Unreliable Witness | Storycast

EPISODE 7: A new court case finally exposes abuse in Barrow. Jason and Liz have known about these allegations for years but they can only reveal the facts now. The case involves three brothers and it's taken their victims more than a decade to get justice. Now we can tell the story of their crimes and follow a thread leading back to Ellie Williams. She's out of jail and not allowed to talk to the media. But Jason and Liz find her old diaries raise fresh questions. Warning: This episode contains descriptions of violence and sexual abuse, explicit language, and a reference to suicide From Sky News Storycast, Unreliable Witness is presented by Jason Farrell and Liz Lane. Episode Producer: Soila Apparicio Executive Producer: Louise Cotton Sound Design: Matt Wareham Sky Podcasts Editor: Paul Stanworth

It’s revealed Mohammed Ramzan has been facing allegations other than from Ellie Williams. Liz and Jason meet ‘Sarah’ - who says she was groomed as a child in Hull and accuses Mo of being involved in the gang responsible. He claims something more sinister is at play. But his anger at the situation sees him back in court – in the dock. Warning: This series discusses issues of sexual abuse, self-harm, violence and suicide From Sky News Storycast, Unreliable Witness is presented by Jason Farrell and Liz Lane Series Producer: Anne-Marie Bullock Executive Producer: Louise Cotton Sound Design: Matt Wareham Additional Journalism: Sarah O’Connell Sky Podcasts Editor: Paul Stanworth

After Covid delays, the trial is finally held and Ellie Williams is in the dock. Liz and Jason were among the reporters at court when the extent of her claims were revealed for the first time, shocking the media and public alike. She’s accused of perverting the course of justice against 5 men, including 4 who are white – of lying to police and falsifying evidence to back up her claims, including causing the horrific injuries to herself. Liz and Jason share some of the shocking twists and revelations of the 11-week trial and what Ellie has to say in her defence. Warning: This series discusses issues of sexual abuse, self-harm, violence and suicide. From Sky News Storycast, Unreliable Witness is presented by Jason Farrell and Liz Lane Series Producer: Anne-Marie Bullock Executive Producer: Louise Cotton Sound Design: Matt Wareham Additional Journalism: Sarah O’Connell Sky Podcasts Editor: Paul Stanworth

Ellie’s family and boss share their worries about her leading up to the infamous Facebook post. Unexplained injuries. Becoming withdrawn. Incessant messages. Harassment on the street. Then she started to go missing regularly. When she suddenly moves out of the family home, her family feel they’re losing contact. Eventually she turns up so badly injured she says she can’t take it any more and goes public with claims on social media that go viral and shock the nation. Warning: This series discusses issues of sexual abuse, self-harm, violence and suicide. If you feel affected by the issues, you can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK From Sky News Storycast, Unreliable Witness is presented by Jason Farrell and Liz Lane Series Producer: Anne-Marie BullockExecutive Producer: Louise Cotton Sound Design: Matt Wareham Additional Journalism: Sarah O’Connell Sky Podcasts Editor: Paul Stanworth

A long serving doctor and his partner agree to help Alexis break out of psychiatric care and flee the country, a decision that has the potential to change all their lives. This series discusses rape and sexual assault.Credits -From Sky News StoryCast, Patient 11 is written and produced by Robert Mulhern. Reporting by Rebecca Thomas and Robert Mulhern. Editing by Paul Stanworth. Data and Forensics by Saywah Mahmood. Social Media by David Chipakupaku. Story commissioner, Dave Terris. Graphics by Kelly Casanova. Press and marketing by Anna Phelan. If you were impacted by this story please email the StoryCast team on storycast@sky.uk

Undiagnosed, legally detained and separated from her daughter for more than a year, Alexis is moved to an all-male psychiatric ward on Christmas Eve, 2013. What happens next will, ultimately, bring her to the attention of the most powerful institutions in the state. This series discusses rape and sexual assault.

Young mother and former GB youth swimmer, Alexis Quinn, agrees to enter NHS England psychiatric care following a family tragedy. She could never imagine that her three-day admission will turn into a three-year ordeal. Then undiagnosed with autism, and often the subject of 24-hour surveillance as well as long periods in solitary confinement, Alexis descends to the darkest reaches of locked-in, psychiatric care. There, she encounters the kind of threat she never could have imagined in a secure mental health hospital. In a bid to break free, Alexis plots a daring escape. Making it back to her daughter, however, will pit her against some of the most powerful institutions in the State, including the police.A warning, this series contains discussions about sexual assault.Credits -From Sky News StoryCast, Patient 11 is written and produced by Robert Mulhern. Reporting by Rebecca Thomas and Robert Mulhern. Editing by Paul Stanworth. Data and Forensics by Saywah Mahmood. Social Media by David Chipakupaku. Story commissioner, Dave Terris. Graphics by Kelly Casanova. Press and marketing by Anna Phelan. If you were impacted by this story please email the StoryCast team on storycast@sky.uk

On 27 July 2012, Gary Connery pulled up his tights, adjusted his wig, and put on a dress fit for a queen. The London Olympics opening ceremony was about to get underway and the professional stuntman was all set for the biggest job of his career. With the Queen scheduled to open the Games it was decided she would make a very special, very British, entrance. The idea was that James Bond would chaperone Her Majesty to the ceremony in a helicopter, before they both parachuted into the celebrations.But selling the illusion to a billion TV viewers around the world depended on the movie making skills of director/producer Danny Boyle and the bravery of a little-known stuntman ready to wow the world.In 2021, Sky News is marking some of the century’s biggest news events through the personal stories of lives defined by unforgettable moments from the last 21 years.The Queen's Stuntman is episode 20 of the 21-part series StoryCast' 21.Credits -The Queen's Stuntman was recorded by Tom Gillespie.Production, writing and sound design by Rob MulhernSpecial thanks to our contributors, Gary Connery and Alastair BruceArchive, Simon WindsorTV treatment, Victoria Hudson-GrantDigital, Tom GillespieHead of Radio, Sky News, Dave TerrisDesign and graphics, Brian GillinghamSocial media, Sam GouldPress and Marketing, Alexandra HortonEmail: storycast@sky.ukFor more on this story log on to www.skynews/storycast21#StoryCast21

On 22 July 2005, when Patricia da Silva learned that police marksman had killed a man at Stockwell Underground Station in London, she’d no reason to second-guess news reports describing the deceased as a terrorist.The capital then was on high alert. Just two weeks earlier, a series of bomb attacks killed 52 people, injured hundreds and London was left reeling.Then, on 21 July 2005, four men targeted the capital’s transport network in a carbon-copy style attack.This time, the terrorists' bombs failed to explode and they fled.So less than 24-hours after that failed attack, when Patricia left for work, she knew from news reports that police were in a race against time to catch the bombers.She’d absolutely no idea that the block of flats where she lived on Scotia Road in Tulse Hill was already under intense surveillance; that it had been linked by police to one of the terrorists — Hussein Osman, the target of the police shooting in Stockwell.Or was he?Critically, Scotia Road, Tulse Hill was much more than a location of police interest, it was home to Patricia, and her cousin — Jean Charles de Menezes, an electrician also from Brazil.On the morning of 22 July, when Patricia learned of the shooting, she couldn’t have imagined that a catastrophic chain of events had already cost Jean Charles de Menezes his life.In 2021, Sky News is marking some of the century’s biggest news events through the personal stories of lives defined by unforgettable moments from the last 21-years.Batman raids Buckingham Palace is episode 17 of the 21-part series StoryCast ’21 CREDITS - The Shooting was produced by Rob Mulhern and Tom Gillespie.Story originator, Tom Gillespie.Special thanks to our contributors, Patricia da Silva and Mark WhiteArchive, Robert FellowesTV treatment, Victoria Hudson-GrantDigital, Tom GillespieHead of Radio, Sky News, Dave TerrisDesign and graphics, Brian GillinghamSocial media, Samuel GouldEmail: storycast@sky.ukFor more on this story go to www.skynews/storycast21#StoryCast21

On the evening of 26 November 2008, Director and photographer Daniela Federici was in the lobby of the five-star Taj Palace hotel, Mumbai, when Islamic terrorists began a deadly 4-day terror attack using automatic weapons and grenades. Hours before, the Australian had arrived in the Indian port city – referred to my many in India as the ‘City of Dreams’ – to begin recording for a new TV documentary series.Instead, she found herself fleeing deep into the hotel’s vast warren of corridors as the terrorists, sent from Pakistan, mercilessly hunted down and murdered guests and security personnel. Escape the Taj Mumbai is Daniela’s story of survival and ultimately, escape. In 2021, Sky News is marking some of the century’s biggest news events through the personal stories of lives defined by unforgettable moments from the last 21-years.Escape the Taj Mumbai is episode 16 of the 21-part series StoryCast ’21 CREDITS - Escape the Taj Mumbai was written and produced by Rob Mulhern Recordings by Tom GillespieSpecial thanks to Daniela Federici and Ashish JoshiDigital by Tom GillespiePresented by Jayne SeckerTV treatment, Victoria Hudson-GrantHead of Sky News Radio Dave TerrisDesign and graphics, Brian GillinghamSocial media, Chris ScottPress and Marketing, Alexandra HortonEmail: storycast@sky.ukFor more on this story visit www.skynews/storycast21#StoryCast21

From Pauls Valley in Oklahoma, USA, Miles Hill always dreamed of joining the US Marine Corps.Growing up, family life was coloured by US military history - his grandparents served in World War Two and Korea. So when al Qaeda terrorists attacked the US on 11 September, 2001, it set in motion a chain of events that brought Hill to Iraq in 2003, as part of the Marine Corps. An idealistic 19-year-old, Hill had little understanding of geo-politics, but it was his absolute conviction that the world would be a better place without the Saddam Hussein. The Iraqi dictator had been a destabilising influence in the region since the 1990 Gulf War. Now accused of stockpiling weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) as well as forging links with al Qaeda terrorists, Hill and his fellow Marines were tasked with leading the ground invasion and deposing Hussein. On the morning of the invasion, military leaders warned of the bloodiest urban battle in US Marine Corp history. By the end of that day, Miles Hill would find himself at the centre of one of this century’s most iconic moments.In 2021, Sky News is marking some of the century’s biggest news events through the personal stories of lives defined by unforgettable moments from the last 21-years.Taking down Saddam is episode 14 of the 21-part series StoryCast ’21CREDITS ‘Taking down Saddam’ was produced and written by Rob Mulhern.Recordings and digital Tom GillespieSpecial thanks to Miles Hill and David Chater.Presented by Jayne SeckerSound Design, Rob MulhernTV treatment, Victoria Hudson-GrantArchive, Simon WindsorHead of Radio, Sky News, Dave Terris Design and graphics, Brian GillinghamSocial media, Chris ScottPress and Marketing, Alexandra HortonEmail: storycast@sky.ukFor more on this story go to www.skynews/storycast21#StoryCast21

Ghassan Hasrouty wasn’t supposed to be working at Beirut’s port on Tuesday, 4th August 2020. He’d swapped shifts to allow him to attend an upcoming weekend trip with his wife and children. A senior manager, Ghassan had worked at the port for 38-years. He knew its rhythms well and anticipating that he may have to work through the night, he called home and asked for someone bring him a pillow and blanket.Around the same time Zein Ja’Far, Sky News' Middle East News Editor based in Beirut, was working from his apartment, less than half a mile away when he noticed smoke coming from the port.A fire was about ignite thousands of tonnes of ammonium nitrate, stored near Ghassan's workplace. The lives of the Hasrouty family, and Beirut’s two million residents were about to be changed forever.In 2021, Sky News is marking some of the century’s biggest news events through the personal stories of lives defined by unforgettable moments from the last 21-years.Episode 12 of the 21-part series is The Beirut Blast: Ghassan’s story.*StoryCast '21 returns in September 2021, with an extended episode to mark the 20th anniversary of the 9-11 attacks.CREDITSThe Beirut Blast: Ghassan’s story was written and produced by Rob Mulhern with Zein Ja’Far.Special thanks to Eli and Tatiana HasroutyResearch and Digital by Tom GillespiePresented by Jayne SeckerSound Design, Rob MulhernTV treatment, Victoria Hudson-GrantHead of Radio, Sky News, Dave Terris Design and graphics, Brian GillinghamSocial media, Chris ScottPress and Marketing, Alexandra HortonEmail: storycast@sky.ukFor more on this story log on to www.skynews/storycast21#StoryCast21

Three days before Amy Winehouse died of alcohol poisoning, she made her final stage appearance alongside her Goddaughter and musical protégée Dionne Bromfield.Now for the first time, Dionne reveals the ‘Aunty Amy’ only she knew.A decade since Winehouse’s death, she remains one of the UKs top selling artists.She also remains eclipsed by the media portrayal: The icon, the beehive hairstyle, the bright lights, paparazzi, and addiction that ultimately destroyed her.'On Stage with Amy Winehouse' explores the Amy Dionne remembers, why it’s taken 10-years to process her death, and how finding a ‘sister’ in Winehouse has come to define her.‘On Stage with Amy Winehouse was produced by Rob Mulhern with Amy Hitchcock.Special thanks to Dionne BromfieldDigital by Tom GillespiePresented by Jayne SeckerSound Design, Rob MulhernTV treatment, Amy Hitchcock Head of Radio, Sky News, Dave TerrisDesign and graphics, Brian GillinghamSocial media, Chris ScottPress and Marketing, Alexandra HortonEmail: storycast@sky.ukFor more on this story log on to www.skynews/storycast21#StoryCast21