As a true-crime enthusiast who has spent countless hours delving into the murky depths of human nature, I must say that The Pembrokeshire Murders on Netflix is a gripping addition to my watchlist. This chilling tale, based on real events, sheds light on the relentless pursuit of justice by Detective Superintendent Steve Wilkins (Luke Evans) and his team, in bringing the notorious ‘Bullseye Killer’ John Cooper (Keith Allen) to justice.
As a movie enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that Netflix has just brought “The Pembrokeshire Murders” into their collection – three years since it initially captivated audiences on ITV as a gripping true-crime series.
This series centers on the pursuit by Detective Superintendent Steve Wilkins, played by Luke Evans, to bring to justice the serial killer John Cooper during the 2000s and the early 2010s.
In the show, Cooper, portrayed by Keith Allen, earned the moniker ‘The Targeted Slayer’ by the media during his trial. He was subsequently handed a whole-life sentence, which he is now serving out.
Read on for everything you need to know about the killer, including why he was nicknamed ‘The Bullseye Killer’ and where he is now.
What happened to John Cooper?
The ITV miniseries may be set during the ’00s and early ’10s, but the actual murders occurred two decades prior to that timeframe.
In 1985, Cooper was found guilty of committing a grisly double murder. He brutally took the lives of Richard and Helen Thomas at a three-story farmhouse located in Scoveston Park. Following the heinous act, he set fire to the property.
Four years after his previous act, he committed another crime, specifically murdering the married couple Peter and Gwenda Dixon, who were enjoying a vacation along the Pembrokeshire coastline, on June 26, 1989.
During the period around the commission of the crimes, Cooper didn’t receive a conviction. However, he emerged as the main suspect when Steve Wilkins restarted the investigation. Wilkins and his team managed to gather sufficient proof to secure a conviction against Cooper.
Why was John Cooper called ‘the Bullseye killer’?
A significant factor that contributed to Cooper’s trial outcome was his participation on the widely-watched ITV game show, Bullseye.
In 1989, mere weeks prior to his involvement in a double murder, Cooper – a skilled darts player – had appeared on the show. This chilling detail came to Steve Wilkins’ attention quite incidentally when he was informed about it by the pub landlord who knew the killer and regularly shared drinks with him.
A key factor in the case was that the Bullseye image was vital, as Cooper had discarded all pictures of himself from the time of the crime, leaving no evidence to match against the sketch of the suspect based on eyewitness accounts.
Upon acquiring the video, Wilkins and his group discovered that Cooper bore a striking resemblance to the rough description of the suspect.
Who was John Cooper’s wife?
John Cooper’s spouse Pat was a tailor who resided with him in Pembrokeshire. As reported by ITV journalist Jonathan Hill, one of the main figures in the effort to convict Cooper, she had endured abuse at the hands of her husband during their entire marriage.
Unknowingly, Pat contributed significantly to her husband’s conviction by modifying a pair of pants that belonged to one of the victims. In the process, she unintentionally trapped some of the victim’s blood within the hem of the shorts. This blood later proved crucial as DNA evidence during the court proceedings.
In the year 2009, she unfortunately died not long after Cooper was freed from prison due to a different set of crimes.
Where is John Cooper now?
In May 2009, Cooper was apprehended, and his trial concluded in May 2011 with a verdict. As a result, he received a sentence of perpetual imprisonment, which means he’ll remain behind bars for the rest of his life.
Immediately following his conviction, he initiated an appeal process. However, this appeal was dismissed in the year 2012, and he continues to serve his sentence in prison as of now.
The Pembrokeshire Murders is available to watch on Netflix. Sign up for Netflix from £4.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream.
Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The TopMob Podcast.
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2024-12-04 20:37