The brutal killing of Rachel Nickell happened in broad daylight on Wimbledon Common, and the new Netflix documentary explores the chilling crime08:10, 04 Jun 2026Updated 08:19, 04 Jun 2026A man wrongfully accused of murder who endured more than a decade in limbo has shared details of the traumatic ordeal.‌The Murder of Rachel Nickell is a brand new true crime documentary launched on Netflix today (June 4), examining the savage killing of a young mother. In 1992 Rachel Nickell embarked on a walk with her dog and two year old son Alex, before she was stabbed to death in broad daylight on Wimbledon Common.‌Following a frenzied and blood-soaked assault, Rachel's son Alex remained the sole witness. The documentary reveals how a botched investigation resulted in the wrong man's prosecution alongside the family's anguish as the hunt for the genuine killer dragged on for years.‌A synopsis states: "In 1992, a young mother is killed in broad daylight on London's Wimbledon Common, leaving her two-year-old toddler as the sole witness."Exploring the shocking real events behind the drama series The Witness, this gripping documentary from BAFTA-nominated director Lucy Bowden examines the notorious, years-long police investigation that followed."‌But who was Colin Stagg and where is he today? Here's everything we know as The Murder of Rachel Nickell arrives.Who is Colin Stagg and what was he accused of?Colin Stagg is a British man who was mistakenly accused of Rachel Nickell's savage killing on Wimbledon Common. Following Rachel's death in 1992, officers possessed minimal forensic evidence connecting anyone to the crime and faced enormous pressure to apprehend the perpetrator, reports MyLondon.‌Following a public appeal alongside an artist's impression and psychological profile, police received intelligence pointing towards Colin, who resided locally and was known to frequent the Common. He was subsequently arrested.Colin was then subjected to an undercover 'honey trap' police operation involving a female undercover officer known as Lizzie James. Lizzie James befriended Colin and attempted to secure a confession, which never materialised.After spending several months feigning romantic interest in Colin, sexual content from correspondence raised suspicion - however Colin persistently denied Rachel's murder.‌With increasing pressure, Colin was later charged with the murder and spent 13 months in custody, enduring more than a decade of speculation that he was the killer.However, in 1994, his trial collapsed after a judge condemned the police tactics employed, which were described as "deceptive conduct of the grossest kind", ITV reported.Despite his release, public speculation persisted. The documentary hears from Colin himself who spoke candidly about the traumatic ordeal that transformed his life. He confessed he was "sick of the whole thing" that dragged on for 15 years as he remained in limbo.‌Where is Colin Stagg now?In 2008, when Rachel's actual killer confessed to her death, Colin proceeded to sue the police on the grounds of malicious prosecution and he was awarded a £706,000 payout. Assistant Commissioner John Yates stated at the time: "In August 1993, he was wrongly accused of Miss Nickell's murder. It is clear he is completely innocent of any involvement in this case and I today apologise to him for the mistakes that were made in the early 1990s."We also recognise the huge and lasting impact this had on his life and, on behalf of the Metropolitan Police, I have today sent him a full written apology."‌Presently, Colin appears to lead a reasonably ordinary existence. He later married, and has subsequently discussed his ordeal on television.Who actually murdered Rachel Nickell?The actual perpetrator was Robert Napper, who possessed a record of violent assaults against women.Article continues belowIn 2002 Rachel's murder inquiry was relaunched following a cold case examination, with investigators employing DNA technology eventually uncovering a profile that had previously been overlooked. Colin Stagg was exonerated and subsequently, Robert Napper was identified, who was then serving a prison sentence.Nevertheless, it wasn't until 2008 that Robert Napper admitted stabbing Rachel to death. The serial killer had already been found guilty of the double killing of Samantha Bisset and her daughter.The Murder of Rachel Nickell can be streamed on Netflix