Netflix Sets June Release for ‘The Witness’ True-Crime Drama Series and Companion Doc

Netflix has just dropped a massive update on one of its most highly anticipated true-crime dramas of the year. Not only did we get our first look and a confirmed June release date for the three-part drama series The Witness, but Netflix also confirmed its companion documentary, The Murder of Rachel Nickell. Both titles are set to drop globally on Netflix on June 4th.

If you’ve been following our coverage, you’ll know we’ve been keeping a close eye on The Witness. The series was first unveiled during the massive Next on Netflix UK showcase all the way back in 2024, and our most recent comprehensive preview of everything we knew so far was back at the end of that year. Although the series was initially expected in 2025, it’s taken a little longer to get to our screens. 

Here’s a breakdown of everything Netflix just revealed about the two projects heading our way this June.

The Witness (Three-Part Drama Series)

Based on a devastating true story, The Witness takes us back to 1992 following the tragic murder of Rachel Nickell on London’s Wimbledon Common.

Rather than purely focusing on the crime itself, the drama zeroes in on the heartbreaking aftermath through the eyes of Rachel’s partner, André Hanscombe, and their two-year-old son, Alex, who was the sole eyewitness to the attack. As André becomes a single parent overnight, he is forced to navigate unimaginable grief, an unscrupulous media frenzy, and an increasingly desperate police investigation—all while making the welfare of his traumatized son his absolute priority.

Netflix promises a powerful story of a father and son moving from “darkness into light.”

Behind the Camera on The Witness

• Creator, Writer & EP: Rob Williams
• Director: Alex Winckler
• Producer: Alison Sterling
• Executive Producers: Sarah Brown (for STV) and John Yorke
• Production Company: STV Studios Drama
• Consultants: Alex & André Hanscombe

Main Cast

• Jordan Bolger as Andre Hanscombe
• James Bradshaw as DCI Tony Nash
• James Dryden as DC Paul Miller
• Kevin Eldon as DCI Mick Wickerson
• Max Fincham as Alex Hanscombe (teenage)
• Kerry Godliman as June
• Neil Maskell as DI Keith Pedder
• Jon Pointing as DC Nick Sparshatt
• Claire Rushbrook as Dr. Jean Harris-Hendriks
• Mark Stanley as DS Ivan Agnew

Secondary Cast

• Paul Chahidi as Professor Paul Britton
• Jack Shalloo as Pearse
• Christos Lawton as Actor
• Oliver Devoti as Detective Jackaman
• Tom Ashley as Philip Tandy
• Sean Talo as Crime scene forensic
• Wendy-Anne Daloz as Journalist
• Nick Dutton as Tim Williams

The Murder of Rachel Nickell (Standalone Documentary)

In a surprise addition to the slate (at least this soon), Netflix is also releasing a standalone documentary that unpacks the notorious, years-long police investigation that followed the 1992 murder. This serves as a companion documentary that can be watched before or after the main scripted show. It follows in the footsteps of a myriad of other companion documentaries released by Netflix over the years alongside scripted counterparts.

Directed by BAFTA-nominated filmmaker Lucy Bowden, the documentary dives deep into how a highly publicized and deeply flawed inquiry led to the prosecution of the wrong man, before a stunning breakthrough finally reignited the family’s fight for justice over a decade later.

The doc will feature exclusive archive footage, first-hand accounts from family members, and insights from leading forensic experts. As part of today’s reveal, Netflix also shared a first-look clip from the documentary featuring previously unseen home video footage of young Alex and André, alongside personal archive photos from the family.

Behind the Camera on the Documentary:

• Director & Producer: Lucy Bowden
• Executive Producers: Emma Tutty, Tanya Winston & Danny Horan
• Production Company: Blast Films

A Message from the Family

Perhaps the most touching part of today’s announcement is a shared statement from Alex and André Hanscombe, who have been heavily involved as consultants on the drama and have shared their personal archives for the documentary.

Speaking on the upcoming releases, they said:

“Our life has been a battle. We can never express how indebted we are to everyone that’s been a part of this, for the kindness and generosity they’ve extended to us, for the chance they took with us in bringing our story to the screen, and for the care they have taken. Our journey has all been by the grace of God and a promise to go on together, and we feel incredibly blessed to be able to share our story in this way. We hope that audiences will be left with a testament to the tough battle of life we all face and to the power of faith, hope, love – and never giving up.”

Will you be checking out The Witness and its companion documentary when they hit Netflix on June 4th? Let us know in the comments down below!