodies were dumped in woods - near Llandarcy.
0:02:58 > 0:03:03- Both had injuries to the head - and had been strangled by rope.
0:03:10 > 0:03:13- A local man walking his dog, - Mr Watkins.
0:03:14 > 0:03:19- As he was walking here that morning - he looked into this area...
0:03:19 > 0:03:23- ..and saw what he thought - was a tailor's dummy.
0:03:23 > 0:03:27- He walked in, - only about 20 yards in...
0:03:27 > 0:03:29- ..and discovered Geraldine's body.
0:03:30 > 0:03:35- About another 100 yards in, - they found Pauline's body.
0:03:38 > 0:03:42- After searching the woods - on the Jersey Marine road...
0:03:42 > 0:03:46- ..the police surmised that Pauline - had tried to run for help.
0:03:47 > 0:03:49- There was a possibility - that the murderer...
0:03:50 > 0:03:52- ..had kept one of the girls - in the car...
0:03:52 > 0:03:55- ..while he attacked the other one.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58- It was difficult to determine - what had happened.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02- We are certain - that they were killed here...
0:04:02 > 0:04:05- ..and the same person - had killed both.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08- When the forensic team - visited the scene...
0:04:08 > 0:04:13- ..they were adamant that - one person had killed both girls.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23- The murderer left the girls - lying in the mud and rain...
0:04:23 > 0:04:25- ..still wearing their clothes.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28- The post-mortem showed - that both had been raped.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31- The mud inside their tights - suggested...
0:04:32 > 0:04:36- ..that the murderer allowed them - to dress before killing them.
0:04:36 > 0:04:40- This had all happened less - than a mile from Geraldine's home.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51- The girls were buried - in Coedffranc Cemetery in Skewen.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55- Both had just left school.
0:04:55 > 0:04:59- They'd been working - in a local sewing factory.
0:05:08 > 0:05:10- I knew all the family.
0:05:11 > 0:05:13- Her uncle lived next-door to me.
0:05:13 > 0:05:21- I remember Geraldine and her brother - growing up in Llandarcy.
0:05:22 > 0:05:28- It was a huge shock to know - that someone had been murdered.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31- Llandarcy is such a small town.
0:05:31 > 0:05:33- We all know each other.
0:05:34 > 0:05:38- Everyone was shocked.
0:05:41 > 0:05:46- Local people had never heard - the words serial killer before.
0:05:46 > 0:05:50- There were fears that the murderer - could strike again.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53- The media were heavily involved.
0:05:54 > 0:05:55- "A brutal sex attack."
0:05:56 > 0:06:00- Those were the words of Chief - Superintendent Ray Allen today.
0:06:00 > 0:06:06- "We are dealing with a dangerous man - and he's likely to strike again,"...
0:06:06 > 0:06:10- ..said Mr Allen, "I don't think - he can control himself."
0:06:12 > 0:06:16- It was an important story because - so much attention was given to it...
0:06:16 > 0:06:19- ..by the Welsh press - and the papers in Fleet Street.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23- The murderer was dubbed - the Saturday Night Strangler.
0:06:23 > 0:06:27- That was the catalyst for a frenzy - - everyone feared the worst.
0:06:31 > 0:06:33- You know as well as I do...
0:06:33 > 0:06:37- ..that fear has been struck - into people's hearts...
0:06:37 > 0:06:40- ..because of the tragedy - in this locality.
0:06:40 > 0:06:44- Oh, terrible. - It's really shocked the whole area.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47- I still see many, many girls - hitching lifts.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51- It's very upsetting.
0:06:51 > 0:06:55- This is a close-knit community, - as are the surrounding areas.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57- When this happened...
0:06:58 > 0:07:02- ..two 16-year-old girls - murdered on a Saturday night...
0:07:03 > 0:07:05- ..there was mass panic.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08- The police published posters.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11- 'Don't thumb lifts - - it causes death.'
0:07:11 > 0:07:14- The posters were hung in pubs.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17- The murderer was still on the loose.
0:07:22 > 0:07:26- The journey from the centre of - Swansea to Llandarcy is seven miles.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30- The police took statements - from witnesses...
0:07:30 > 0:07:34- ..who had seen the girls' - last movements on this road.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40- A local man saw Geraldine - and Pauline in Swansea...
0:07:40 > 0:07:44- ..getting in to a white car - similar to an Austin 1100.
0:07:44 > 0:07:48- Another witness saw a similar car - parked near the woods in Llandarcy.
0:07:48 > 0:07:52- The white car became the centre - point of the investigation.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57- According to one of the witnesses...
0:07:57 > 0:08:01- ..the driver had dark, shabby hair - and a moustache.
0:08:03 > 0:08:07- The car was the only other - piece of evidence.
0:08:23 > 0:08:30- Just on the corner here, - a white car was seen about 2.30am.
0:08:32 > 0:08:39- They thought it was either an Austin - 1100, Morris 1100 or an Austin Maxi.
0:08:40 > 0:08:45- Once they had that information...
0:08:45 > 0:08:49- ..they started the investigation - into the murders of the girls.
0:08:49 > 0:08:53- The primary evidence from - the crime scene was the white car.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58- I remember the night-shifts.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01- They were out stopping - every white car.
0:09:01 > 0:09:06- They concentrated on everyone who - owned an Austin 1100 or Austin 1300.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09- Detectives went out, - interviewed men...
0:09:09 > 0:09:13- ..asked them how long - they'd owned the car...
0:09:13 > 0:09:18- ..what were their whereabouts - when the two girls died.
0:09:18 > 0:09:22- They'd check the car, - look for things out of the ordinary.
0:09:24 > 0:09:28- There was a possible link - with another case.
0:09:28 > 0:09:32- Three months earlier, - a girl's body was discovered...
0:09:33 > 0:09:36- ..near the disused, remote - Garth colliery in the area.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39- On the way home from a nightclub - on a Saturday night...
0:09:40 > 0:09:42- ..Sandra Newton had been raped.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46- She was strangled - with the hem of her skirt.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51- Sandra was also 16 years old.
0:09:52 > 0:09:56- At the time, - her boyfriend was implicated.
0:09:56 > 0:10:00- He was the last person - to see Sandra Newton alive.
0:10:00 > 0:10:04- Once they'd left the nightclub - in Briton Ferry...
0:10:04 > 0:10:07- ..they walked along the street...
0:10:07 > 0:10:11- ..and for whatever reason, - he said he went home alone...
0:10:11 > 0:10:15- ..and let Sandra walk home - on her own in the wind and rain.
0:10:16 > 0:10:22- At the time, the police had their - suspicions about her boyfriend.
0:10:22 > 0:10:26- A witness had seen a white car, - an Austin again...
0:10:26 > 0:10:29- ..driving at speed - through Cimla that night.
0:10:30 > 0:10:35- Sandra's boyfriend did not own a car - and didn't have a driving licence.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38- Everyone had a view - about the murderer's identity.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42- Psychologists and foreign experts.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45- Each one had their own theory.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49- When he got out - with the two other girls...
0:10:49 > 0:10:51- ..he was less good-dressed.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55- I think he looks like this.
0:10:55 > 0:11:00- It could be that the murders - are through moon madness.
0:11:04 > 0:11:06- Months passed.
0:11:08 > 0:11:12- Over 11,000 car owners - were questioned.
0:11:12 > 0:11:17- 4,000 statements were taken - by Austin owners.
0:11:17 > 0:11:20- There was no CCTV - or computers in those days.
0:11:23 > 0:11:26- At the time, this was - the biggest investigation....
0:11:27 > 0:11:29- ..in the history - of South Wales Police.
0:11:30 > 0:11:34- The paperwork became a bigger burden - than finding the girls' killer.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38- The police interviewed - thousands of men...
0:11:39 > 0:11:42- ..but not one of them - stood out as a murderer.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44- None at all.
0:11:49 > 0:11:53- In September 1973, - hundreds of men worked in this area.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57- Some worked on the construction - of the M4 motorway...
0:11:57 > 0:12:00- ..others worked - in the Port Talbot steelworks.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03- Many were associated - with the fair in Neath.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07- They were now spread - across the whole of Britain.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10- The murderer could have long gone.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13- The detectives - struggled with the paperwork...
0:12:13 > 0:12:16- ..while the murderer - was on the loose.
0:12:16 > 0:12:16- .
0:12:23 > 0:12:23- Subtitles
0:12:23 > 0:12:25- Subtitles- - Subtitles
0:12:35 > 0:12:39- As detectives drowned under - all the paperwork in the '70s...
0:12:39 > 0:12:43- ..the Saturday Night Strangler - was still at large.
0:12:45 > 0:12:50- But the police never close - an unsolved murder case.
0:12:50 > 0:12:54- Over the decades, they revisited - the case of a murderer...
0:12:54 > 0:12:59- ..who'd raped and killed - three girls in South Wales.
0:13:05 > 0:13:09- At the end of the '90s, DNA science - provided the opportunity...
0:13:09 > 0:13:11- ..to reinvestigate - forensic evidence.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15- DNA could change everything.
0:13:19 > 0:13:22- Experts examined - the girls' clothing...
0:13:22 > 0:13:24- ..including this jacket.
0:13:24 > 0:13:30- After two years, they extracted - a full DNA profile of the murderer.
0:13:30 > 0:13:35- That profile wasn't on - the national DNA database.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47- 27 years after the murders...
0:13:48 > 0:13:51- ..South Wales Police - launched Operation Magnum...
0:13:52 > 0:13:56- ..and gave three detectives the task - of researching the case anew.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59- The aim was to draw up a shortlist - of 500 names...
0:14:00 > 0:14:03- ..from the thousands - that had been investigated.
0:14:06 > 0:14:11- How did you choose the 500 - from the original list of 30,000?
0:14:12 > 0:14:17- We had index cards, - around 30,000 of them.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21- There were over 5,000 statements.
0:14:21 > 0:14:26- On every card, their name, - where they lived, date of birth.
0:14:26 > 0:14:30- If we'd had statements from them...
0:14:30 > 0:14:32- ..there was a reference number.
0:14:33 > 0:14:38- Every time we pulled out a card, we - sourced the corresponding statement.
0:14:38 > 0:14:42- Over eight months, we read every - scrap of paper that was there.
0:14:42 > 0:14:47- The next step was collecting - DNA swabs from the 500...
0:14:47 > 0:14:51- ..to see if one of them - matched the murderer's DNA profile.
0:14:52 > 0:14:57- We spoke to numerous people and they - were glad we knocked their doors...
0:14:57 > 0:14:59- ..30 years later.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04- This area has a small community.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07- A lot of men - had white cars at the time...
0:15:07 > 0:15:11- ..they gave girls lifts - on Saturday nights.
0:15:11 > 0:15:16- A lot of fingers - had been pointed at local men.
0:15:17 > 0:15:22- One man under suspicion for Sandra - Newton's murder was her boyfriend.
0:15:22 > 0:15:27- DNA would prove conclusively - that he wasn't her murderer.
0:15:28 > 0:15:33- He'd lived all these years with - people saying he'd killed Sandra.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36- It was a pleasure - for us to knock his door...
0:15:36 > 0:15:39- ..to confirm he hadn't killed her.
0:15:39 > 0:15:41- He broke down and cried.
0:15:41 > 0:15:46- He said that he, his family and - his children had lived with it...
0:15:46 > 0:15:51- ..all these years and now, he could - walk around with his head held high.
0:15:55 > 0:15:57- Hello.
0:15:57 > 0:15:58- Hello.- - Hi.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01- My name's Mali Harries. - I'm here to have a look around.
0:16:02 > 0:16:04- This forensic lab in Birmingham...
0:16:04 > 0:16:07- ..works with police forces - across Britain.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10- Can I ask you - to take your DNA with a swab.
0:16:10 > 0:16:14- Can I get you to rub that - on the inside of your cheek.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18- DNA science has developed rapidly - since the 1990s.
0:16:19 > 0:16:24- Experts today can analyse - a DNA sample the size of a pinhead.
0:16:27 > 0:16:28- Thank you.
0:16:28 > 0:16:32- DNA is a large molecule found - within chromosomes...
0:16:32 > 0:16:36- ..that are contained in the nucleus - of each of ourselves.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40- It governs the way in which - the cells produce chemicals...
0:16:41 > 0:16:45- ..that the body needs, the way the - body functions, the way you look.
0:16:45 > 0:16:47- It's very important stuff.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51- It's been used - to solve so many crimes.
0:16:51 > 0:16:54- The police couldn't do without it.
0:16:54 > 0:16:56- Here we have a profile.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00- A female, - because you've got an X chromosome.
0:17:01 > 0:17:02- You haven't got a Y.
0:17:03 > 0:17:05- There's an X beacon, no Y peak.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08- It's a full profile - because we have results of each...
0:17:09 > 0:17:12- ..of the areas that we've tested.
0:17:14 > 0:17:16- We inherit our DNA from our parents.
0:17:16 > 0:17:19- We pass on half of that DNA - to our children.
0:17:20 > 0:17:24- Experts can identify an offender - by studying the DNA profile...
0:17:24 > 0:17:26- ..of members of their family.
0:17:30 > 0:17:35- Bearing in mind there are six - million profiles on the database...
0:17:35 > 0:17:39- ..having searched your profile - against the database...
0:17:39 > 0:17:40- ..there may not be a hit.
0:17:41 > 0:17:44- You know that your offender - is not on the database...
0:17:44 > 0:17:48- ..so you say, "OK, your offender - might not be on there"...
0:17:48 > 0:17:51- ..but perhaps - there's a relative on there.
0:17:51 > 0:17:55- Once you find a relative, you may - be able to find your offender.
0:17:56 > 0:17:59- The murders of these young women - in South Wales...
0:18:00 > 0:18:04- ..was the first case in Britain - to use familial DNA.
0:18:04 > 0:18:09- Experts discovered a DNA - similar to that of the murderer...
0:18:09 > 0:18:13- ..on the national database - - Paul Kappen from Port Talbot.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16- He would only have been - seven years old in 1973...
0:18:17 > 0:18:21- ..but the Kappen name - rang a bell with the detectives.
0:18:22 > 0:18:26- We checked to see - if we had Kappen in the system.
0:18:26 > 0:18:30- Joseph William Kappen, - Paul's father, was in the system.
0:18:30 > 0:18:34- We started investigating - Joseph William Kappen.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37- We spoke to a policeman - who knew him at the time.
0:18:38 > 0:18:43- We were told he was a bouncer - in a local nightclub.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46- He was a man who was fond of women.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50- He'd been in and out of trouble - over the years.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56- He also had a white car.
0:18:57 > 0:19:01- In September 1973, Joseph Kappen - lived with his family...
0:19:01 > 0:19:04- ..on Port Talbot's - Sandfields Estate.
0:19:04 > 0:19:08- He had told detectives - he'd been in a fair in Neath...
0:19:08 > 0:19:10- ..on the night of the murders.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14- He was then at home all night - with his wife.
0:19:15 > 0:19:19- He also had an explanation - for his white Austin car.
0:19:23 > 0:19:27- The policeman had been down - to talk to Kappen.
0:19:28 > 0:19:32- Kappen said he had a white car but - he hadn't driven the car in days...
0:19:33 > 0:19:38- ..because it was outside the house - on a ramp.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42- On reading the paperwork - once more...
0:19:42 > 0:19:45- ..it became apparent - that he had lied.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51- We found out that the car - had been stopped by police...
0:19:52 > 0:19:56- ..on the days he said - it was parked outside the house.
0:19:57 > 0:20:01- Even though the detectives - were on the right trail...
0:20:01 > 0:20:03- ..they were too late.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06- Joseph Kappen - had died of lung cancer in 1990.
0:20:13 > 0:20:17- The police collected a DNA sample - from his wife and daughter.
0:20:18 > 0:20:22- The DNA profile again suggested - that Kappen was the murderer.
0:20:26 > 0:20:31- The only way to be certain was - to build a complete DNA profile...
0:20:31 > 0:20:33- ..from Joseph Kappen's body.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36- He was the first man - in British history...
0:20:36 > 0:20:38- ..to be exhumed in a murder case.
0:20:43 > 0:20:47- Joseph Kappen was buried with - his grandfather and step-father.
0:20:47 > 0:20:51- Permission from his family - and Home Secretary was sought...
0:20:51 > 0:20:53- ..to exhume his grave - in Goytre Cemetery.
0:20:56 > 0:21:01- The only way to confirm - that he had murdered the girls...
0:21:01 > 0:21:03- ..was by exhuming his grave.
0:21:06 > 0:21:08- The morning weather was dramatic...
0:21:08 > 0:21:12- ..but events inside the police tent - were equally impressive...
0:21:12 > 0:21:14- ..for Welsh criminal history.
0:21:15 > 0:21:19- After midnight, gravediggers began - the first exhumation in Wales...
0:21:19 > 0:21:21- ..to recover DNA evidence.
0:21:23 > 0:21:27- Experts took a DNA sample - from Kappen's teeth...
0:21:27 > 0:21:29- ..and a bone in his leg.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33- Three weeks later, - the results were published.
0:21:35 > 0:21:37- The likelihood - was a billion to one...
0:21:37 > 0:21:41- ..that someone other than - Joseph Kappen was the murderer.
0:21:43 > 0:21:45- He was the murderer.
0:21:49 > 0:21:52- It was important for the families.
0:21:52 > 0:21:56- I was glad I could tell the families - that he'd killed their daughters.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15- These women were so young - - all three were 16 years old.
0:22:16 > 0:22:18- They had their lives - in front of them.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21- Kappen appeared one night - and changed everything.
0:22:46 > 0:22:51- Whilst he was alive, Joseph Kappen - managed to evade justice.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54- The truth about him - was finally revealed...
0:22:54 > 0:22:56- ..while he lay in his grave.
0:22:56 > 0:23:00- For the families of - Geraldine Hughes, Pauline Floyd...
0:23:00 > 0:23:04- ..and Sandra Newton, - there was justice and answers...
0:23:04 > 0:23:07- ..to lift the dark cloud - from this community.
0:23:39 > 0:23:41- S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.
0:23:41 > 0:23:41- .