Inside real-life murders behind BBC drama Sherwood – from samurai sword beast to dad who shot newlywed daughter 3 times | The Sun

JUST miles apart, two murders would sent a chill up the spine of locals of Nottinghamshire villages in 2004. 

Former mining striker Keith “Froggy” Frogson was shot with a crossbow then hacked to death with Samurai swords on his doorstep in Annesley Woodhouse by mentally disturbed neighbour Robert Boyer.


Eleven days later, newlywed Chanel Taylor, from Huthwaite, Notts, was shot by her own father Terry Rodgers – who had walked her down the aisle just weeks before. 

Now the two murders have been turned into a fictionalised BBC One series starring Downton Abbey’s Joanne Froggatt and New Tricks actor Alun Armstrong. 

In the series Joanne plays conservative councillor Sarah Vincent who gets married hours before the murder of mining striker Gary Jackson, played by Armstrong. 

We look at the parallels between the brutal real-life murders and the television series.

READ MORE TRUE CRIME

The horrific killings behind ITV’s true crime show Social Media Murders

The real story behind shocking Welsh true crime doc Murder in the Valleys

Miner's struggles after losing job & marriage

Keith Frogson worked at the coalface but was one of the few vocal miners who heeded the union’s call for strike action in the Eighties – so much so union boss Arthur Scargill was one of the mourners at his funeral. 

The strike had torn communities apart and Annesley Woodhouse had been no different – with some staying true to the unions and others crossing the picket. 

National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) supporter Keith was sacked for throwing a brick through a coworker’s window – a crime he later said someone else had done.

Without a job, the dad of three’s marriage soon broke down and Frogson kept a grudge for the rest of his life. 

Most read in The Sun

game's up!

Gemma Owen's secret to be exposed as Jay's relative played for same team as dad

HOUSE OF WINDSOR

William and Kate's new home revealed as royals move to be nearer the Queen

STARTER FOR TEN

Prem fixtures 'leaked' with Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea in horror openers

OWEN-ING UP

I was so jealous of my wife & Gemma, I needed counselling, says Michael Owen

After the strike, Annesley’s twin shafts were shut down.

Shortly after his murder, a source told The Times: "Froggy will go to his grave still calling them scabs – he'll never let go of the past." 

Crossbow plot in forest hideout

On a July night in 2004, Keith had been at his local – the Forest Tavern – for a game of dominoes.

Shortly after he headed home, neighbours reported hearing shouting at 11pm. 

Later Keith was found savagely injured in a pool of his blood before police found a crossbow in a nearby garden, sending shockwaves through the community.  

Neighbour Robert Boyer – who had crossed the picket line in 1984 – was immediately suspected, amid speculation that a documentary about the strikes which had aired the night before the murder had reignited a deep hatred.

With police on his tail, Boyer went on the run for three weeks. He returned to set fire to the Frogmores' home – with Keith’s daughter and wife narrowly escaping the blaze. 

After a 600-officer strong manhunt and £1million investigation, Boyer was apprehended in Sherwood Forest.

It emerged the recluse had bought a crossbow for £150 and created a hideout in a months-long plan to kill Keith. He brutally shot him on his doorstep, before hacking away at his victim 30 times with two samurai swords.

‘His judgement was impaired’


Despite early speculation, the crime turned out to be unconnected to the strikes.

Andrew Easteal, for the prosecution, said that Boyer was convinced – without any justification – that Mr Frogson was trying to dismantle his house “brick by brick”.

He added: "There is no logical reason for Mr Boyer's action other than that he is mentally ill. His judgement was impaired."

Boyer was ordered to be detained in hospital indefinitely under the Mental Health Act by Nottingham Crown Court.

Honeymoon turns into horror

Back from their Mexican honeymoon, Chanel and Lee Taylor were settling into married life in their shared home. 

Seven weeks before, the beaming bride had been given away at her registry office wedding by dad Terry Rodgers – an ex-security firm boss. 

Hairdresser Chanel sat with Terry in the back of a limousine as they arrived at the picture perfect white wedding. 

Behind the scenes, Terry had been sleeping rough in his car as his business went bust and he separated from his partner Anne after 30 years together. 

Chanel had saved her father’s life when she found him on an embankment after he drunkenly overdosed.

Friend Keith Phillips said: "He said he had taken a lot of pills and cans of beer and he couldn't understand why he was still here for the amount of tablets he had taken.

“I think it could have been the pressure that he needed a lot of money with his own business and him falling out with his wife." 

‘Like a glorified sergeant major’

Concerned about Terry, Chanel invited him to stay in the two-bed she lived in with car salesman Lee. 

But their relationship had not always been harmonious – Terry had been described by friends of the family as a control freak.

One salon boss who used to employ Chanel said: "She did whatever he said."

One of Chanel's neighbours told how Rodgers described his daughter as his "only friend" in the split family and that he could not bear being apart from her.

An old pal of Rodgers said: "He likes giving orders. He's like a glorified sergeant major."

The night before Chanel was found by husband Lee, neighbours heard arguing from the usually quiet house, followed by shots. 

Demented Rodgers shot his daughter three times in the head with a sawn off showgun before hiding the weapon in her bed.

Husband Lee returned early from work and found Chanel after she wasn’t answering the phone. 

Like Boyer, Terry went on the run in Sherwood Forest and was nabbed just 24 hours after his fellow killer. 

When he was found by police he tried to conceal his identity – but was taken into custody where he went on hunger strike. 

In 2006, Terry tried to enter a guilty plea for manslaughter, but the judge insisted on trying him for murder. 

A week before the trial was due to start, the demon dad, who was still refusing food, died from starvation. 

His ex Anne MacPherson said at the time: "If I could have got to him I would have killed him myself. He's an animal. 

“He didn't deserve to live. What kind of father shoots his own daughter?"

‘Ripping my family apart'

Now, the two murders have inspired the six-part BBC series Sherwood, written by Quiz writer James Graham. 

But Anne – who was approached by producers – has hit out at TV execs for causing her family pain once again. 

She told the Mirror: “I don’t want to watch it but I’ll have to, reluctantly, as I need to see how my daughter and our family are being portrayed and what they’re saying about us.

“They are ripping my family apart all over again, and we’ll get the backlash. The programme has brought it all up again for me. It makes me so cross.

“They don’t know what they have done to my family for so-called entertainment.

Read More on The Sun

Nationwide debit card warning as thousands of customers are sent faulty cards

Fashion fans go wild for Asda’s green skirt that’s perfect for summer

“They better not be winning any gongs for this show.

“The whole nightmare… we’re just going through it all over again. It’s wearing me down.”

    Source: Read Full Article

    Previous post Kate Middletons mum Carole looks lovely in pink dress at Royal Ascot with husband Michael
    Next post Mystery as headless decomposed body is found behind a Burger King after passerby spots 'bones and skin' | The Sun