‘The Witness’: What Happened to André and Alex & Where Are They Now?

The Witness. (L to R) Max Fincham as Alex Hanscombe, Jordan Bolger as André Hanscombe, in The Witness. Cr. Courtesy of Sophie Köehler/Netflix © 2026

Netflix’s The Witness not only depicts the chilling murder of Rachel Nickell, but it also explores into the emotional journey of her husband André and son Alex over 15 years of hardship. If you’ve finished the series and you’re interested in where the case, as well as both Alex and André, stand  today, here’s our overview. 

Three-part true crime drama The Witness is now streaming on Netflix. The series depicts the tragic murder of mother Rachel Nickell in Wimbledon Common in 1992, who was stabbed over 40 times in broad daylight, with no witnesses other than Alex (played by Jahsaiah Williams & Max Fincham), her 2-year-old child stood by her side. The series also explores the impact it had on the life of her husband André (played by Jordan Bolger), who became a single father overnight. In addition to the emotional journey of André and Alex at its core, The Witness too covers the immense media coverage on the case, specifically the police investigation into finding the perpetrator. The investigation alone garnered huge public interest following the undercover operation to sting Colin Stagg, who was ultimately proven innocent. Both André and Alex finally received justice 15 years later with the arrest and prosecution of Robert Napper. 

In order to dramatize the events of the murder of Rachel Nickell, series creator Rob Williams and the crew enlisted the help of both André and Alex Hanscombe, getting them involved directly as consultants. Their involvement helped shape the series, keeping it authentic and true to life. “Our life has been a battle,” Alex and André Hanscombe said. “We can never express how indebted we are to everyone that’s been a part of this, for the kindness and generosity they’ve extended to us, for the chance they took with us in bringing our story to the screen, and for the care they have taken. Our journey has all been by the grace of God and a promise to go on together, and we feel incredibly blessed to be able to share our story in this way. We hope that audiences will be left with a testament to the tough battle of life we all face and to the power of faith, hope, love – and never giving up.”

‘The Witness’ Ending Explained: What happens to André and Alex?

The Witness. (L to R) Jahsaiah Williams as Alex Hanscombe, Jordan Bolger as André Hanscombe, in The Witness. Cr. Courtesy of Ana Blumenkron/Netflix © 2026

The Witness is unique in the fact that it doesn’t focus on the police investigation, but instead the powerful emotional journey between father-and-son André and Alex. Following the murder of Rachel Nickell. In the weeks and months following the murder, both André and Alex encountered enormous harassment from the press and general public. They were unable to live quiet lives, being constantly caught in the middle of a media storm. As a result, André decided to escape London and move elsewhere. 

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At first, they moved to France, where André was able to raise his son in relatively stable conditions. However, it wasn’t long before the the British media tracked down their address and the attention began ramping up again. At the time, the killer had not been caught, and having his address made public was an alarming safety concern for André. The breach of privacy was utmost in André’s concerns, so much that he kept a go-bag by the door in the event of a privacy breach. 

During Andre and Alex’s time away from the UK, the police investigation grew larger. They believed the killer was Colin Stagg, a man described as a ‘loner’ by the local community who was present on Wimbledon Common on the day of the murder. In order to coax a confession out of him, the police launched an undercover sting operation. Despite heaps of police pressure, Stagg was completely innocent in the case. 

Due to André’s steadfast caution, Alex found himself at odds with his father at numerous points in his adolescence. He became a rebellious teenager, misbehaving in school and highly outspoken. Their relationship becomes fraught. Later on, when Alex reaches adulthood, he and his father have a heart-to-heart moment. “I once told you that I don’t respect you, Dad. And I meant it,” Alex tells his father. “I don’t feel that way anymore. I’ve got nothing but respect for what you’ve done for me.”

In 1996, they fled France and eventually settled in Barcelona, Spain. There they found a more permanent sanctuary. In 2005, while still in Spain, André was informed that the police had discovered the true killer to be Robert Napper. The show depicts this realisation at the beginning of episode 3. In addition, it’s revealed that the police had looked into Robert Napper earlier in the case, and there were numerous missed opportunities to seize him. This includes a report direct from Napper’s mother revealing that her son had confessed to rape. The police never followed up on the report. The ending confirms that the father and so launched an official complaint against the Metropolitan Police Service, due to the classified Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) that contained the damning evidence over police incompetence. 

With the formal charging of Napper in 2007, André and Alex were able to settle peacefully in Spain with long-term expectations, freed of the worry that the killer still roams freely. 

Where are André and Alex Hanscombe today?

Picture Credit: Rekha Garton/Netflix

Following the arrest and sentencing of Robert Napper in 2008, both André and Alex Hanscombe have continued to live in Spain. They briefly moved back to London in summer 2024 to serve as consultants on the Netflix series. 

Into adulthood, Alex Hanscombe has focused on a career path of mindfulness and mental well-being. He has worked as a yoga teacher and a hypnotherapist. In 2015, he published a memoir, Letting Go: A true story of murder, loss and survival, by Rachel Nickell’s son, which details his life experiences. “Over the years, I have tried to make sense of and come to terms with what happened,” Alex said. “Writing the book was part of that process, but it’s a complicated journey and, for me and my father, we never felt we’d got it quite right nor that we’d stopped growing, and we both felt that there was still a part of the story to share to truly honour my mother’s memory. At the heart of sharing our journey from darkness to light is the desire to help others. We don’t always know why things happen, the ‘why?’ of our pain and suffering, nor are there guarantees of what our future will be – our message is to never give up or lose hope. That life is a battle worth fighting for, and that it’s worth sacrificing everything to follow what’s in your heart.”

André also published a book about the story in 1996, titled The Last Thursday in July, intended as a memoir about Rachel Nickell. 

Before we leave you, here’s some more questions you may have come the end of the Netflix series and companion doc: 

• When was Robert Napper charged for the murder of Rachel Nickall? Robert Napper was officially charged with the 1992 murder of Rachel Nickall in 2007. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility in December 2008. The judge deemed Napper a “very dangerous man” and he was sentenced to indefinite detention at Broadmoor Hospital. He will, more than likely, spend the rest of his life in the facility. Napper was already detained at the facility for other crimes at the time. 
• What happened to Colin Stagg? After the sentencing of Robert Napper, Colin Stagg was awarded £706,000 in compensation by the Home Office following the miscarriages of justice towards him. 
• Who else received compensation? The female police officer, Lizzie James, who went undercover tasked with feigning interest in Stagg to coax a confession, developed PTSD after the job. In 2001, she took legal action against the Metropolitan Police and received between £125,000-£200,000 in compensation. This was reported by the BBC in 2001. 
• Did the police apologise for the mistreatment of Colin Stagg? In 2008, Assistant Commissioner John Yates publicly declared that Colin Stagg was “completely innocent” (The Times). The moment was one of the most significant apologies in British police history. 

For deeper research into the story, Netflix has released a companion documentary, The Murder of Rachel Nickell, which is now streaming.