Skydive murder plot detectives praise 'innovative' docu-drama
Paul Franklin and Madeleine Hennah have shared their thoughts on the programme
The Wiltshire Police detectives who solved the sky dive murder plot have praised the TV docu-drama about the case released last month.
Detective Inspector Paul Franklin and Detective Sergeant Madeleine Hennah spoke exclusively to Greatest Hits Radio about how they felt the case was potrayed in the programme.
It showed how Emile Cilliers, from Amesbury, attempted to murder his wife, Victoria, by tampering with her parachute before she went skydiving in Netheravon, placing emphasis on his coercive control in the relationship.
Paul and Maddy both felt the investigation came across well in the docu-drama.
"Guy, the producer, had some very different ideas in the way it was managed with the flashbacks and us watching the documentary being made, which I thought was it just made it interesting," Paul said.
Maddy said: "I thought it came across very well and I am really proud to have been part of something so innovative because it's a very unusual way, they chose to portray the case."
Both agreed that the dramatization had brought the danger of coercive control in relationships to light impressively, with Maddy saying it 'brought the salient points home'.
Paul said: "The way the producer built it up and with part three really concentrating on what that coercive control is, what it looks like, that is far more insidious than people think it's not obvious injuries, black eyes, etcetera, but it's far more damaging but less visible.
"I thought it explained that really well and allowed people to see, in an extreme case as this was, what it can actually lead to."
Lessons from the case
The pair told us the case had left it's mark on them, as they had learnt vital lessons from the case.
Maddy said: "We've learnt certainly to never give up. We had such a belief in this case and each other from the start that I think we had a dogged determination about bringing it to justice, which ultimately thankfully we did."
Paul told us it made him realise that every action detectives take, has an impact on the people they're helping.
"It kind of brought it home to what police do at the time," he said, adding: "We walk away from necessarily because we have other stuff to do, but victims of crime, it lives with them. So you've got to do the best you can when you're with people."
Where are they now?
Maddy and Paul are still with Wiltshire Police in some capacity.
Currently an active Detective Sergeant, Maddy has had roles with the modern slavery team and in counter-terrorism before moving into the job she has now.
Paul had involvement with the surveillance and proactive crime teams, specifically countering county lines before retiring in October 2021.
But he's since returned as a civilian employee with the Detective Academy.
We asked Maddy and Paul what advice they'd give to an up and coming detective.
"Assume nothing. Believe no one. Check everything and that really that stands true today and it is just going over those basic facts of checking everything asking everything and be nosy," Paul said.
Maddy said: "Always ask questions. Always want to know more because there's always something that you might not have picked up on that might be that little piece of the jigsaw to the puzzle."