Murders That Shocked the Nation

In “Donald Neilson: The Black Panther”, presenter Fred Dinenage delves into the criminal career of multiple murderer and armed robber Donald Neilson. The documentary highlights his most infamous crime, the 1975 killing of 17‑year‑old heiress Lesley Whittle in a high‑profile case that shocked the nation.

The broadcast titled Donald Neilson: The Black Panther is presented as a programme in the form of an episode. It is positioned as a factual account that follows the conventions of a documentary‑style presentation, aiming to give viewers a clear picture of the subject it covers. In the episode, presenter Fred Dinenage looks closely at the life of Donald Neilson, a man who built a reputation as both a multiple murderer and an armed robber. The narrative centres on the most notorious episode of his criminal career – the killing of 17‑year‑old heiress Lesley Whittle in 1975. Dinenage’s investigation outlines the sequence of events that led to that crime, offering insight into Neilson’s methods and the impact of his actions. The programme stays focused on the facts surrounding Neilson’s offences, concentrating on the details of the 1975 murder and the broader pattern of violent robberies that earned him the moniker “The Black Panther”. By keeping the account tightly bound to the known events, the episode provides a concise yet thorough overview of a figure whose crimes shocked the nation.