THE senseless killing of a North East man in an unprovoked attack as he made his way home from a night out is to feature in a new TV series.
Murdered at First Sight is a ten-part true crime documentary series, highlighting the unlawful deaths of innocent people caught up in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Robin Chard is said to have been one of the rare victims of murder to have had their lives taken by someone they had never previously met.
Producers Woodcut Media said while the majority of killers know their victims, sometimes an unfortunate chance encounter can trigger the worst of crimes.
Makers of the documentary state that in 2020 a total of 177 people were murdered by strangers in England and Wales.
The series portrays the legacy of grief and heartache left behind by these harrowing slayings.
Episode five, to be aired later this month, relates to the killing of Mr Chard.
His widow Angela said she hopes the documentary will make people realise the true impact such senseless violence has on the families of victims, even after more than 18 years since the events of the fateful night, in April 2004.
Read more: Life sentence for thugs who kicked man to death
As The Northern Echo reported, after the conviction of his killers, 27-year-old Joseph Mee and Christopher Smith, then 24, the father-of-two had the misfortune to cross paths with the drink and drug-fuelled duo while making his way home from Heworth Metro Station.
He was kicked and stamped in the ferocious, unprovoked attack.
They targeted the 47-year-old kitchen designer as he made his way home after a quiet drink in Newcastle while his wife, a professional singer, was working away that night on Teesside.
The killers, who were jailed for life in December 2004 after admitting murder, also took their victim’s mobile phone, watch, jacket and £30 cash.
Smith was to brag to friends that he taunted his innocent victim's wife, when Mrs Chard rang his phone, worried as he had not returned home in the early hours the following morning, and the stranger told her: “Your husband is not coming home.”
They then went to Smith's house and put on the Queen song Bohemian Rhapsody, laughing as they replayed the line: "Mama, just killed a man."
Mee and Smith, both of Wardley, Gateshead, initially denied the murder.
But, faced with tell-tale footage from CCTV cameras and forensic evidence, they changed their pleas to admit their guilt.
* Episode five of Murdered at First Sight can be seen on Sky Crime, on Wednesday March 30, at 9pm.
Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
You can also follow our dedicated County Durham Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.
For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.
Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here