- 5 hours ago
Episode 01
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00:15First the crime has been committed.
00:18Appears to have one trauma to his head in multiple areas.
00:24Those responsible must be identified.
00:27That's him there.
00:28Yeah.
00:29Eyes on two riders.
00:31State the police!
00:34The under arrest counts of sufficient attempted murder.
00:37Evidence gathered.
00:38Get some tape, I need all the alleyways around the ceiling.
00:41Two very big blights down there.
00:43Wow.
00:45And suspects interrogated face to face.
00:48Tell me in your own ways what happened.
00:50I'm going to be committing no calling whatsoever.
00:52The mail has kicked and stamped hunting.
00:55Do you remember this?
00:58Can detectives decipher the truth from the lies?
01:02We have to build up the most evidence we can that this person's committed that crime.
01:07Will the evidence stand or fall?
01:10That's the last time we see him alive.
01:13We've blown his defence out of the water.
01:15Yeah.
01:15No.
01:18I can't do it.
01:19Oh, my God.
01:20Yeah.
01:21Oh, my God.
01:22Oh, my God.
01:23Oh, my God.
01:24That's right.
01:25Oh, my God.
01:27Oh, my God.
01:29Oh, my God.
01:31Oh, my God.
01:48Amulet service, is the patient breathing?
01:51I don't think he is, but we've had to leave from the scene.
01:55Me and my friend have got told that we were going to kill you,
01:57so we've had to get out.
02:00So just tell me exactly what's happened.
02:02He's been busted.
02:04He's hit his face so strong.
02:06I don't know if I heard his heart beating or not,
02:08but he's not breathing.
02:11Are you able to tell me what the attacker looks like?
02:13I don't really want to say why in the place,
02:17because it's a squat.
02:18I want you to get there quickly for, you know,
02:22even for the more damage.
02:24The medics have been erased.
02:26OK, we are coming to you.
02:27I'm flashing lights and sirens.
02:28Hey, I'm contacting the police as well.
02:30You just need to get there.
02:31You just really need to get there.
02:33The guy's coming back.
02:37After reports of a man being brutally attacked,
02:40police and paramedics rush to the scene.
02:42A basement squat in a residential neighbourhood of Morecambe.
02:46Do you think you're there?
02:49Is that it?
02:50Yeah.
02:51With a dangerous suspect potentially inside,
02:55officers approach with caution.
03:00What's behind this, Delore?
03:07Hello?
03:10Hello?
03:12Can you hear me?
03:13Hello?
03:17Still warm.
03:20He's not got a pulse.
03:22That takes this to me.
03:24Carry on with compressions.
03:26Bravo, four, five up there for you.
03:28Got an adult male.
03:29Appears to have one trauma to his head in multiple areas.
03:33Not breathing.
03:34Compressions started by ambulance crew.
03:37Get some tape.
03:39I need all the alleyways around the ceiling.
03:41I'm sorting that out.
03:46As paramedics battle to save the victim's life, an urgent manhunt begins for whoever carried
03:52out the attack.
03:53I just want to double-check there's no-one else behind there.
03:59Sir, should we be blocking that off?
04:00You might be going through that way.
04:02Yeah.
04:05On a deserted street nearby, police spot a suspicious figure...
04:12...who flees in the opposite direction.
04:15Stop there now!
04:19Where you are now?
04:23I'm not away from you because people have been chasing me all over...
04:26...Walken.
04:28Police identify the man as 39-year-old Lee Smith, who also matches the description of a suspect
04:34wanted for a disturbance earlier in the evening.
04:38We've got someone to bring you in for.
04:40Yeah.
04:40We're getting him for damage.
04:43Right, Lee, the time is 04-47 hours.
04:46You're under arrest, suspicious of criminal damage.
04:48What?
04:48You've got to have to say if they may harm your friends.
04:49What was damage?
04:51I haven't done anything.
04:53After being spotted close to the scene, and then running from officers, police suspect
04:58Smith could also be linked to the basement attack.
05:01You all right?
05:01There's bums all over me.
05:02I've been built more than everything.
05:04But Smith claims he is the victim of an assault.
05:08It's your lap.
05:10Eh?
05:11Does that not look like I've been battered?
05:14What do you say?
05:14I've been tried.
05:16I've been battered, you ****.
05:18You're ****, you're ****, you're ****, you're ****, you're ****, you're ****, you're ****.
05:23In the basement, paramedics have been performing CPR on the victim for almost an hour.
05:28All right.
05:29So rhythm check, pause for a second.
05:32I've got an old nice pulse here, yeah?
05:34Keep going, keep going.
05:37Keep going.
05:38Bravo, four, five.
05:39Fire are assisting with extrication of this gent heading towards the ambulance.
05:45Where are we going, guys?
05:50We are setting off for our line now.
05:52It's 28, 10 minutes.
05:57Hello, Lee.
05:59No, no, Pete.
05:59I've been battered.
06:00Look at me.
06:01Lee Smith's injuries mean he must also be taken to hospital.
06:06Step in, watch your head.
06:08Have police detained the man who committed the basement assault?
06:11Or is there still a dangerous suspect on the loose?
06:15I've been battered, you ****.
06:24Amulet services to patient breathing.
06:27I don't think he is.
06:28He's been battered.
06:31In Morecambe.
06:32In here.
06:34He's not got a pulse.
06:35To carry on with compressions.
06:37An unidentified man is fighting for his life,
06:40after being brutally assaulted in a basement squat.
06:43I've got an old nice pulse here.
06:45Keep going, keep going.
06:47Stop there, no!
06:49Nearby, Lee Smith,
06:50a man wanted for an earlier incident of criminal damage,
06:53has been detained after running from police.
06:56I haven't done anything.
06:57They suspect he was also involved in the basement attack.
07:01I've got bumps all over me.
07:02It's a real bump.
07:03But he, too, claims to have been assaulted.
07:08I'll take your **** knob in!
07:18Still in cardiac arrest,
07:20the victim from the basement has arrived at the resus unit
07:23of the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.
07:25We've got anything about this gentleman.
07:27He was found with head injuries,
07:30previous assaults.
07:31The resus has been going on for an hour and 33 minutes.
07:35Bravo, four-five.
07:37That's casually handed over to the A&E research team.
07:41Yeah, four-six received.
07:46As Lee Smith arrives at the hospital to be treated for his wounds,
07:50there's been a development.
07:54Lee, in a minute we're going to go to hospital, OK?
07:56We're just outside.
07:57But at the moment, if it's zero, five, 32 hours,
08:01he's under arrest for wounding.
08:03Wounded?
08:04Wounding.
08:05Do you have anything to say about that?
08:06I don't know.
08:08I don't know.
08:09It's to do with where that scene is.
08:11Police have received credible intel from the crime scene
08:15that he is likely to have been involved in the basement attack.
08:18Morning, you're all right?
08:19This is Lee.
08:21Lee's complaining he's been assaulted and hit round the head.
08:24I'm complaining I've been assaulted, I'm not.
08:27I have been assaulted in the looks of the air,
08:29you fucking prick.
08:31I'm just, he's coughing.
08:32I can't look either for me.
08:36See that?
08:39Don't spit, Lee.
08:40That's dirty.
08:41What are you going to do?
08:42Don't, don't spit.
08:44It's horrible.
08:45You're a pussy.
08:50Lee, I can do that now.
08:52I'll talk to you now on my body cam,
08:53and then CSI can come out and they,
08:56they can take some photos as well.
08:59I got battered by about six people.
09:02And do you know who they are?
09:03Who sticks here, dude?
09:04And who are they?
09:06Um, fucking Keith Thompson.
09:08Um, I can't.
09:13I just started falling back and hitting me with sticks.
09:17Kicking me.
09:19So you're hitting with sticks and kicking?
09:21No, they hit me with sticks.
09:23I'm just clarifying, yeah?
09:24And where did this happen?
09:28Allow me where you're in.
09:31When did this take place?
09:32Oh, fuck.
09:35I can't afford to kill anything.
09:39Row of four, five, I'll get for you.
09:41News comes in from Resus,
09:43where the victim of the basement attack is being treated.
09:47Time of death for casualty, 0551.
09:50Four, six.
09:51Three, six.
09:53We've got a name, Keith Thompson.
09:56The victim, Keith Thompson,
09:58is the name of the person Lee Smith claims attacked him.
10:02Lee, the time now is 0556.
10:04You're currently under arrest for murder.
10:07Murder?
10:08Same caution applies.
10:10Murder?
10:10Yep.
10:11Are you mad?
10:12Huh?
10:13OK.
10:14I'm under arrest for murder.
10:17Whoever's with the victim, they've told us to arrest you,
10:20so that's what's happened.
10:24I didn't get attacked.
10:29What do you find this?
10:30It's real bad on there.
10:32Eh?
10:33It's very early days to use me.
10:35Very early days?
10:36Yeah, I've done murder.
10:38I've done murder, not murder.
10:39I've done murder.
10:44I don't know what shit I was doing, man.
10:47It looks like you have a shit.
10:49You know what else could be done, eh?
10:50I'd be like this.
10:52Try and do that.
10:53If you wear gloves, providing you don't do anything silly.
10:57Smith is given gloves to preserve any evidence on his hands
11:00until it can be retrieved by the forensics team.
11:05I'm not fucking watching you, man.
11:08I'm not watching you.
11:15Don't bum down the toilet.
11:20Put your hands behind your back now!
11:22Put your hands behind your back!
11:26Officers retrieve the gloves before Smith can flush them
11:29and dispose of any crucial evidence inside.
11:33Put your hands behind your back, do you?
11:36No!
11:38If you want, you're not.
11:40You fucking idiot.
11:53Hello.
11:54Hello.
11:55I've got one for murder from Markham.
11:58Having had his injuries checked and cleared,
12:00Lee Smith is brought into custody.
12:04Get off me.
12:06No, I'm not going to get off me.
12:06Why not?
12:07Why not?
12:08Why are you in custody?
12:09We're looking after you, aren't we, Lee?
12:18Who's this?
12:20How are you doing with me?
12:21Are you OK?
12:22No.
12:22No?
12:23All right.
12:27A murder.
12:28It was initially a wounding,
12:29but then it was upgraded to murderly.
12:32Can I just ask you a question?
12:34Of the name of the person you say you've died?
12:38It's Keith Thompson.
12:42He's the person that the allegation relates to.
12:50What's wrong with you?
12:53I don't know.
13:04What's wrong with you?
13:08I don't know.
13:09I don't know.
13:10from you. Hand swaps are likely to be needed and there may be other forensic evidence that needs
13:16to be required from you. Are you going to be compliant with the officer's requests to take
13:21the phone from you? I'm going to repeat myself again, mate. I said I'll give him the fucking
13:27clothes. What more do you want? I can't hear you when you're talking to the deck. So what I'm
13:31telling you, I'll give him the fucking clothes. Thank you. The murder case was escalated to
13:39Lancashire Police's force major investigation team. The inquiry was led by Detective Chief
13:46Inspector John McNamara. The injuries Keith Thompson stained were extensive and horrific. It's one of
13:55the worst attacks I've seen in my 23 plus years as a police officer. Detectives began by reviewing the
14:03timeline of events after uniformed officers arrived at the scene. We were told that the offender is in
14:09the locality. A suspect, Lee Smith, was found close to the scene with some apparent minor injuries. So
14:17obviously that was highly suspicious of him having potentially been involved in the assault.
14:23We'd had a report earlier in the night of criminal damage. So he was arrested at 4.47 for the
14:28damage,
14:28then at 5.32 for the assault. By 5.56 we had unfortunately been told that Mr. Thompson had
14:35passed away. So at that point he was then further arrested on suspicion of murder.
14:43The Hammond swabs. Lee Smith has an extensive criminal history. Between 1998 and 2023,
14:52he's got a raft of convictions for wounding, for grievous bodily harm, for assault occasion,
14:57actually bodily harm, for battery, for resisting a constable, for police assault and for kidnap.
15:03Obviously these are all serious offences. Violence seems to be Lee Smith's default.
15:10Right hand. Done.
15:14After retrieving DNA samples from Lee Smith, detectives moved to interview him.
15:20It's key to interview a suspect quite early in an investigation. They may be able to give us
15:26information which either rules them out or actually provides further lines of inquiry.
15:33They do not have to say anything. However, that could have consequences. Ultimately, if they do have
15:38an account they wish to give or they later down the line at a court process have answers to give,
15:43they may not be believed or that defence may be harmed because in effect they have not answered questions
15:48when they were given an opportunity to do so.
15:51Okay, the recording has started. Today we're interviewing Lee Smith. Lee, can you just tell
15:58me your full name, please? Lee Carol George Smith.
16:01Smith is questioned with a solicitor present.
16:05The reason that we are giving you this interview is for you, if you want to do so, to give
16:11us what
16:11we sometimes refer to as your side of the story and things that come out of this interview will play
16:16part of the ongoing enquiries to establish what and how Keith has died.
16:23So when you were arrested initially for the criminal damage, you have been cautioned,
16:30you've made a reply to that caution. What have I damaged? I've been twatted now. Do you remember
16:36saying that? The victims of the initial disturbance decided not to press charges, so officers move
16:45on to question Lee Smith about the murder of Keith Thompson. When you have been arrested for murder,
16:52you've replied, who have I murdered? Have you got anything else you want to clarify in relation to
16:56that? Okay. Let's just talk briefly then through that timeline. I know it's a few hours ago and a lot's
17:05happened, but who were you with?
17:09Have you been with Keith during that time? You pointed out about injuries.
17:17How have they occurred? Was it Keith? Were you out and about at that time?
17:29We know that we get the call from ambulance at just before four. Where were you at that time?
17:37Keith was located in a basement. Do you know where I mean? Have you been there?
17:48You've been arrested near to the scene after being chased by some officers. Were you trying to escape from them?
17:58Is there any reason for that?
18:03Is there anything that you do want to say at this point?
18:10No. Okay. You'll complete this interview.
18:17We were hoping to have got from the first interview an initial account from the suspect in relation to
18:23what they recall of the events of the night and the morning. Unfortunately, he didn't answer any of
18:28the police questions. He didn't give us an alibi, a defence like self-defence, lines of inquiry that we could
18:35have followed on his behalf.
18:37With the only suspect refusing to talk to detectives, would the forensic evidence they have gathered,
18:43and the crime scene itself, reveal who murdered Keith Thompson?
18:56This gentleman was found with injuries, previous fault. Research has been going on for an hour and 33 minutes.
19:04In Moorcombe.
19:06Roar 45, time of death, casualty 0551.
19:1149-year-old Keith Thompson was killed after a ruthless beating in a basement squat.
19:22A suspect, 39-year-old Lee Smith, was arrested and claimed he was attacked by the victim.
19:31But in his first interview, he refused to answer any questions.
19:46The post-mortem results are a vital element of any murder investigation.
19:52They revealed the true extent of Keith Thompson's injuries.
19:56Keith had sadly sustained a number of injuries to his body and to his head,
20:02which were indicative of a violent assault upon him.
20:06Massive head injuries, broken ribs and broken mandible in two places on the left-hand side.
20:12Part of his jawbone was actually disconnected from the rest of the jaw
20:16and multiple facial injuries and general injuries all about his body, really.
20:23When you look at these injuries, whilst them in themselves perhaps wouldn't have killed him,
20:27what it does is show the intensity of the assault.
20:32Keith Thompson did not die of natural causes.
20:36Keith's death was inflicted upon him by another individual in a repeated assault.
20:44Blair, have you got some keys?
20:45Yeah.
20:46OK, let's go.
20:47DC Blair Paterson and DS Dave Greenwood revisit the crime scene.
20:58Morecambe in its glory probably would have been a lovely seaside resort.
21:02But now, as with most English seaside towns, there are areas of deprivation.
21:11A lot of anti-social behaviour, unemployment, drugs,
21:15in particular the part of the town that we're going to today.
21:29This is the basement.
21:34It's actually not a residence.
21:36Probably would have been used as a coal bunker years ago.
21:39It's just used as a squat for homeless to sleep in.
21:44Looking at the scene as an attack site, very confined,
21:47running away probably wouldn't have been an option.
21:50His only egress route would have been up and down those stairs.
21:54It must have been terrifying.
22:00Keith Thompson lived in a house of multiple occupancy,
22:03only metres away from the murder scene.
22:05So this is where Keith lived.
22:07CC TV on the front door.
22:10The scene's only there, so all they'd have had to do is to leave his front door,
22:14cross the street and then he's at the basement.
22:16Yeah, it's a stone's throw, isn't it?
22:17Yeah.
22:18So we're stood outside the victim's home address.
22:21It's HMO, so a house of multiple occupancy.
22:24There's five premises in there.
22:26We can see from the external view of the property that there is an external camera.
22:30On an assessment inside, there are internal cameras.
22:35When detectives searched the HMO where Keith Thompson lived,
22:39they discovered evidence of a second crime scene.
22:43On the landing area outside his flat, there was blood splattering and smudges on the handrail.
22:53The statement's obtained from the witness, and he's disclosed he knows both Lee and Keith,
23:01and they've come into his flat to socialise, and whilst they've been inside his flat,
23:07Lee and Keith have ended up fighting with each other essentially.
23:12Lee seems to have got the better of Keith, and he's been on top of him,
23:18punching and kicking him.
23:21This was a key breakthrough for the investigators.
23:24On the night of the murder, a neighbour witnessed the suspect fighting with Keith Thompson in the HMO.
23:31The witness statement told us we have another incident in the HMO prior to
23:36when we believed the incident at the basement happened.
23:40What it also did was suggest the suspect and the victim knew each other,
23:44and were associates of each other.
23:49As well as interviewing the witness at the HMO, detectives went door to door in the hunt for further leads.
23:56They located two people who witnessed the basement assault, and reviewed their statements.
24:03So these are two witness statements, one from the person calling 999, and the other who was with that witness,
24:12both of which were in the basement.
24:15The person called the ambulance, she said it was dark, two people have come down.
24:21One she knows to be Keith Thompson, the other one she doesn't know.
24:26The other witness that was in there, he noticed Keith, his face was bruised,
24:30he looked like he'd had a beating before coming into the basement.
24:34He then describes Keith being dragged through the door by the mail.
24:40And then he describes him as knocking him about from wall to wall,
24:45punching him, kicking him, kneeing him, stamping on him all over his body.
24:53Really aggressive, for what he says is about 15 minutes, he says that Keith wasn't moving.
25:00He describes him as a raging ball on a rampage and was worried for his own safety.
25:08The person called the ambulance describes the mail, who's assaulting Keith as a lunatic,
25:13pointing at her and the other witness and threatening him.
25:15If he dies, I will kill you too, it's not the first time.
25:19She goes on to say that the mail's removed Keith's trainers and told her to go with him
25:26to sell some trainers. She didn't want to refuse because she was scared of him.
25:31She said when she's left, she hasn't checked Keith physically, but she could see he really wasn't well.
25:38Them two have left, walked down the back alley where they've seen two other males
25:43and asked them if they wanted to buy a pair of trainers.
25:46Whilst this is ongoing and the mail is preoccupied with these two other males,
25:51she's left, returned back to the basement alone.
25:56She's seen Keith still on the floor, slumped with his back against the door.
26:00She's checked him for a pulse. She's felt something faint, but he wasn't responding.
26:04She's told the other witness that they need to leave. They've gone out where they've called the ambulance.
26:11As well as describing the violent attack, the witness also provided a description of the suspect.
26:18She describes the one doing the assaulting on Keith as being dark skinned, tall and slim,
26:24with ears that stood out a bit, wearing a hoodie with a red or black hood and skinny jeans.
26:32The witness's testimony is described in detail. The attack on the victim,
26:38movements and descriptions of the offender. The witness was terrified. Having a witness who
26:45can tell those 12 members of the jury how they felt at the time is really, really impactive and
26:50key to help them understand what occurred when they're making the decision whether someone is
26:54innocent or guilty. The information from the witnesses meant detectives could question Lee
27:01Smith on two separate incidents. The initial altercation in the HMO and the subsequent assault
27:09in the basement across the road. We're going to be talking about some people who have provided us
27:16with accounts and statements. Detectives start with a fight witnessed by a resident of the HMO.
27:25One of the flats, the gentleman who lives in that flat, he's opened the door, so like midnight time,
27:31and you and Keith have been there. Are you drunk? Are you intoxicated?
27:39Once you're inside, he describes that you were both wrestling on the floor,
27:44that he was on top of Keith, come chin up. How's that happened?
27:51He says that Keith had a pool ball in a sock. Remember that? He's described that you took possession
28:02of that, you snatched it off Keith. Is that because you were being attacked by him?
28:09He didn't say why they were fighting. And that not one gaffty you've hooked and seemed to have made up.
28:20As Lee Smith offers no response, the officers begin to question him about the witness statements
28:26from the basement assault. We've spoken to ***. She was there when the male and Keith have
28:36prevented it. *** will say that the first time the male hits Keith, that it was so fast. She doesn't
28:45think Keith talked or responded again. She says that she saw the male's elbow go towards Keith.
28:56She heard a whack. She thinks that at that point, Keith has fallen to the floor. The male has kicked
29:04in
29:04and stamped on Keith while he's on the floor. Do you remember this?
29:12*** will say that the male has kicked Keith about on five separate occasions over a period of 10 minutes.
29:22The male, she gives the description.
29:25The male, she gives the description. Dark skinned, slim build, ears that stood out a bit,
29:32a hoodie with red or black hood and skinny jeans. That's you, isn't it? That's you who she's describing
29:42there. That's you who she describes as causing those injuries. Is it not?
29:57Suspect heard the witness evidence. He still declined to answer any questions. It is not unusual. We often
30:05deal with significant inquiries where suspects never speak to us throughout the entire process.
30:18Having considered the witness's testimonies, Lee Smith decided to give a prepared statement in response.
30:27Hi, Lee Smith. Wish this statement to stand as my evidence from this interview.
30:32On Friday 27th September, Keith and I spent the day together. I recall hearing a commotion and
30:39I'd run round the corner where I'd witnessed a male who was stood by a black car assaulting Keith.
30:45As I shouted for the male to get off Keith, he jumped into the car and left. As a result
30:50of this attack,
30:51Keith sustained some nasty facial injuries. There was blood on his face.
30:56According to Lee Smith, Keith Thompson sustained facial injuries prior to the HMO altercation and
31:03basement assault. He also gave his version of what happened during the fight in the HMO.
31:10Before midnight, Keith and I had been in and out of the flat. Whilst in an intoxicated state,
31:17Keith had started attacking me with a pool ball and a sock. Keith struck me several times to the head
31:23area with this item, whilst also punching me with his free hand. In self-defense, I accepted
31:29punching Keith no more than three times. There were no kicks. Following this incident, I sustained
31:35wounds, lumps and bumps to my head. Both Keith and I bled as a result. Following this incident,
31:41we hoped and reconciled. It's likely that I will have both mine and Keith's blood on my clothing.
31:49Smith has admitted to fighting with Keith Thompson in the HMO. But what will he say about the attack in
31:56the basement? I have been to the basement on previous occasions. I wish to add that visibility in this
32:02basement, especially at night, is practically non-existent with no artificial lighting. I am not the person
32:08responsible for assaulting my good friend Keith in the manner alleged. This is the case of mistaken identity.
32:14I deny any intention to kill or cause Keith grievous bodily harm. Can you confirm that's your signature
32:20and you're happy with those instructions? No. Yeah. I'm going to pass that to the officers to consider.
32:29On occasion, suspects will give us an excuse for the behavior or a defense. And actually,
32:36will also on occasion tell us the truth. And it's our job to work through that information and test it,
32:41using CCTV, using telephony, using witnesses to try and pull it all together and understand exactly
32:47what has happened. The key evidence that could back up or refute Smith's statement was the CCTV
32:55footage from within the HMO. So this footage is from about quarter past ten in the evening.
33:02The first of Smith's claims was that Keith Thompson was assaulted by someone else
33:07earlier in the evening and left with facial injuries. Keith goes to the laundry room,
33:13he's doing something with the washing machine before he turns around and goes back upstairs.
33:17And he seems absolutely fine. There's no visible injuries.
33:24An hour later, CCTV showed Lee Smith entering the flat belonging to the witness of the HMO fight.
33:32I'm sure a while later, just coming up the stairs, is Keith.
33:36Again, no facial injuries? Nope. And both of them enter the witness's flat.
33:43Based on what the witness says, this is where Keith sustains the first assault.
33:49This is a little bit later. We can just see there that Keith has left the flat,
33:52followed by Lee Smith.
34:01And you see at this point now, Keith is struggling to walk.
34:05He now has quite visible facial injuries. He's got blood all over his mouth.
34:10Lee will then leave.
34:14And he starts to lean on that banister rail, which is probably why we've got blood splatter on that banister
34:19rail.
34:22What we start to see is for the next couple of hours, Keith, I think he's struggling to get into
34:28his flat.
34:29I don't think he can operate the keypad on the door to get into his flat.
34:35And you see he's not in a good way here, is he?
34:38No.
34:39To the extent where, eventually, he goes to sleep on the landing outside his flat.
34:50Lee Smith gave us, in his statement, that Keith was assaulted and received facial injuries prior to entering that witness's
34:59flat.
35:01CCTV does not show the injuries as he describes.
35:05When he comes out an hour later, he's clearly significantly injured.
35:10Yeah.
35:11He's struggling to walk. He's struggling to climb the stairs.
35:14He has blood around his mouth at one point in his forehead.
35:18The CCTV footage corroborated the HMO witness's statement and showed part of Lee Smith's account to be false.
35:27But how will detectives prove he is responsible for murder?
35:38In Lancashire, 49-year-old Keith Thompson has been brutally murdered.
35:43A suspect, 39-year-old Lee Smith, was arrested close to the scenes.
35:52It's horrible. You're a pussy.
35:55Witnesses described the suspect brutally beating the victim in a basement squat.
35:59He described Keith being dragged by the mail, punching him, kicking him, kneeing him.
36:05But Lee Smith claimed it was a case of mistaken identity.
36:08Visibility in this basement is practically non-existent.
36:12I'm not the person responsible for assaulting my good friend Keith in the manner alleged.
36:17Keith is left over by Lee Smith.
36:20CCTV showed the pair together on the night of the murder.
36:24Keith is struggling to walk. He's got blood all over his mouth.
36:27But the key question for detectives was whether the CCTV could corroborate the witness accounts.
36:34He's not in a good way here, is he?
36:36No.
36:40So it's now a good hour on, and Lee returns.
36:45As footage goes on here, you do see elements of aggression from Smith towards Thompson.
36:56It's around ten minutes later that they both leave.
37:00Keith is quite clearly bleeding from the nose. He's got the tissues wrapped in his nose.
37:04It's almost like Lee goes for Keith with that pole.
37:09He's going to be able to walk.
37:09Both leave the HMO.
37:12Lee is first, followed by Keith.
37:15At this point there, as you go down those steps, all you need to do is you cross the road.
37:19It'll take you into the alleyway that takes you to the basement.
37:24Just in the top left-hand corner there, you can see the entrance to where the basement is.
37:29Given that we know that Lee and Keith have just crossed the road, you would expect them
37:34to carry on down this alleyway. You'll just see the movements of some feet there.
37:41That's Lee Smith entering the basement.
37:44And then the movements of a second person, which is Keith.
37:50So in effect, that's the last time we see Keith alive.
37:55Based on the account given to us by the witness who was in the basement,
37:58around half an hour before she called the ambulance,
38:00she left the basement with the suspect. Consistent with what the witness says,
38:06around 25 past three, we're able to see two figures leave the basement.
38:12The one on the left, the clothing is similar to that one by Lee Smith.
38:16The one on the right is the witness.
38:20They turn right down a nearby alleyway, where we then see that there is in a transaction.
38:26The suspect, Lee Smith, is captured on doorbell footage.
38:29He's with the witness who calls 999, and they meet up with two other individuals.
38:35Her witness account says Lee Smith sells the trainers that are belonging to the victim.
38:40Once the transaction with the trainers has finished,
38:43Lee Smith walks off with the two gentlemen who've purchased the trainers.
38:47He's almost bouncing down the street like Tigger.
38:49He seems to be overjoyed and in very good spirits.
38:54Meanwhile, the witness who called 999, she makes her way back to the basement,
38:59consistent with her witness account.
39:02She's within the basement for no more than five minutes.
39:05It then shows her leaving with the other eyewitness.
39:09They both walk through the car park, where we then know that the call to 999 is made.
39:18The CCTV corroborates what the main witness was telling us.
39:21When the witnesses tell us only two people came into that basement,
39:25we can say, based on the CCTV, that that is Keith and Lee.
39:31And that's the last time we see Keith alive.
39:33It completely undermines the suspect's account that it's a case of mistaken identity.
39:41Having built the CCTV timeline of events from the day of the murder,
39:46detectives believed they had proof that Lee Smith was in the basement with Keith Thompson
39:50during the attack.
39:54With this damning evidence, detectives challenged Smith one final time.
40:04So, in relation to a prepared statement,
40:07you say that you have been in the basement on previous occasions.
40:11You talk about the visibility in the basement, it's practically non-existent.
40:17What we do know from what tells us is the male who has assaulted Keith in the basement,
40:25she is then left with that same male.
40:29And she's been out on the street.
40:33What's the visibility like out on the street?
40:37What's the visibility like when you were with *** with the trainers trying to sell them?
40:46Would it be reasonable to say at that point she's had a clear, unobstructive view
40:52of the male who she will say is one of the same?
40:56After no response from Smith, the officers move on to the injuries sustained by the victim.
41:02The post-mortem has said that Keith's injuries to his face are consistent with that of blunt force
41:08trauma, of insults. Blood coming from the nose and around the face.
41:15There's a broken jaw.
41:16You said there was a serious bleed to the brain that's caused Keith's death.
41:26Is it that you have gone to the basement flat and in actual fact what's happened is you've
41:33attacked Keith Thompson resulting in injuries from which he has not recovered.
41:40is that actually what's happened?
41:44And then you've left, you've sold trainers, you've scored for drugs and you're running up and down these
41:52alleys and make off from the police until you get arrested.
42:11Sadly I can believe that Keith was left for dead by Lee Smith.
42:16What we found in the wider inquiry is that Lee Smith did exploit the victim.
42:22He moved into his apartment, he was wearing his clothing.
42:26We know that at times he was in possession of his mobile phone.
42:30What we also see on the CCTV is a level of aggression that seems constant.
42:35It's quite clear bullying behaviour to me.
42:40The CCTV evidence revealed the true story of what happened that night.
42:45But to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Lee Smith was the murderer,
42:49the detective sent away his clothing for forensic testing.
42:53The corpse from the right thigh and the left leg of the jeans.
42:56Major profile hit for Keith Thompson.
42:59The left black Nike trainer.
43:02The upper hand on the tongue.
43:04Both of them major profile match for Keith Thompson.
43:09Scientists conclusion, which is quite clear.
43:12In my opinion, Lee kicked Keith Thompson repeatedly whilst he was bleeding.
43:17And she says that that provides very strong support that that was the case.
43:22I think he specifically says, doesn't he, in his prepared statement, he didn't kick him.
43:26No.
43:27And yet he's...
43:27And this says otherwise.
43:28You know, let's be honest, his trainers are saturated in the victim's blood.
43:31Yeah.
43:33It's clear to me who killed Keith Thompson, and that is Lee Smith.
43:37All of the evidence points to that.
43:41The CPS agreed, and Lee Smith was charged with the murder of Keith Thompson.
43:54Lee Smith has been a thorn in the side of his community for far too long.
43:58And his behaviour has clearly escalated to the point where he exploited Keith,
44:04and ultimately took Keith's life.
44:06It's absolutely right that he served a long sentence behind bars where he can't hurt anybody else.
44:11And ultimately, he has time to reflect on what he's done to Keith and his family.
44:31If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in tonight's programme,
44:36please go to channel5.com slash helplines for information and support.
44:42It's a matter of life or death as we join surgeons in the operating theatre.
44:46The hit series returns new Wednesday at nine.
44:50Next, forensics, crash scene investigators.
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