True crime narratives can sometimes lack the intellectual rigor and imaginative leaps found in classic detective fiction. However, forensic scientist Dr. Angela Gallop embodies the spirit of deduction, often associated with characters like Sherlock Holmes, in her work on complex cold cases.
In a series examining her investigations, as detailed in "Cold Case Forensics: The Death of God's Banker," Dr. Gallop reconstructs crime scenes and meticulously analyzes clues to paint a vivid picture of how events unfolded. Her approach is likened to observing Hercule Poirot's thought process before he gathers suspects to reveal the culprit.
A notable case featured is the 1982 death of Italian banker Roberto Calvi, who was found hanged beneath London's Blackfriars Bridge. The initial assumption of suicide by the Metropolitan Police was challenged by Dr. Gallop's investigation. To test the theory of how Calvi was found, she recreated a makeshift gallows in her garden. A colleague, Phil, was enlisted to walk along scaffolding poles, similar to where Calvi was discovered, while wearing weighted shoes to simulate the victim's potential movements.
Dr. Gallop then submerged Phil's shoes in river water for hours, later examining them under a microscope. This process revealed flakes of paint and rust embedded in the shoe soles, which were absent in Calvi's own shoes. This evidence strongly suggested Calvi could not have climbed the scaffolding himself.
Furthermore, Dr. Gallop utilized Calvi's wristwatch, which had stopped while submerged in the Thames, and consulted tide tables. This Holmesian touch allowed her to deduce that Calvi did not reach the scaffolding by walking along the shore. The logical conclusion, following the principle of eliminating the impossible, was that Calvi was placed there by another party.
The review notes that while Dr. Gallop's logical process is compelling, the program's execution could have benefited from more vigorous imagination, with a significant portion of the budget reportedly spent on a trip to Rome. Interviews with an Italian organized crime expert were challenging due to a strong accent, requiring subtitles. The program also featured interviews with former police officers and crime reporters, described as sitting rigidly on camera.