Forensics: Catching the Killer

The documentary investigates the November 2000 Birmingham spree killing committed by pub employee Philip Smith. Smith murdered three women in the city, leaving the victims so severely mutilated that they were almost unrecognisable. The three victims were found with extensive mutilations.

"Catching The Birmingham Spree Killer" is a television episode that presents a focused look at a notorious criminal case. The programme is billed as an episode‑type documentary, offering viewers a concise yet thorough account of the events surrounding a violent spree that shocked the city. The core of the episode centres on the November 2000 attacks in Birmingham, where a pub employee named Philip Smith took the lives of three women. Smith’s actions went beyond simple homicide; he mutilated the victims to such an extent that they were left almost unrecognisable. The narrative follows these grim facts, outlining the sheer brutality of the crimes. Beyond recounting the basic timeline, the episode examines the severity of the violence and the impact it had on the community. It provides a close‑up view of how the murders unfolded and the horrifying condition of the bodies, underscoring the shocking nature of the offences. By concentrating on the limited but harrowing details that are known, the programme aims to give the audience a clear picture of what transpired during that dark November night in Birmingham.