This review contains spoilers.

“Should I marry a murderer?” 

This is the question posed by Netflix’s new docuseries of the same name, which released April 29. It seems like an easy one. Yet, across the three episodes, the show depicts the question through the nuanced lens of whirlwind romance and police passivity. 

The series follows forensic pathologist Caroline Muirhead, who meets Sandy McKellar on an online dating app and falls head over heels in love. The two’s romance progresses quickly, culminating in an engagement less than three months into their relationship. 

Soon after, McKellar makes a confession to Muirhead. One night, when he and his twin brother were driving slightly under the influence, they hit cyclist Tony Parsons, who was in the midst of his charity bike ride to raise money for cancer. While McKellar initially frames the incident as an accidental hit-and-run, as the show unravels, so does the truth — the cyclist was still alive after being hit by the vehicle, yet to save themselves, McKellar and his brother took him to their farm, where he succumbed to his injuries. 

Sensibly, Muirhead reports the incident to the police. However, all actions thereafter are more unhinged. She stays with McKellar, even allowing him to stay in her home when he is released from police custody. While Muirhead documents the events both before and after the reveal through voice recordings and slightly cringey Snapchat videos, the extent to which she neglects her mental health is concerning. 

The series succeeds in being extremely thorough through its intricate exploration of the story from both sides. There are several interviews encompassing all perspectives, ranging from Muirhead’s parents to the head of homicide on the case to the McKellars’ defense attorney. Through these interviews, the negligence of the Glasgow Police Department comes to light. 

Meanwhile, Muirhead’s emotional struggles become further exacerbated, as she is put on leave from the job she loves and struggles with trust issues. Muirhead is very transparent about her difficulties with drug and alcohol abuse after her world falls apart, but she is also quick to note the lack of mental health care she receives throughout the process. 

Muirhead and her parents share that the police department denied her access to therapy, citing that if she were to speak to other people, it would disrupt the case. When interviewed, the head of homicide, David Green, places the blame on Muirhead. He said because she is a doctor, she should be more than aware of the mental health care available to her. Scenes where Muirhead’s struggles are invalidated were some of the series’ most infuriating. 

Frustrations also lie with Muirhead herself. It is difficult watching her continue to interact with McKellar after he reveals his crime. While I know the intention was to gather further evidence, hearing her speak about how she would knowingly place herself in extreme danger is extremely hard. However, while I understand being upset, perspectives on Muirhead’s actions must be coupled with empathy. 

Legal proceedings are a foreign topic to Muirhead. She is not properly briefed on what she should or should not do. The police did not care about her as a human, only as a star witness who could win the case for them. The lack of compassion and guidance from the police, paired with Muirhead’s internal struggles, is a recipe for disaster, and it is clear that the decisions she was making were her best efforts to make sense of the newfound unfamiliarity. 

The legal process regarding the case itself is an extraordinarily difficult watch. There is little to no evidence, aside from the brothers’ confessions, and the way the court system in Scotland is structured, the insufficient evidence granted Sandy McKellar a sentence of 12 years for culpable homicide and his brother five years for his role in covering up the crime. 

Although the show centers on Muirhead, I wish more of Parsons’ family’s perspective had been incorporated when discussing the case. For years, his family had no answers, and to find out the truth, partnered with the lack of proper justice, must have been devastating. They deserved the platform to speak about Parsons in their own words, if they wanted it, letting Netflix’s large audience know the real him. 

While “Should I Marry a Murderer?” is a horror story no one should have to experience, it is also a lesson in empathy. Watching the series, it is evident that discussing the situation is still difficult for Muirhead. I applaud her vulnerability, and I was glad to see in the end, despite the lack of support she received throughout the entire experience and the hardships she encountered, she found her happy ending.    

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