Yahoo News A Year of British Murder was a tough but powerful watch for viewers
Channel 4 documentary A Year of British Murder aired on Monday night (January 21), and while it was definitely a hard-hitting watch at times, many viewers were moved by what they saw.
The powerful two-hour special looked at the cases of some of the 768 people who died as a result of murder or manslaughter in Britain in 2017.
Directed by filmmaker Ben Anthony, the documentary met people whose lives have been changed forever by murder, and explored what the wider picture of murder reveals about modern Britain.
Some viewers even suggested that it should be shown in schools.
This is a seriously hard watch. I’m in bits. They should show some of this in school. #AYearOfBritishMurder
- Sam Buckle (@SamBuckle) January 21, 2019
This should be shown in schools! #AYearOfBritishMurder
- T (@T__Bird_) January 21, 2019
Utterly heartbreaking. They should show this documentary in secondary schools, the effect stabbings have on families & communities such as that of Quamari Barnes, of Kensal Green featured in it. So sad to see such young life needlessly lost. Very powerful. #AYearOfBritishMurder
- 𝔹𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕠 (@Billo20Four7) January 21, 2019
So true that the perpetrators of murder don’t just damage forever their victims families but also their own families I hope they show this film in every school in the U.K. #AYearOfBritishMurder
- Laura (@laurawenn1) January 21, 2019
Why aren’t programmes like this shown in schools? Shown in rehabilitation centres? Youth detention centres? #AYearOfBritishMurder
- Amy (@amy_sager) January 21, 2019
Related: Why EastEnders' gritty knife crime episodes were a return to form – and long overdue
Of the 13 cases featured, one particularly emotional was the murder of 15-year-old boy Quamari Serunkuma-Barnes, who was stabbed outside his school in London in January 2017.
In the film, his parents were shown reacting to the aftermath of his murder, including when his killer was sentenced.
Quamari dancing and singing made me laugh, his energy... such a sad story. Sending love to all the families and friends of those who have lost someone in such awful circumstances ❤️ #ayearofbritishmurder
- Alexandra (@xalijohnsonx) January 21, 2019
watching Quamari's father dealing with the trial & his raw sadness & dignity , i truly feel for him #ayearofBritishmurder
- paul wilks (@pwilks1972) January 21, 2019
Watching this through the eyes of other people is going to be hard.. #AYearOfBritishMurder #Quamari 💔
- Little Miss♥🇯🇲 (@Ms_Scorpio80) January 21, 2019
Related: EastEnders star Lorraine Stanley praises the soap's "powerful" knife crime storyline
A Year of British Murder is available to watch on All 4 now.
The Ben Kinsella Trust was set up by Ben's family shortly after his murder to campaign against knife crime and to educate young people about the dangers of carrying a crime.
The Cruse Bereavement Care Freephone National Helpline is staffed by trained bereavement volunteers, who offer emotional support to anyone affected by bereavement. The helpline can be contacted on 0808 808 1677, Monday-Friday at 9.30am-5pm (excluding bank holidays), with extended hours on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings, when it is open until 8pm. You can also email using helpline@cruse.org.uk.
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