Girl in Bridge Murder (short story)

Girl in Bridge Murder
Main character(s):	Roger James
Featuring:	Elizabeth Lewis, Mary Roberts, Mabel Ann Lewis
Main setting:	Penfro Bridge, 30 March 1963
Key crew
Publisher:	Immersive Theatre
Release details
Release date:	26 May 2021
Time Fracture tie-ins
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Girl in Bridge Murder was a short story released on 26 May 2021 by Immersive Everywhere to coincide with the Doctor Who: Time Lord Victorious immersive experience Time Fracture.

Framed as an in-universe issue of the Cardiff Examiner, the main article provided more insight into the impact and coverage of Elizabeth Lewis' death, previously shown in the Torchwood episode Ghost Machine. A second article was also included, titled Local Runaway Teenager Now Found, which discussed an in-universe version of the BBC, although interestingly placed the events of said headline in 2004, while the rest of the paper was set in 1963.

Summary

Girl in Bridge Murder

Police are calling for witnesses to the death of Elizabeth Lewis, a 17 year old girl whose body was found under Penfro Bridge during the night of 29 March 1963. She had been walking home after a night out with friends when she was stabbed repeatedly. According to her classmate, Mary Roberts (also 17), she had been living with her mother, Mabel Ann Lewis, in Haford Street. She had been studying at Splott High School, and was 'top of her class'. Detective Superintendent Huw Bates, of Cardiff Police Murder Squad, claimed the attacker to be dangerous, and extra men were deployed to 'bring him in'.

Local Runaway Teenager Now Found

The BBC have successfully defended a potential libel case in court. Just days before the trial began, their legal team had still been gaining access to documents which provided crucial evidence. The case had been brought by a senior hospital official, following a feature broadcast in May 2004 on Points West, where health correspondent Matthew Hill had revealed that Weston General Hospital's waiting lists had been falsified in order to reach government targets. 'Last week,' in the high court, Mr Justice Gray dismissed the libel action, which could have cost the BBC the best part of £2m in damages and costs.

Characters

• Roger James

Girl in Bridge Murder

• Elizabeth Lewis
• Mary Roberts
• Mabel Ann Lewis
• Detective Superintendent Huw Bates
• Attacker

Local Runaway Teenager Now Found

• Senior hospital official
• Matthew Hill
• Mr Justice Gray

Worldbuilding

Girl in Bridge Murder

• Elizabeth Lewis lived with her mother, Mabel Ann Lewis, and was friends with Mary Roberts.
• Elizabeth Lewis and Mary Roberts attended Splott High School.
• Elizabeth Lewis was 'top of her class'.

Local Runaway Teenager Now Found

• The BBC were accused of libel because of Matthew Hill, on Points West, claiming Weston General Hospital to have falsified their waiting lists to reach government targets.
• In the high court, Mr Justice Gray dismissed the libel action, which could have cost the BBC the best part of £2m in damages and costs.

Notes

• Although the conflicting dates of 1963 and 2004 would seem to break continuity, it's possible that this was related to the Time Fracture, the main subject of the main performance.
  • This may also explain the heading, "Local Runaway Teenager Now Found", being wholly unrelated to the main body of the article.

Continuity

• Lizzie Lewis was stabbed to death under a bridge by an attacker, and was the daughter of Mabel Ann Lewis. (TV: Ghost Machine)