The murders of White House Farm in 1985 – which saw Nevill and June Bamber, along with their adopted daughter, Sheila, and her six-year-old twins, shot dead – is a haunting story that has long been depicted and dissected in the media.
As the family's sole remaining survivor, Jeremy Bamber was quickly deemed a person of interest by police (despite claiming to be miles away from the Farm at the time) and sentenced to the five murders.
However, a new Channel 5 documentary, Jeremy Bamber: Proof of Innocence – The Missing Phone Call, suggests that previously undisclosed evidence could change everything – and may prove Jeremy Bamber's innocence.
Here's a recap of the case and what the new evidence is...
Who is Jeremy Bamber?
Jeremy Bamber is the man convicted of the White House Farm murders in 1986.
Born in 1961, Jeremy was adopted by Nevill and June Bamber as a baby and grew up at White House Farm near Tolleshunt D'Arcy, Essex. He was 24 years old when his adoptive parents, sister and two young nephews were killed.
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According to the Jeremy Bamber Innocence Campaign, he is "far from the media caricature of a privileged playboy, Jeremy was fundamentally a 'farmer's boy' who genuinely loved life on the farm, had his own dog, and learned agricultural skills from an early age."
At the time of the murders, Jeremy told police he was at his cottage several miles away when his father, Nevill, allegedly phoned him to say that his sister Sheila had "gone crazy" and was armed with a gun.
Police initially believed the deaths were a murder-suicide carried out by Sheila Caffell, who had previously been diagnosed with schizophrenia. However, the investigation later shifted focus to Jeremy, who was charged with five counts of murder.
In October 1986, he was found guilty of murdering his adoptive parents, Nevill and June Bamber, his adoptive sister Sheila Caffell, and Sheila's six-year-old twin sons, Daniel and Nicholas. He received a whole-life sentence and remains in prison today.
Jeremy has consistently denied the murders and has pursued numerous appeals over the years, arguing that he was wrongfully convicted.
What were the White House Farm Murders?
The White House Farm murders took place during the night of 6 to 7 August 1985 at White House Farm in Essex.
When police entered the farmhouse on the morning of 7 August, they discovered the bodies of Nevill and June Bamber, both 61, their daughter Sheila Caffell, 28, and Sheila's six-year-old twin sons, Daniel and Nicholas. All five had been shot.
The case quickly became one of the most high-profile murder investigations in British criminal history.
Initially, investigators believed Sheila had shot her parents and children before taking her own life. However, as the investigation progressed, detectives concluded that Jeremy had staged the scene to make it appear as though Sheila was responsible.
A key part of the prosecution case centred on a firearm silencer found at the property, alongside testimony from Jeremy's former girlfriend, Julie Mugford, who said he had previously discussed plans to kill his family. Jeremy was convicted the following year.
What is the new evidence?
The Channel 5 documentary focuses on several pieces of evidence that Jeremy's legal team and supporters (some of whom run the Jeremy Bamber Innocence Campaign) believe could undermine the prosecution case – they are hoping to having his convictions overturned or a retrial.
The most significant claim concerns a previously overlooked 999 call, allegedly made from inside White House Farm at around 6.09am on the morning of the murders.
It is now being reported that a call handler, who has since retired, remembers that "someone phoned 999 from inside the farmhouse", after Nevill had called Jeremy and he was standing outside with the police, and that he could hear movement or voices in the background. Supporters argue that, if accurate, it could suggest somebody was still alive inside the house at a time when Jeremy was clearly not inside carrying out a crime.
The documentary also examines letters allegedly written by Sheila Caffell which supporters say point to suicidal thoughts and deteriorating mental health. They argue these documents were not properly considered during the original investigation.
Another focus is the firearm silencer that played a crucial role in Jeremy's conviction. The programme features fresh ballistic analysis and raises questions about whether the silencer evidence presented to the jury was reliable.
The film also explores claims of other police errors during the original investigation, including allegations that parts of the crime scene may have been disturbed before forensic examinations were completed.
Jeremy's legal team has submitted new material to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which continues to consider aspects of his case.
Essex Police point to the fact that multiple appeals and reviews have consistently upheld Jeremy's conviction.
As things stand, Jeremy remains convicted of the White House Farm murders and his conviction has not been overturned.
Jeremy Bamber: Proof of Innocence – The Missing Phone Call is on Channel 5 at 9pm on 8 June
