Maxine viewers blast Channel 5 for focusing Soham murder series on killer’s girlfriend
CHANNEL 5 viewers have lashed out at new true crime series Maxine over its “sympathetic” portrayal of Maxine Carr, and the decision to focus on her over the victims.
In the second episode of the three-part drama, Maxine’s relationship with Ian Huntley was played out, including how they first fell in love, before scenes of domestic violence and public arguments.
The episode shows Maxine covering for fiancé Ian Huntley in the August 2002 disappearance of 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, giving him a false alibi.
The show suggests she was under the impression if she didn’t, previous rape allegations against him would surface and he would be fired from his job at Soham College. Huntley had already convinced her the rape allegations were false.
In later scenes she was seen scrubbing the house clean.
However, the pair’s repeated courting of the press – including a now notorious interview where Maxine refers to the missing girls in past tense – proves to be the start of their downfall, with the teaching assistant recognised by someone who had partied with her in Derby the night she was covering for Huntley.
The end of the episode sees investigators discover the burned remains of Holly and Jessica’s Manchester United shirts in a locked area of Soham College, finally pinning Huntley’s connection to the crime.
While some viewers have been gripped by the serious, a large number have panned the show for continuing to focus on Maxine and her involvement in covering up the murders of the two girls, whose bodies were found on 17 August, 2002 side-by-side in an irrigation ditch just outside RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk.
"Not sure what #channel5 were hoping to gain from this drama, everyone knows what happened, it seems in bad taste and totally disrespectful to the victims families. All they are doing in this drama is guessing what conversations Ian and Maxine may have had," one wrote.
"This drama can not be showing her as a f’in victim ! She should of got longer in prison. She helped cover up and clean up those poor girls murders. Standing watching the police n press, enjoying the limelight! Makes my blood boil #Maxine," added a second incensed viewer.
"How people are watching this and coming to the conclusion that is being portrayed as a victim is beyond me. She is quite clearly not at all," said another.
However, others praised the show for its portrayal of how complicit Carr was in the actual crimes, arguing the series didn't show her as a victim, but connected to everything that happened.
One explained: "Weird as some are saying that #Maxine on channel five is showing Carr as a victim- I’m watching a vile narcissistic woman who went a long with a violent controlling man and offered to cover up for him from day one for absolutely anything with no real reason why."
"I don't feel this shows Maxine Carr as victim at all," said another. "She's a manipulative b***h who gives as good as she gets."
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Maxine Carr was eventually convicted of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice for providing Huntley a false alibi. She eventually turned against Huntley after being presented with evidence of his guilt, helping the police secure their murder conviction.
She was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison and is now living under a new identity, as well as a legal anonymity order banning the release of her new name, job, location or look.
This has caused public uproar for those who believe she was given a lenient sentence for her participation in the cover up.
Huntley is serving a minimum of 40 years for the murders of the two girls.
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Maxine concludes Wednesday October 12th at 9pm on Channel 5.
