Darlow Smithson Productions Investigates The Ipswich Murders For Channel 4

Darlow Smithson Productions, an IMG company, has been commissioned by Channel 4 to produce a 75-minute Cutting Edge Special 'Killer in a Small Town - The Ipswich Murders'.
The relatives and friends of the victims have agreed to be interviewed about the terrible events which dominated the news in 2006. The documentary weaves together two narratives; the tale of five ordinary women in a sleepy Suffolk town whose descent into drugs and prostitution led to their death and the intense, frantic and ultimately successful police investigation for the murderer.
On November 1, 2006, the first of five women, Tania Nicol, was reported missing, followed two weeks later by Gemma Adams and a further three women. Each of them had descended into drugs and prostitution in the red light district of Ipswich, a quiet Suffolk town straddling the river Orwell.
With the town's women under curfew, the Suffolk Police faced the biggest murder investigation in their history, racing against time to catch the killer. Eventually, local resident, Steven Wright was found and charged with the murder of all five women.
Taking an in-depth look at the key moments in the victim's lives that decided their tragic fate, the film shows how death was far from inevitable. Interviews with family and friends help to explore the decisions that ended in the women's murders. This Cutting Edge Special also features the police detectives who worked on the case, and the pathologist who found the link to the killer.
John Smithson, Chief Creative Director of Darlow Smithson Productions, said: "Turning news events into compelling television is Darlow Smithson's forte. Ipswich Murders was one of the highest profile news events of 2006 and we've worked hard and sensitively to be able to give a voice to the families of the Ipswich victims who, until now, were only portrayed via the news coverage of the time."
Hamish Mykura, Commissioning Editor for Channel 4, commented: "This is a moving and important film about the raw realities of the drugs culture in small town Britain, made by a first-rate director, Louise Osmond. It will further add to the reputation of the Cutting Edge strand as the home of the best documentaries on British TV."
'Killer in a Small Town - The Ipswich Murders', due to air in February 2009, is a Darlow Smithson Production for Channel 4. It was directed by Lousie Osmond and executive produced by Sarah Swingler and John Smithson for Darlow Smithson Productions. Meredith Chambers and Hamish Mykura are the Commissioning Editors for Channel 4.
(KMcA)