Code of a Killer is a British television drama, which aired in April of 2015. The series is based on true events and follows the discovery of DNA, by a British scientist named Alec Jeffreys (John Simm). Here in America, we’re led to believe everything beneficial was discovered in America. Who knew? The series also follows the detective, DSC David Baker (David Threfall), who was brilliant enough to rely on Alec Jeffrey’s work, regardless of the criticism he received along the way.

 

 

First, the series opens with the murder of Lynda Mann outside of Leicester in 1983. DCS David Baker is assigned to the case and begins the old fashioned police procedures. Meanwhile, Alec Jeffreys is on the other side of town, at the Leicester University. He is working diligently trying to learn how to read an individual’s DNA. After an exhaustive search, the police discover nothing. The police collect their evidence, setup shop and wait it out, but nothing comes, aside from another murder. Next, the victim targets Dawn Ashworth, who is murdered on July 31 of 1986.

 

After this, the police grow more desperate. Meanwhile, Alec Jeffrey and his colleagues, Peter Gill and Dave Werrett, discover how to extract DNA from people and begin using it to discover heritage. They work closely with immigration official to determine the parents of several immigrants, who on the verge of being deported. Richard Buckland, a 17 year old local boy, grows interested in the murders and follows the police around carefully. He makes some strange comments, before he eventually arrested for the murders.

 

 

He admits to the murder of Ashworth, but denies the murder of Lynda Mann. There is where Alec Jeffreys and David Baker connect together. In order to ensure his guilt, Baker teams up with Jeffreys and gets him to run the DNA against that of the DNA found on Lynda Mann. Surprisingly, the DNA doesn’t match, Buckland is released and the police are forced to start from square one. Eventually, the team begin collecting DNA from males, who live or lived within a 5 mile vicinity of the murders. After an exhaustive search and thousands of unmatched DNA samples, the David Baker finally gets his man.

 

Ultimately, I had never heard about the case, as an American. The show is partly good, because the action is great. It is also interesting, because the case of Colin Pitchfork is so bizarre. And, it doesn’t seem like his case has slowed down at all. He’s still somewhat of an oddity and has even created his own artwork, which has attracted some attention. Also, Colin Pitchfork appealed the courts had got a two-year reduction on his sentence, which will allow him to potentially be released in September of 2015.

 

Will this actually happen? It is really doubtful, but who knows? Crazier things has happened. Supposedly, Colin Pitchfork is more an expert in transforming printed music into Braille. Surely, that can be a significant benefit to society! Regardless of what you think about current proceedings, DNA is still a vital aspect of crime and punishment. It has long surpassed the use of fingerprints and is widely recognized. For that, Alec Jeffreys should be widely honored. Just don’t expect Americans to actually know where he is from!

 

 

Overall, I really enjoyed the TV mini-series. It overdramatized nothing and felt realistic. At times, it felt part documentary. If you’re interested in learning about Alec Jeffreys and DNA, the Code of a Killer series is definitely worth checking out. The acting is great and it was nice to see Adam Nagaitis from Banished up to his usual self. An 8 out of 10 is deserved.