Richard Hillman

Richard Hillman was a character in the British soap Coronation Street and was the first serial killer to appear in a british soap.

Richard was a relative of Alma Baldwin and arrived at Alma's funeral. He was a financial advisor and met Gail Platt. He quickly became friends with her and eventually moved in with her. He quickly won the hearts of Gail's children, Sarah Louise and David by buing them expensive gifts.

Hillman's dealings were questioned after some elderly people had lost their savings to Hillman. He set up a business called Kellett's Towers and went into business with Duggie Ferguson. They set up a string of council flats, but Duggie tried to cut corners with Richard. Hillman confronted Duggie at the flats when Duggie fell several floors and was critically injured. Richard didn't help and robbed Duggie of his money. Duggie died the next day and was found by Gail.

Hillman's second wife Patricia came to Weatherfied and wanted her half of the business. Richard refused and, after a heated argument at the flats, Hillman smashed Patricia in the face with a spade, killing her immediately. Her body was buried in the foundations of the flats. One regular, Norris Cole suspected that Richard was up to no good, but was bullied into silence by Hillman.

Several months later Richard and Gail married in one of the most spectacular soap weddings.

Over the following months his business was going downhill, Richard found out that his mother in law, Audrey Roberts, was worth £250,000. Over the next few months, Hillman convinced Audrey that she was going mad, then tried to kill her in a house fire. She survived and eventuall realised that Richard was trying to kill her. She tried to warn her daughter of his shady dealings, but instead was chucked out of the house. Audrey and a friend tried to expose Richard but was unsucessful.

Richard was becoming desperate for money and needed to kill again. His next target was Emily Bishop, whose house he had bought off her. One night while out at a party, Hillman sneaked out of the put and disguised himself as a young tearaway who was homeless at the time. He quietly broke into a neighbour's house (who Emily was babysitting for) and brutally attacked Emily with a crow bar. Then came the owner, Maxine Peacock and confronted Hillman. After hearing her baby scream, Maxine ran to her baby but was beaten to death by Hillman. Hillman staged a robbery and framed the homeless kid. Emily survived the attack.

Richard received a phone call that a lady who enstrusted her savings with Richard had died and the money went to him. Hillman was distraught with guilt, realising that he didn't need to murder anyone at all. A month later, Gail confronted Richard who confessed to the murders. Gail was sickened and described her husband as "Norman Bates with a briefcase". Hillman did a runner and returned two weeks later and plannned to kill his entire family in the family car (originally carbon monoxide poisoning). With the help of the neighbours they broke down the garage door and drove off, eventually driving into the canal. The family survived their terrible ordeal but Richard perished.