Actor who played Crimewatch 'killer' 21 years ago becomes suspect in same case

By Katie Wilson: ITV News

An actor who played a killer in a Crimewatch appeal 21 years ago has now become a possible suspect in the case.

Steve Watson took part in the reconstruction of the murder of Julie Pacey, who was sexually assaulted and strangled at her home in Grantham, Lincolnshire in 1994.

At the time, he looked so much like the e-fit police released, one witness became hysterical when she saw him on the Crimewatch set.

And as they got ready to film at a police station, Mr Watson said a police officer ran up to him and pinned him up against the wall after mistaking him for the killer.

"It frightened the life out of me. I said 'hang on a minute, I'm the actor', and it all calmed down."

But he told ITV News his life has turned into a "nightmare" after the BBC replayed the reconstruction again without his knowledge and two people called in naming him as the killer.

Mr Watson said: "The BBC were not supposed to show my face. I only lived 15 miles away from the murder scene and I said it was too close to home, but a clip of my face went out.

"The BBC have apologised, but I had all this 21 years ago and now it's happening all over again."

Mr Watson said after the Crimewatch appeal was aired an elderly lady tapped him on the shoulder in a deli and said: "You're that murderer."

"I said 'no, I'm not but I know what you're talking about.' The general public didn't seem to realise I was an actor taking part in a reconstruction."

The murder remains unsolved despite a DNA breakthrough in the case so Crimewatch put out another appeal in July this year.

However, Mr Watson was not told his face would again be shown and now police have taken a DNA sample from him.

He said: "The police came round and took a swab sample from me.

"The officer said I didn't have to agree, but I said why would I say no? I know in my heart I'm innocent and if it helps eliminate me from the enquiry that's what it's there for.

"The police officer who did it didn't even realise I was the actor who played the murderer all those years ago.

"I assumed the police would be in touch but so far I've heard nothing. I feel like I'm in limbo."

Statements from both Crimewatch and the BBC say they do not believe Mr Watson is a suspect in the case but he has yet to officially hear otherwise.

"We're living in a different world to 21 years ago. There's social media now and everything is so quick," he said.

"It's been crazy. My phone hasn't stopped ringing. My Facebook has been going mad. I've had my friends from America getting in touch because they are concerned.

"I think any actor who takes on a murder role should sign a clause saying their face will not be shown and stating they will not be called on to give DNA later down the line."

Reconstruction video courtesy of Crimewatch

Despite the backlash he has received Mr Watson said he would still have taken the acting job "because in my heart I know I haven't done anything wrong."

"I do feel I've been hung out to dry a little bit but I know I'm innocent and by taking part in the reconstruction I was trying to help with anything that can jog people's memories.

"I just hope the case is solved and Julie's murderer is finally brought to justice."

Detective Inspector Helen Evans, senior investigating officer in the case, said: "I made an appeal for names to be put forward so that we can eliminate them from the enquiry.

"The name of the gentleman, who it later turned out was an actor in the reconstruction was passed to us and was information that, of course, we had to investigate for obvious reasons.

"We would be remiss not to thoroughly investigate every solid piece of information that has come in and decide whether or not it is relevant to the enquiry.”

A BBC spokesman said: "The reconstruction used in the re-appeal was filmed in 1994 and, while we always try to contact actors involved when reconstructions are re-used, unfortunately this actor’s details were not listed in our records.

"We understand he has not been arrested and is not a suspect in the enquiry, and hope the re-appeal can assist the police in finding Julie Pacey’s murderer."