"Min søster er gået amok med et gevær!" Den 7. august 1985 modtager engelsk politi et nødopkald fra den unge Jeremy Bamber. Politiet rykker ud til Jeremys forældres gård, hvor fem af hans familiemedlemmer findes dræbt. Jeremys skizofrene søster har skudt sin familie og derefter sig selv. Det mener i hvert fald kriminalinspektør 'Taff' Jones. Han betragter sagen som opklaret - men hans kollega Stan Jones er ikke enig.

Stan and his number two Mick Clark speak to Jeremy and relatives of the murdered family, but their picture of what really happened that night at White House Farm remains inconclusive.

Slog Sheila Bamber sine børn og sine forældre ihjel, hvorefter hun skød sig selv? Ja, siger kriminalinspektør 'Taff' Jones. Nej, mener hans kollega Stan, men det haster med at finde beviser, der understøtter hans synspunkt. Snart vil ligene nemlig blive kremeret - og dermed vil vigtigt bevismateriale bogstaveligt talt gå op i røg..

The funerals approach, and without the answers he needs and still more questions being thrown up from White House Farm, Stan's efforts remain fruitless. All looks lost for Stan and Mick solving the case, until a vital witness comes forward.

The evidence is interrogated as Jeremy's trial begins, with dramatic and conflicting witness testimony being given before the jury and the packed public gallery. The jury must give their verdict on what really happened that night at White House Farm.