Sensing Murder
Encyclopedia
Sensing Murder is a television series in New Zealand, Australia, and the United States, in which alleged psychics are asked to act as psychic detective
s to help solve famous unsolved murder cases in each country. The psychics have not managed to solve any of the cases.
The producers state that the psychics are given no information about the case other than a photo, which some psychics prefer to keep face-down (The idea being that the less information they have, the better their supernormal abilities function). Other psychics choose to look at the photogaph. To demonstrate their abilities, the psychics relay their impressions about the case/person which may match details in the case file.
The psychics are then asked to provide any extra information they can using their psychic abilities.
The show's private detective hosts the next section, in which he is asked to try to investigate any new leads suggested by the psychics and sometimes talk to the families of the deceased.
and Australia
with a case that had already been solved. The most accurate psychics were then shortlisted from which the producers chose two or three of them to attempt to solve the unsolved murder cases. The three that were chosen are:
Producer David Baldock has rejected a paranormal challenge on behalf of the psychics, but does propose possible further tests of the psychics if the Sensing Murder show airs a third series in New Zealand.
From 20 November until 12 December 2007 5 episodes from season 1 were replayed.
From 29 July until 26 August 2008 4 episodes from Season 2 were replayed
.
It was reported during the first episode of Season 2 (entitled, Sensing Murder: Insight) that after the episode about Luana Williams screened, Sue Nicholson received a threatening phonecall from an unknown male claiming to know where Luana's missing remains are located. A detective on the case also received a call from someone claiming to have information in regards to the case.
The Australian series was filmed between 2003–2004, and all the cases are still unsolved. Recent episodes in New Zealand have generated unsubstantiated leads, however, the episode that screened on 16 Oct 2007 on TV2 in New Zealand claims to have identified the particular killer and the case has since been reopened by Police.
Sensing Murder was based on a Danish television programme "Fornemmelse for mord" which is on record as having failed to produce any results.
TVNZ was criticized after the network used their 'Breakfast' morning show to cross-promote the show, with vague claims about the whereabouts of disappearing toddler Aisling Symes
.
Psychic detective
A psychic detective is defined as a person who investigates crimes by using their claimed paranormal psychic abilities. A number of people claim they have psychic abilities that have allowed them to assist police in solving kidnapping and murder cases, or locating a corpse...
s to help solve famous unsolved murder cases in each country. The psychics have not managed to solve any of the cases.
Format
Each episode included detailed reenactments of the events leading up to the murder and the murder itself. Sections of these reenactments are then shown throughout the episode to refresh the viewer's memory of the events.The producers state that the psychics are given no information about the case other than a photo, which some psychics prefer to keep face-down (The idea being that the less information they have, the better their supernormal abilities function). Other psychics choose to look at the photogaph. To demonstrate their abilities, the psychics relay their impressions about the case/person which may match details in the case file.
The psychics are then asked to provide any extra information they can using their psychic abilities.
The show's private detective hosts the next section, in which he is asked to try to investigate any new leads suggested by the psychics and sometimes talk to the families of the deceased.
Format origin
The program format was developed by Danish Nordisk Film TV and has been sold to many countries. In 2004 Granada Entertainment bought the US rights.The psychics
The show's producers claimed that before each series they tested hundreds of psychics and mediums in New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
with a case that had already been solved. The most accurate psychics were then shortlisted from which the producers chose two or three of them to attempt to solve the unsolved murder cases. The three that were chosen are:
- Deb WebberDeb WebberDebra Webber is a psychic detective on the New Zealand television series Sensing Murder.- Controversy :Critics have pointed out her show uses cold reading and other techniques used by entertainers like Derren Brown...
- Sue Nicholson
- Kelvin Cruickshank
Producer David Baldock has rejected a paranormal challenge on behalf of the psychics, but does propose possible further tests of the psychics if the Sensing Murder show airs a third series in New Zealand.
Season 1 (2006)
| # | Title |
|---|
Season 2 (2007)
- (4 September 2007) Episode 1(#12): Sensing Murder: Insight
- (11 September 2007) Episode 2(#13): In Too Deep...Aaron HopaAaron HopaAaron Remana Hopa was a New Zealand rugby union player. He was an All Black in 1997 where he played four matches and played for Waikato in provincial level including the Ranfurly Shield winning team in 1997 and he also played for the Chiefs in the Super 14...
- (18 September 2007) Episode 3(#14): The Girl In The Ditch...Agnes Ali'iva'a
- (25 September 2007) Episode 4(#15): Last Orders...Kevin O'Loughlin
- (2 October 2007) Episode 5(#16): Taken For A Ride...Simon Buis
- (9 October 2007 Episode 6(#17): Lost For Words...Jayne Furlong
- Unsolved disappearance of 17yr old Jayne Furlong
- (16 October 2007) Episode 7(#18): A Mother's Worst Nightmare...Amber-Lee Cruickshank
- (23 October 2007) Episode 8(#19): Long Way Home...Judy Yorke
- Unsolved disappearance of 25yr old Judy Yorke
- (30 October 2007) Episode 9(#20): The Great Pretender...Garth Doull
- (6 November 2007) Episode 10(#21): Into Thin Air...Jim Donnelly
- (13 November 2007) Episode 11(#22)(Season Finale): Sensing Murder: Psychics Revealed
- Special about the lives of psychics Deb Webber, Kelvin Cruickshank, Sue Nicholson and Scott Russell Hill
From 20 November until 12 December 2007 5 episodes from season 1 were replayed.
Season 3 (2008)
- (8 July 2008) Episode 1(#23): Where There's Smoke....Blake Stott
- (15 July 2008) Episode 2(#24): Now You See Me....Alexa Cullen
- (22 July 2008) Episode 3(#25): Vanishing Point....Sara Niethe
From 29 July until 26 August 2008 4 episodes from Season 2 were replayed
- (2 September 2008) Episode 4(#26): Without Warning....Regan O'Donoghue
- Unsolved, June 2007 hit and run death. Notably, a police detective sat in on the psychics readings.
- (9 September 2008) Episode 5(#27)(Season Finale): When The Trail Goes Cold....Kaye Stewart
- Disappeared in June 2005. Notably, the psychics readings were conducted by the head of the Lower Hutt CIB.
Season 4 (2010)
The new season was announced. The psychics will look into five mysterious cases from between 1977-2008.- (11 February 2010) Episode 1(#28): Looking For Justice...Lesley Calvert
- Murdered in 1977. Notably, it was the first time a lead suspect in a case asked for the case to be looked at.
- (18 February 2010) Episode 2 (#29): Stone Cold...Brendan Percy
- (25 February 2010) Episode 3 (#30): Seeking Siegfried - Siegfried Newman
- Supposedly died via a fall while in bushland area in 2008. Notably, the episode aired on 25 February, exactly two years after he went missing in 2008.
- (4 March 2010) Episode 4 (#31): Lie Of The Land...Jason Dark
- (11 March 2010) Episode 5 (#32): Where's Granddad? - Allan Woodford
- Season Finale
Awards
- 2006 Qantas Media Awards
- WINNER:Best Director, Non-Drama
- WINNER:Best Reality Format
- 2008 Qantas Television and Film Awards
- WINNER:Best Format-Reality Series
Books
- Sensing Murder (released in 2008)
- Walking in Light, autobiography of Kelvin Cruickshank (released in March 2009)
Production difficulties
The Australian series of Sensing Murder also suffered numerous setbacks including being canceled after one episode on Channel Seven (although picked up later by Channel Ten), and a budget over-run which threatened to bankrupt the producer Rhonda ByrneRhonda Byrne
Rhonda Byrne is an Australian television writer and producer, best known for her New Thought works, The Secret—a book and a film by the same name. By the Spring of 2007 the book had sold almost 4 million copies, and the DVD had sold more than 2 million copies omt. She has also been a producer...
.
Criticism and developments
The murder of George Engelbrecht was profiled in Season 1, the episode concluding with a shot of Engelbrecht's unmarked grave. The story caused a big public response, and the local community, Glover Memorial and JR Croft Funeral Directors together decided to organize a tribute. On 5 July 2006 there was a public unveiling of a headstone for Engelbrecht.It was reported during the first episode of Season 2 (entitled, Sensing Murder: Insight) that after the episode about Luana Williams screened, Sue Nicholson received a threatening phonecall from an unknown male claiming to know where Luana's missing remains are located. A detective on the case also received a call from someone claiming to have information in regards to the case.
The Australian series was filmed between 2003–2004, and all the cases are still unsolved. Recent episodes in New Zealand have generated unsubstantiated leads, however, the episode that screened on 16 Oct 2007 on TV2 in New Zealand claims to have identified the particular killer and the case has since been reopened by Police.
Sensing Murder was based on a Danish television programme "Fornemmelse for mord" which is on record as having failed to produce any results.
TVNZ was criticized after the network used their 'Breakfast' morning show to cross-promote the show, with vague claims about the whereabouts of disappearing toddler Aisling Symes
Disappearance of Aisling Symes
The disappearance of Aisling Celine Symes, a two-year-old girl of Irish and New Zealand descent, occurred on 5 October 2009 in New Zealand. It was initially thought the girl had been abducted, but on 12 October 2009 it was confirmed that a body had been located in a storm water drain on a property...
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