Rachel Nickell was brutally murdered on Wimbledon Common in 1992 while her son Alex witnessed the attack. The investigation, marred by errors, led to the wrongful arrest of Colin Stagg and the later murders of Samantha Bissett and her daughter Jazmine by Robert Napper. Advances in forensic science eventually linked Napper to Nickell's murder, bringing some closure after decades.

• 01Rachel Nickell was murdered in 1992 while walking with her son, who witnessed the attack.
• 02Colin Stagg was wrongfully arrested but released due to lack of evidence, and the case against him collapsed in 1994.
• 03Robert Napper, who committed further murders, was not initially linked to Nickell's case until DNA evidence was re-examined years later.
• 04Napper was eventually convicted for Nickell's manslaughter in 2016 after forensic advancements linked him to the crime scene.
• 05The Metropolitan Police acknowledged their failures in the investigation, which allowed Napper to remain free and commit additional crimes.

The investigation into Rachel Nickell's murder and subsequent failures had a profound impact on public trust in the police and the handling of violent crimes.