At the beginning of the episode, we join Jeremy (Freddie Fox) and Brett (Alfie Allen) on vacation. Jeremy hooks up with a French heiress (Lucile Jaillant) and spends romantic time with her. Then, we see Stan Jones (Mark Addy) sitting outside of the house where the murders too place. Other officers arrive and they begin searching for evidence in the house. After that, Stan returns to the office and sits down with Act CS Mike Ainsley (David Kennedy). They chat about the way Jeremy would’ve entered the house. Mike doesn’t believe he entered through the window with the latch. He things he climbed through another window and he has found scratches supporting his theory. They have found a saw that could’ve produced those scratches.

When Jeremy returns home, he is picked up by Jeremy and Mick (Scott Reid). He is taken to the police station for an interview. Again, Jeremy denies everything and he reminds Stan that they had to let him go last time. He confesses to breaking into the house but did so after the murders to get documents needed for the vacation. Jeremy is forced to spend the rest of the night in a cell. Stan speaks with his boss about Jeremy’s interview after that. Thomas ‘Taff’ Jones (Stephen Graham) speaks with Stan before he goes. He says that Jeremy is arrogant but that doesn’t make him a killer. He suspects that Stan climbed all over him because he is ambitious and wanted to help his career.

Jeremy is interviewed again the following day. He reminds Stan that his sister was mentally ill and that is why she killed everyone. Jeremy is shown a picture of his father and he doesn’t want to hear about the way he died. Again, he tells investigators that he wasn’t there during the murders. After that, Stan and Mick tell everyone about the interview and saw blade. Then, they chat about the bullet evidence and other things. Stan explains that it is going to be Jeremy’s word against Julie’s. Julie watches television and sees Brett sticking by his friend. Sally Jones (Millie Brady) comes in the room before Colin (Mark Stanley) arrives. They sit down together and Julie explains to Colin why she didn’t tell on Jeremy much sooner.

She explains that Jeremy said Colin would be better off without the boys since he could go back to work and get his back on track. She confesses that she knew but never told anyone before apologizing. Jeremy learns from his attorney that the charges against Julie have been dropped so there is no reason for her to change her story. After that, we jump forward to the trial. Colin takes the stand to tell everyone about Sheila and his relationship with her. On cross examination, he is asked about Sheila harming herself. He admits that he put her hand through a window once but he doesn’t think her intention was to harm herself. He is asked if he was surprised Sheila might’ve done something like that. He insists he couldn’t understand it or believe it.

So, he accepted what a bunch of experts and the police told him. Julie tells Stan that she feels guilty for telling on Jeremy and she is worried about testifying against him. She is harassed by members of the media as she walks into the courtroom. Once she takes the stand, she is asked about Jeremy claiming to have hired a mercenary. Then, the questions turn to Julie waiting a month before telling the truth about Jeremy. The defense attorney asks about her saying Nevill had been shot seven times in the head. That is the same thing the newspapers said so he thinks Julie got the statement from there. She is questioned about being in trouble for check fraud in the past and she admits it. The defense attempts to show that Julie is a liar and is lying right now.

She tells the jury about her belief in the spiritual world and speaking with the victims after the murders. Next, Jeremy takes the stand and speaks about a past event when Sheila punched one of the boys twice. He says his family was very quiet so nobody said anything about it. He denied killing anyone and claims Julie has been lying. The prosecutor asks about the phone calls and other things. He is asked why he didn’t call 999 and calling Julie. We are shown crime scene photographs while the attorneys give their closing statements. After that, Stan pays a visit to Ann Eaton (Gemma Whelan). He tells her that the jury couldn’t decide. The judge sent them back and said they would accept a major decision.

The jury comes back a short time later and Jeremy is found guilty of the murders. Jeremy is led to a jail cell and stripped of his clothing. Stan visits Julie and finds out she is being paid 25,000 pound for an interview. Colin speaks to the media about his feelings. He admits he is still trying to understand what happened. After that, we see that Colin went on to train and practice in bereavement and psychotherapy. He also continues a successful career as sculptor and potter. He started a new family and remarried in 1999. Stan retired in 1991 and died in 2014. He never received official commendation for his work on the case. Jeremy got a life sentence on each of the five counts with a recommendation he serve a minimum of 25 years.

The Home Secretary later amended his sentence to whole life. Supporters continue advocating for a new appeal saying that evidence was not fully disclosed at trial.

 

White House Farm Review

Well, I can’t say that I was blown away by White House Farm. I always enjoy these true crime shows and love anything that is true. Still, this wasn’t a high point for the genre. The show was a bit too slow for me and I am not sure the writers knew what they wanted to do with it. At times, it felt like they wanted to portray Stan as the hero. Other times, I felt he was a bit too overzealous. I honestly believe it would’ve been much better with fewer episodes.

That would’ve prevented the writers from dragging things out so much. At the very least, I am interested in looking up the case and finding out why so many support Jeremy Bamber. So, I am glad that the show got me interested in the true crime murders. The final episode scores a 6.5 out of 10. Previous recaps of White House Farm can be found on Reel Mockery.