The Murder of Tia Sharp: My Daughter airs on Channel 5 tonight, exploring one of the UK’s most shocking murders.
The documentary will look at who killed Tia Sharp and why, as well as the botched police search into the youngster’s disappearance.
Airing tonight, Monday September 4, 2017 at 9PM, the one-off special will include contributions from Tia’s father Steven Carter.
The detective who led the investigation also takes part, expressing his apologies for what went wrong.
Who killed Tia Sharp?
Tia Sharp was brutally killed by Stuart Hazell, who plead guilty to her murder in 2013.
He was given a life sentence with at least 38 years behind bars.
In a case that shocked the nation, Tia was killed by the boyfriend of her grandmother.
Stuart Hazell had even appeared on TV appealing for any information to help find Tia aware that she was dead in the home of her grandmother.
Tia had gone missing on August 3, leading to a widespread hunt for clues as to her disappearance.
A week later on August 10, Tia’s body was found by Police in her grandmother’s house, despite having previously been searched three times.
Cops arrested both Tia’s grandmother and her grandmother’s boyfriend Stuart Hazell on suspicion of murder, as well as their neighbour, Paul Meehan, on suspicion of assisting an offender.
Despite finding a body, investigators struggled to figure out what had happened to Tia. A post-mortem concluded without establishing the cause of death.
While Tia’s grandmother was released without charge, Stuart Hazell was charged with murder, as detectives accused him of smothering Tia.
After originally pleading not guilty Hazell changed his plea a week into the trial and was given 38 years behind bars.
Meanwhile, neighbour Meehan was found guilty of wasting police time and handed five months in prison.
Following the trials, Police Commander Neil Basu apologised to Tia’s family for the botched search for the 12-year-old.
“We have apologised to Tia’s mother that our procedures did not lead to the discovery of the body on this search,” Mr Basu said back in 2012. “On behalf of the Metropolitan Police I apologise for the distress and concern this delay will have caused.
“A continuing review and examination of our search processes will be undertaken to ensure such a failing is not repeated.”
he Murder of Tia Sharp: My Daughter airs Monday September 4, 2017 at 9PM.