Disgusted TV viewers took to Twitter after being 'sickened' by a scene in the second episode of The Hunt for Raoul Moat, which saw revellers in a Newcastle pub show their support for the fugitive killer.
Millions tuned into watch the launch of the three part series on Sunday night, almost 13 years after former doorman Moat killed ex Samantha Stobbart's new boyfriend Christopher Brown in Birtley. Having declared war on Northumbria Police and threatening to 'go after' officers, Moat then shot and blinded PC David Rathband, as he sat in a patrol car on the outskirts of the city.
From there, Moat headed north to Northumberland, robbing a chip shop in Seaton Delaval, before setting up camp in Rothbury, as his accomplices were caught and taken in by police. The week long search for Moat came to an end when the gunman shot himself, dying from his injuries.
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The team behind The Hunt for Raoul Moat, World Productions, have said they wanted to do the drama to tell the 'real story' of what happened and honour Moat's victims, including PC Rathband, who survived being shot but took his own life a few years later.
Moat falsely believed that Christopher was a police officer, after ex Samantha told a desperate lie to try and get him to stay away from her and, in a scene from Monday's episode, that horrified many ITV viewers at home, Chief Supt. Neil Adamson was seen going for a drink in a pub, only to hear punters chanting: "Raoul Moat is our mate, he killed coppers."
The senior cop, played by Lee Ingelby, walks out of the pub appalled by what he heard and those watching the episode at home were equally disgusted. Taking to Twitter, one reacted: "Those people in the pub cheering for Moat haven’t one brain cell between them, idiots," with another writing: "I’m literally shocked people were praising Raoul Moat like this and singing songs glorifying him killing coppers ! Absolute madness and so disgusting. I hope those people are ashamed."
Replying to them, another tweeted: "Completely agree ! Literally have to be heartless to even make the situation into a joke. It’s sick," with a third smiply reacting: "Imbeciles."
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