This week starts with the usual...tattoo double-bookings, a very inebriated weekend, Will doing himself a mischief in the pit at The Offspring, and a knife-wielding, mozzarella-eating stand-off with the ghost of Luther. Standard.

In the early hours of 28th May 2021, a young woman answered a FaceTime call from her partner, Jack Forde. What she saw on the screen was him attacking his own grandfather, 74-year-old Christopher Martin, in the New Cross home they shared.

This week Hannah tells Rach the story behind the headlines, a man who'd just lost his wife of 55 years, a grandson the system already knew was dangerous, and the safety net that was never more than one grieving widower. It's a story about supervision orders, disengagement from mental health services, and what happens when the only thing standing between danger and disaster is love.

Content warning: this episode discusses a violent killing, mental illness, addiction, bereavement and the Covid-19 pandemic.

If you or someone you know needs support, resources can be found below.

Mental health support & crisis
Samaritans – 116 123, free, 24/7. For anyone struggling to cope, not just suicidal crisis.

SANEline – 0300 304 7000, 4.30pm–10pm daily. Emotional support for anyone affected by mental health problems.

Shout – text 85258, free 24/7 confidential text support.

NHS 111 – select option 2 for 24/7 urgent mental health support.

Rethink Mental Illness – 0300 5000 927 (Mon–Fri, 9.30am–4pm). Support and advice for people living with severe mental illness such as schizophrenia, and their carers.

Rethink Carers Hub – online advice for people caring for a loved one with mental illness, including what to do in a crisis.

SAMM (Support after Murder and Manslaughter) – national charity offering peer support to people bereaved through homicide, including a confidential helpline (0121 472 2912) and non-religious retreats. All volunteers have been bereaved this way themselves.

Support the show

Thanks for tuning in! If you loved diving into the dark corners of South London with us, don't forget to hit that subscribe button to never miss an episode of "Sinister South."

Also, follow us on Instagram @SinisterSouthPodcast for sneak peeks, behind-the-scenes content, and more cheeky banter, or www.sinistersouthpod.co.uk. Remember, every crime tells a story... and South is the best side of the river...

Produced and hosted by Hannah Williams & Rachel Baines
Mixed & edited by Purple Waves Sound (A.K.A Will)