How I Caught the Killer

Seventeen years after his wife's death in a car accident, Malcolm Webster found himself at the centre of Scotland's longest criminal trial. The case, which unfolded after a prolonged period following the tragic loss, placed Webster under intense legal scrutiny.

The Widower – Malcolm Webster is a television programme presented as a single episode. Its format is listed simply as “programme” and it falls under the genre of an episode, meaning it tells a self‑contained story within a series‑type structure. The title makes clear that the focus is on Malcolm Webster and the events that brought him to public attention. Seventeen years after the death of his wife in a car accident, Malcolm Webster found himself at the centre of a criminal case that would become the longest trial ever recorded in Scotland. The narrative hinges on the gap of nearly two decades between the tragic road incident and the subsequent legal proceedings that finally placed Webster under the courtroom spotlight. The case’s distinction as Scotland’s longest criminal trial underscores the extensive legal battle that unfolded, with Webster remaining the pivotal figure throughout. The programme follows this progression, tracing how the passage of time led from personal loss to a protracted courtroom saga that captured national interest. In essence, the episode charts the journey from a private tragedy to a historic legal confrontation, with Malcolm Webster’s story serving as the connective thread that links the 17‑year interval to the unprecedented length of the trial. The focus remains firmly on the factual timeline and the significance of the case within the Scottish judicial system.