Page 235 of Murder in the Family

A twenty-year-old case, solved, live on camera.

A murderer no one had ever evensuspected.

For a film-maker, it was likeThe Jinxall over again. Remember that? Robert Durst, a serial killer who’d managed to evade justice for decades, finally agreeing to speak on the record?

And if that wasn’t coup enough, that incredible last scene, when he retreated to the bathroom, thinking he was home and dry.

Only there was one thing he’d forgotten: his mic was still on.

‘What the hell did I do?’ he says quietly, staring into the mirror.

‘Killed them all, of course.’

Boom.

No one thought that would ever be bettered, not in our industry.

And in the eight years sinceThe Jinxwas made, it never has been.

Never, that is, until now.

The makers ofThe Jinxnaturally passed what they’d discovered to the authorities, and the night before the final episode aired, Robert Durst was arrested for first-degree murder.

An incredible climax, but it came too late to feature in the series.

We passed whatwe’dfound out to the authorities too, and over the course of this summer the Met conducted their own investigation, including cutting-edge DNA testing on the hair found on the jacket.

By October they had enough evidence to make an arrest, and we had enough time to press Pause on the series.

Which means we’re now able to show you this.

He continues to talk over FOOTAGE of Amelie Howard coming out of a block of flats, wearing handcuffs. She’s followed by two uniformed police officers; the camera tracks them as they walk her to a police car, open the back door and put her inside. She makes no eye contact with anyone.

We thought we’d broken the case – we thought that, thanks to us, a line could be drawn under this case once and for all.

Only we were wrong. That wasn’t the end of it.

Not by a long way.

CUT TO: MONTAGE of news coverage of the arrest.

CUT TO: FOOTAGE of Guy, crowded by cameras and microphones. He’s unshaven and looks pale but he’s calm, and in control.

REPORTER #1

What’s your reaction to this news, Guy? It must have come as quite a shock.

GUY HOWARD

Well, yes, I mean – none of us expected this. It’s the worst news we could possibly have—

REPORTER #1

Though it’s down to you, isn’t it – if you hadn’t elected to make that documentary none of this would have come out. Your sister would have got away with it—

GUY HOWARD

It’s not a question of ‘getting away with it’ – she was achild, a child under intolerable emotional pressure—

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