Netflix's 'heart-wrenching' drama about Wimbledon murder leaves viewers 'broken

A new Netflix original drama based on a real-life murder that took place in Wimbledon has been leaving viewers shaken from its very opening minutes. Released on the streaming platform this week (Thursday, 4th June), the three-part series chronicles the fatal stabbing of Rachel Jane Nickell on Wimbledon Common in 1992. After Rachel was brutally stabbed 49 times, her two year old son Alex was left as the sole witness, allowing her killer to evade justice for years. Based on Alex's memoir Letting Go, this compelling series places Rachel's son (played by Jahsaiah Williams and Max Fincham) and her partner, André (Jordan Bolger), at its heart, as the pair struggle to come to terms with the devastating grief of losing her so suddenly, reports the Mirror.

Through a richly crafted script by creator Rob Williams (The Victim), viewers are taken on an emotionally gruelling journey as André and Alex attempt to rebuild their lives in Rachel's (Eleanor Williams) absence — a loss that leaves them utterly adrift. Meanwhile, determined yet deeply flawed lead detective Keith Pedder (Neil Maskell) deploys an undercover female officer in a bid to ensnare the police's prime suspect, in a chaotic investigation further hampered by mounting pressure from his superiors and the British press. An essential watch for anyone captivated by Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham's Adolescence last year, The Witness is a sobering British drama that has already set tongues wagging just hours after landing on Netflix. The Guardian awarded the series a four-star review, describing it as "courageous" and "a valuable insight" into the true crime case, while cautioning that "some details are so appalling that they are difficult to believe".

The Irish Independent remarked: "It's unlike any true crime drama we've seen before, in that it's not really a true crime drama at all. It's primarily a story of survival in the most appalling circumstances." Netflix subscribers have been rushing to watch the new series, though many were wholly unprepared for The Witness' deeply distressing opening scenes. One shaken X user wrote: "15 mins into #TheWitness on Netflix and I'm already broken." Another added: "The witness on Netflix, just started and ts already got me sad. "#TheWitness on Netflix will give you the chills," a further viewer cautioned.

Over on IMDB, an 8/10 review stated: "Heart wrenching for a child to have gone through this. "The team behind this production managed to capture it without getting into a b-grade police story melodrama, instead treating it sensibly and with respect to the victims. Will watch the documentary now that I've seen this compelling series..." For those keen to find out more about the case, a companion documentary, The Murder of Rachel Nickell, is also available to stream. The Witness is available to stream on Netflix.