Until I Kill You writer Nick Stevens on his duty of care to the survivor of a serial killer

As a cinephile with a penchant for the darker corners of human nature, I found Until I Kill You to be a gripping and harrowing portrayal of survival against all odds. The story of Delia Balmer’s ordeal at the hands of John Sweeney is one that resonates deeply, not just because of its graphic violence, but because of the emotional toll it takes on its characters.

Nick Stevens, fresh from adapting Delia Balmer’s memoir into the four-part series ‘Until I Kill You’, featuring Anna Maxwell Martin and Shaun Evans, asserts that if he had fabricated her story, it might not be credible to you.

In a bustling pub situated in Camden Town, north London, Balmer finds herself standing at the bar. It’s 1991, and she’s around forty, having recently relocated to London from America, where she nurtured dreams of becoming a dancer. She cherishes exploring new places, but struggles with shyness, low self-confidence, and feelings of loneliness.

A man offers to buy her a drink. She is bored, so thinks, “Why not?” They sit down. John Sweeney is a bit of a carefree hippy, a charismatic carpenter from Liverpool who often works in Europe. He quickly moves into her flat.

In due time, the affectionate overtures cease. Sweeney begins exhibiting behaviors that are manipulative and domineering. However, when Balmer requests him to leave, he restrains her by tying her hands and feet to the bed he constructed for her. He menaces her with the intention of severing her tongue if she cries out. He admits to the murder of the American model Melissa Halstead, whose disappearance occurred in 1986.

A few days after Balmer’s release, Sweeney’s peers advise her to report the matter to the police. Upon their arrival at her apartment, she presents them with Sweeney’s aggressive sketches of Halstead in an attempt to prove that Sweeney is a murderer. However, the officers dismiss her assertions as those of a peculiar woman.

I’d be horrified to find myself in the position of Delia, whose flat was invaded by a man named Sweeney. Thankfully, her friend quickly called emergency services when they were supposed to meet. The authorities discovered a suspicious bag containing items like a hacksaw blade, rubber gloves, tarpaulin, and duct tape – items often associated with a “killer’s kit.” Sweeney was accused of false imprisonment and causing actual bodily harm (ABH), but he was granted bail.

On the night of December 22nd, 1994, Balmer was making her way home after completing her final nursing shift before Christmas. Out of the shadows emerged Sweeney, who assaulted her with an axe on her doorstep. In a critical state, she was moments away from death when a neighbor stepped in, preventing a tragic outcome.

In the years that follow, Sweeney flees while Balmer takes her time to rebuild her life. Seven years later, Sweeney resurfaces. Convincing Balmer to testify against him in court, he is ultimately sentenced to four life terms in 2011 for brutally assaulting Balmer and taking the lives of Halstead and a woman named Paula Fields from Liverpool. There are suspicions that he could have also murdered and dismembered other women throughout Europe.

You may wonder why such gruesome, vivid tales captivate television audiences so strongly, and why there seems to be an unwavering fascination with them. As someone who has delved into the world of serial killers through my writing in shows like In Plain Sight and The Pembrokeshire Murders, I can provide some insight. “People often categorize true-crime dramas as contemporary horror narratives, but they differ from the escapist thrills typically found in horror movies.

The unusual and authentic nature of these stories makes them incredibly captivating, unlike any work of fiction.

Stevens, who possesses an impressive talent to effortlessly disengage following a full day of penning fictional recreations of real-life murders, dedicates an immense effort to crafting every TV adaptation with compassion, consideration, and a commitment to avoiding unnecessary dramatization.

In a bookstore in 2017, he discovered Balmer’s memoir. As soon as I recognized that it was written from the viewpoint of a woman who had survived, I became captivated by it. She vividly recounts her distraught, unconventional actions while testifying at the Old Bailey, providing evidence against Sweeney. It was unlike anything I’d ever read before.

He scheduled a meeting with Balmer at his literary agent’s workplace. “I was taken aback; Delia seemed agitated and hostile. She wouldn’t make eye contact. Her reservations and anger were so palpable that it was nearly impossible to hold a conversation with her. She wasn’t offended by my attempts; she was open from the start, but she wanted to ensure that the portrayal of her story was accurate.

For nearly two years, Stevens engaged in numerous discussions with Balmer, ultimately earning her confidence. However, this process required a significant amount of time and perseverance. Notably, he needed to clarify the logistical aspects of transforming a tale spanning two decades into just four commercial, hour-long TV episodes.

After penning the scripts, I forwarded them to her for review. I adjusted whatever minor elements I could without disrupting the storyline significantly, as Delia has a knack for details. The positive news is that the series has generated some income for her, which allows her to go on trips and take ballet classes daily.

During her two visits to the Until I Kill You set, Balmer stopped by once in Swansea and another time in London, which is where she currently resides. “Delia attended the filming with a friend. Anna [Maxwell Martin] possesses great talent, however when playing a real person, she prefers not to interact with them for research purposes. She was cordial to Delia, but not in a way that suggested an interest in getting to know her better for a more authentic portrayal. Delia did not meet Shaun [Evans] due to obvious reasons. The production team was careful to avoid such encounters.

A separate documentary titled “Until I Kill You: The Real Story,” narrated by Maxwell Martin, also features interviews with Balmer, now 74 years old. She recalls feeling as if she herself was being accused when informed that her testimony was necessary to convict Sweeney. In her words, “They trivialized all my scars and suffering.

According to Stevens, Balmer has watched all four episodes of Until I Kill You and was reportedly laughing frequently during the screening. This could be due to her severe PTSD, but also because, as a remarkable individual who endured unfathomable hardship, she uses an exceptional approach to cope with it all.

It appears there’s a silver lining, or perhaps a bright spot, in this disheartening tale about the banality of evil and the shortcomings of the legal system when it comes to believing women. “My wife and I frequently take Delia to our favorite restaurant,” Stevens says with a smile. “She has become an integral part of our lives now. I believe the creation of this drama has been a highly rewarding experience for her, and she’s transformed from the woman I initially encountered.

Until I Kill You will air on ITV1 and ITVX from Sunday 3rd November at 9pm on ITV1.

2024-10-30 18:37

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