True crime – the genre that holds a fascination for so many – has enjoyed an explosion in recent years, thanks to the sheer number of platforms now dedicated to it. Whereas before, true crime fans could only get their fix from the pages of a well-researched tome, nowadays there are podcasts, dedicated TV channels, endless Reddit threads and numerous documentaries available to stream.
The latest addition to the genre is Netflix's docuseries Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer, which has been winning acclaim for its focus on the police investigation into the capture of Richard Ramirez, aka the Night Stalker.
From tales of conmen to stories of clemency, via the investigations that brought famous serial killers to justice, here are five true crime shows available on streaming platforms this month.
‘Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer’, Netflix
The latest true crime series to hit the streaming platform is is a four-part documentary about the investigation into the "Night Stalker" murders, perpetuated by serial killer and rapist Richard Ramirez in Los Angeles and San Francisco between June 1984 and August 1985.
The docuseries follows homicide detectives Gil Carrillo and Frank Salerno of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, who were two of the key figures responsible for bringing Ramirez, nicknamed the “Night Stalker” by the media, to justice.
Critics have praised the show for not sensationalising Ramirez’s heinous crimes nor attempting to psychoanalyse him. Rather, the focus remains on the police investigation, including interviews with journalists, news anchors and law enforcement officials.
‘Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult’, Starz
This four-part miniseries focuses on what happened to the women inside Keith Raniere’s NXIVM cult, with one of its most famous recruits, India Oxenberg, sharing her story in detail for the first time.
Put together by two female filmmakers, Cecilia Peck – also a NXIVM recruit – and Inbal B Lessner, the series features many first-hand accounts, along with expert testimony, about the cult that enslaved and branded the vulnerable women lured into it.
“They wanted it to be a women’s production focused on women’s stories that was raw, real and vulnerable, and showed the complexity of indoctrination and coercion in high-controlled groups,” says Oxenberg of the acclaimed show.
‘Conman: The Life and Crimes of Mark Acklom’, YouTube
Mark Acklom, an English conman who appeared on Britain's National Crime Agency's list of 10 most-wanted fugitives before his capture, is the subject of this 50-minute-long Sky documentary on YouTube.
Acklom began his crime spree by stealing his father’s American Express card and posing as a stockbroker to commit a £1 million ($1.4m) fraud for which he was sentenced to four years in a young offender’s institute, and his parents were forced to sell their house to pay off. He would go on to pose as both a Swiss banker and an MI6 agent to con a woman out of £850,000, which he has never repaid, all of which earned him a mere five years and eight months in prison.
‘Murder to Mercy: The Cyntoia Brown Story’, Netflix
On August 6, 2004, sex-trafficking victim Cyntoia Brown, aged 16, shot and killed Johnny Allen, 43, a man who had paid her $150 to spend the night with him. Although Brown said she acted in self-defence, she was sentenced to life in prison, making her eligible for parole at the age of 67.
This documentary, while focused on Brown’s journey to clemency after serving 15 years, also puts the spotlight on the US justice system; how the courts define and deal with victims, and how cases are viewed differently with the passing of time. As the voiceover says: "In 2004 she was considered a prostitute, now she would be considered the victim of sexual predators."
‘Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer’, Amazon Prime Video
This documentary gives voice to Bundy's longtime girlfriend, Elizabeth Kendall, and her daughter, Molly, who speak about their experiences for the first time in almost 40 years.
This five-part docuseries chronicles her relationship with one of America’s most famous serial killers, during the time period from 1974 to 1978 when he was at his most active.
The pair share new details about their lives with the murderer, as well as previously unseen photos of a man they had no suspicions about.
“They portray what feels and looks like an authentic love, which adds a layer of mystery to the theories I wasn’t anticipating,” reveals director Trish Wood. “You can’t look at those and not think that maybe he really did love her.”
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School counsellors on mental well-being
Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.
Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.
Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.
“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.
“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.
“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”
Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.
The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.
At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.
“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.
“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.
"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
