The Case That Changed the Law: The Murder of Helen McCourt | Ep. 268

The Case That Changed the Law: The Murder of Helen McCourt | Ep. 268

From British Murders with Stuart Blues by Stuart Blues

August 12, 2026 · 49 min · Episode 268

About this episode

This episode examines the murder of Helen McCourt and the investigation that led to significant changes in British legal history.

On February 9, 1988, 22-year-old Helen McCourt finished work early at an insurance office in Liverpool. She phoned her mum to say she was on her way home and asked if her tea could be ready, as she was looking forward to getting ready for a date that evening. After catching her usual train and bus back to the village of Billinge on Merseyside, Helen got off at her regular stop, less than 500 yards from her front door. She was never seen alive again. What followed was one of the most significant murder investigations in British criminal history. Detectives uncovered a remarkable trail of forensic evidence that pointed them towards a local pub landlord, despite the fact that Helen's body had vanished without a trace. The investigation would help shape the future use of DNA evidence in murder trials and ultimately inspire a change in the law, but for Helen's family, one heartbreaking question has never been answered. In this episode of British Murders with Stuart Blues , I examine the murder of Helen McCourt, the investigation that led to the conviction of Ian Simms, and the extraordinary "no body" murder case that changed British legal history. We explore Helen's life, her final…

More episodes of British Murders with Stuart Blues

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the British Murders with Stuart Blues podcast page.