Murder of Helen McCourt to feature on Sky crime documentary tonight

Sky Crime is set to air the show called Forensics: Catching The Killer – The Murder of Helen McCourt at 8pm tonight, Thursday, February 16.

Helen McCourt from Billinge was just 22 on February 9 1989 when she got off a bus round the corner from her home but never arrived.

Her body has never been found, but thanks to DNA testing, which was new at the time, her killer Ian Simms was convicted of her murder and sentenced to life – making the case one of the only cases in British legal history to have been solved without a body being found.

Helen’s family – led by her brave mum Marie McCourt, 79 – tirelessly fought for a law to be passed to keep killers who do not reveal the whereabouts of their victim’s remains – like Simms – in jail.

It was passed – dubbed Helen’s Law, after Helen – but came too late for Marie, as Simms was released last year after more than 30 years behind bars. He died not long after his release.

Although it came too late to aid her own case, Helen’s Law means an offender’s refusal to disclose information must be taken into account when parole is considered.

Forensics: Catching The Killer tells the story of how the case was solved, told by the former Merseyside Police detectives and forensic scientists who solved the case, as well as Helen’s mum Marie, step-dad John and brother Michael and an exclusive interview with Brian Leveson, then QC, who led the prosecution in court.

Each week, Forensics: Catching The Killer delves into 12 murder cases – each one resolved thanks to forensic science and dedicated police investigation.

This episode will air at 9pm on the February 16 2023 and at 8pm on Friday, February 17 on Sky Crime.