The murder of Helen McCourt will be featured on Sky’s crime documentary tonight

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

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

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

Helen’s family — led by her brave mother Marie McCourt, 79 — campaigned tirelessly to get legislation passed to keep killers – like Simms – in prison who don’t reveal the whereabouts of their victim’s remains.

It passed – named 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 shortly after his release.

Though it came too late to help her own case, Helen’s Law means that an offender’s refusal to disclose information must be considered when considering parole.

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

Forensics: Catching The Killer tackles 12 murder cases each week – each one solved thanks to forensic science and dedicated police investigations.

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