Lab Detectives

Episode
Toxicology
Broadcast Info
2001 (14 mins)
Description
John Allan convicted in Liverpool for the murder of his partner Cheryl Lewis. He poisoned her with cyanide while on holiday in Egypt the previous year. Her body was embalmed and returned to the UK. The death was deemed suspicious after a post mortem revealed small traces of cyanide in theblood. But did it come from the embalming process, nicotine from the cigarettes she smoked or post mortem release from the liver?
Toxicologist Dr. Alex Allen and his team eliminated the other explanations to secure a conviction. Great story of detective work, good sound analytical chemistry and sharp visuals.
Liverpool murder cyanide poisoning post mortem embalming process nocotine toxicology
Genre
Criminology; Science; Forensics
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How to cite this record

The Open University, "Lab Detectives". https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/ou/search/index.php/prog/6037 (Accessed 08 Nov 2025)