Australian True Crime

As we know, behind every cold case is a family, and 19 years after her shocking murder, Marea Yann’s family remains divided. Tensions that were developing in the lead up to her death, were cast in stone during the murder trial in 2008 that resulted in an acquittal.Some family members still believe the acquittal was appropriate and police never fully investigated alternative theories, while other family members believe it was a terrible miscarriage of justice and continue to pursue a second trial.We’ll explore Marea Yann’s case over the next two episodes of Australian true crime and we begin today with Marea’s son Jeff.If you have any information regarding the death of Marea Yann, or any other crime, please contact Crime Stoppers at: https://www.crimestoppersvic.com.au/You can find the Victoria Police cold case hub here: https://www.police.vic.gov.au/cold-casesFor ad-free listening, early access and exclusive content, join Australian True Crime Plus on Apple Podcasts here: http://apple.co/australiantruecr

If you haven't listened to the first part of this story, you might want to go back and listen before diving into this episode. It contains a lot of background you need to know about Vanessa's own story, but it's also a unique insight into how one human being's life can be completely derailed by the intervention of another, particularly during childhood. Vanessa's story provides a perfect case study of what's known as the victim-offender overlap; which is to say most offenders of crime have been victims of crime first. You can find Vanessa's music on Bandcamp here: https://vanessavalentine.bandcamp.com/ https://thebambikills.bandcamp.com/ https://wearesophomore.bandcamp.com/You can donate to St Kilda Gatehouse here: https://www.stkildagatehouse.org.au/For ad-free listening, early access and exclusive content, join Australian True Crime Plus on Apple Podcasts here: http://apple.co/australiantruecrimeCREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagra

This is the first of a two part Australian True Crime special because Vanessa’s story just refused to be contained in a single episode. I’m sure you’ll agree it’s a story that shouldn’t be rushed. It’s not every day you have the opportunity to hear first hand how a well-behaved, studious, happy child, from a loving home found herself estranged from her family and living on the streets before her twentieth birthday. But that’s Vanessa’s story.For ad-free listening, early access and exclusive content, join Australian True Crime Plus on Apple Podcasts here: http://apple.co/australiantruecrimeCREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here and listen to her podcast Killer Content here. Guest: Vanessa ValentineProducer/Editor: Matthew TankardExecutive Producer: Jacqueline TonksRecorded at a Hub Australia Media Studio. Find the workspace that's right for you at https://www.hubaustralia.com/If you have been affected by anything discussed in

Roger Eichler is a former country copper who served in NSW police from the 1990's. Like so many others, too many others, Roger eventually left the service on a medical discharge with debilitating PTSD. Roger Eichler has written a book on his experience as a country copper, it's called "The Price Of Protecting Others", and he joins us today to talk about it.You can buy Roger's book here: https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-price-of-protecting-others-roger-eichler/book/9780228863038.htmlFor ad-free listening, early access and exclusive content, join Australian True Crime Plus on Apple Podcasts here: http://apple.co/australiantruecrimeCREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here and listen to her podcast Killer Content here. Guest: Roger Eichler Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardExecutive Producer: Jacqueline TonksRecorded at a Hub Australia Media Studio. Find the workspace that's right for you at https://www.hubaustralia.com/If you have

As Jeffrey Lindsell’s family and friends gathered around his hospital bed in the days after his house caught on fire, attention turned to his volatile on-off relationship with Amanda Zukowski. It seemed as though Jeffrey had been living in an abusive relationship and had been a victim of coercive control and intimate partner violence. They realised that although he’d been increasingly withdrawn during the two year relationship and was particularly reluctant to talk about her, he’d shared different things with each of them at different times, and when they put it all together a very disturbing picture emerged. Homicide Victims' Support Group: https://www.hvsgnsw.org.au/CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here and listen to her podcast Killer Content here. Guest: Corinne LindsellProducer/Editor: Matthew TankardExecutive Producer: Jacqueline TonksRecorded at a Hub Australia Media Studio. Find the workspace that's right for you at

Jason Roberts, 41 years old, was recently freed for the first time in twenty two years by the Supreme Court of Victoria. He was seventeen years old when two police officers, Sergeant Gary Silk and Senior Constable Rodney Miller were shot and murdered on Cochranes Road, Moorabbin, Victoria. Roberts was one of two who were convicted of the murders all those years ago. It's a very infamous case in Australia, and a very complicated one. We are joined today by Adam Cooper, journalist at The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, who is here to help us break down the jury's acquittal of Jason Roberts.CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here and listen to her podcast Killer Content here. Guest: Adam CooperProducer/Editor: Matthew TankardExecutive Producer: Jacqueline TonksRecorded at a Hub Australia Media Studio. Find the workspace that's right for you at https://www.hubaustralia.com/If you have been affected by anything discussed in thi

The Magistrates’ Court is the workhorse of the legal system, hearing both criminal and civil matters. Magistrates’ Courts around Australia hear the vast majority of sentenced court cases - more than 90 per cent in fact.Michael Challinger is a criminal barrister based in Melbourne and has been working in Victorian courts since 1975 – representing clients, mostly in the Victorian Magistrates’ Court and Children’s Court. Michael’s written a book called Mostly Guilty – which is funny….a little politically incorrect at times…and it’s about his career working in this first rung of the court system.  He dubs himself a “low-flying barrister” but as you’ll hear, the work he and his colleagues do every day is really important and, to be honest, probably undervalued.CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here and listen to her podcast Killer Content here. Guest:  Michael Challinger, author of Mostly Guilty: A l

We've spoken a great deal on this show over the years about the work of our state coroners, and today we finally got to meet one. Leveaaque Peterson was appointed a coroner by the Victorian state government in February 2020, and throughout her career in the legal system has chosen to take on some big and uncomfortable challenges. We'll find out why she finds that kind of law interesting, and also, what being a coroner actually entails. CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here and listen to her podcast Killer Content here. Guests:  Coroner Leveaaque PetersonProducer/Editor: Matthew TankardExecutive Producer: Jacqueline TonksRecorded at a Hub Australia Media Studio. Find the workspace that's right for you at https://www.hubaustralia.com/If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode you can contact: Lifeline on 13 11 14 13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and To

Many offenders who remain incarcerated can use their superannuation upon release to return to their lives luxuriating in their super, whilst their survivors generally are unemployed due to the longstanding impact these horrendous crimes have had on them. Our guests today, Andrew Carpenter and Adam Washbourne, are some of the front runners calling on the government to reform the Bankruptcy Act, so that child sex offenders’ superannuation can be used to help victim-survivors rebuild their lives.Sign the petition here: https://www.change.org/p/strip-paedophiles-of-their-superannuation-and-give-it-to-survivors-of-child-sexual-abuseLearn more about Fighters Against Child Abuse Australia here: https://www.facaaus.org/CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here and listen to her podcast Killer Content here. Guests:  Andrew Carpenter and Adam WashbourneProducer/Editor: Matthew TankardExecutive Producer: Jacqueline TonksRecorded

Dr Ahona Guha is a Melbourne-based Forensic and Clinical Psychologist. Ahona works at pointy end of mental health and treatment - with people who have clinical presentations of harmful behaviours, trauma histories, and those who have offended against others - sexual offences (including against children) violence, stalking, arson… Dr Ahona Guha, DPsych works in the field of forensic psychology to understand offending behaviours such as stalking, sex offending and intimate partner violence with the intention of assessing risk and providing psychological treatment to people who offend; thus contributing to community safety and the protection of victims. She believes it is important to understand and discuss these behaviours to ensure that people receive the treatment they need to stop offending. She also works with victims of trauma to support them with managing post-traumatic responses. She writes widely for the media on matters related to mental health, health, social justice, and equity, a

Australia in the mid twentieth century has a dark history of forced adoption. Women who did not fit the moral expectations of the time (usually those who were young and unmarried) had their children taken from them at birth, often with little to no information left behind for them to be reunited.Our guest today, Lily Arthur, is one story of many, and it is an absolutely heartbreaking one. It is also a story of determination and grit, and the long fight Lily went through to seek justice for what happened to her and many others.Links:Lilyarthur.comLily's book: Dirty Laundry: The Crimes A Country Tried To Hide: https://www.booktopia.com.au/dirty-laundry-lily-arthur/book/9781922532787.htmlQLD Judgement can be found here: https://www.queenslandjudgments.com.au/caselaw/qsc/2004/456Origins SPSA (Supporting people separated by adoption): https://www.originsnsw.com/CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here and listen to her po

The bullet point version of today's episode of Australian True Crime.There’s stories that get under the skin of people, especially journalists. And this story you’re going to hear about is unbelievable. And most of us have probably never heard about it. Enter author Sandi Logan, a former journalist and diplomat who followed the case of two older American women Vera 'Toddie' Hays and Florice 'Beezie' Bessire - who were arrested in Australia in the 1970s for having almost 2 TONNES of hashish concealed in a camper van. He’s written a book called Betrayed: The incredible untold inside story of the two most unlikely drug-running grannies in Australian history that is the definitive story of this case.CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here and listen to her podcast Killer Content here. Guest:  Sandi Logan, author of Betrayed: The incredible untold inside story of the two most unlikely drug-running grannies in Australian

There’s stories that get under the skin of people, especially journalists. And this story you’re going to hear about is unbelievable. And most of us have probably never heard about it. Enter author Sandi Logan, a former journalist and diplomat who followed the case of two older American women Vera 'Toddie' Hays and Florice 'Beezie' Bessire - who were arrested in Australia in the 1970s for having almost 2 TONNES of hashish concealed in a camper van. He’s written a book called Betrayed: The incredible untold inside story of the two most unlikely drug-running grannies in Australian history that is the definitive story of this case.CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here and listen to her podcast Killer Content here. Guest:  Sandi Logan, author of Betrayed: The incredible untold inside story of the two most unlikely drug-running grannies in Australian history published by HachetteProducer/Editor: Matthew TankardExecutiv

Matthew Condon is an Australian author and journalist who has published multiple books on the history of corruption in the Queensland police force and state government. Our conversation today covers the events that led up to, and following, the Fitzgerald enquiry, which lead to custodial sentences for three former senior QLD ministers, and for the police commissioner, Terry Lewis. Joh Bjelke-Petersen, the longest running QLD premiere, was also sacked and tried for perjury.Matthew Condon is as fascinated today as he's ever been by Queensland's history of corruption, which really is the kind of thing you would think is over the top if it were in a movie, but it's all very, very true...Matthew's books on Queensland corruption, collectively known as the Three Crooked Kings trilogy, can be viewed below:Jacks and Jokers Three Crooked KingsAll Fall Down Matthew has a new podcast titled Dig: Sirens Are Coming, and he is also currently assisting on Hedley Thomas' new podcast The Teacher's Trial. CREDITS:Host: Meshel L

A lot of us will remember  the haunting photo of beautiful 12-year-old Tiahleigh Palmer, who was murdered in 2015. However the path to the dark truth of what happened to Tiahleigh was long and shocking and not resolved until several years later.Tiahleigh was living in foster care in Logan, Queensland with Rick and Julene Thorburn and their sons Trent and Joshua.Kate Kyriacou, the Courier-Mail newspaper’s Crime and Courts Editor, has reported extensively on Tiahleigh’s death and the tragic full story that emerged. Kate became close with Tiahleigh’s mum Cindy Palmer, who waged her own social media efforts to find her daughter in the days after she disappeared. CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here and listen to her podcast Killer Content here. Guest:  Kate Kyriacou, Courier-Mail Crime & Courts Reporter and author of the book The Sting The Undercover Operation That Caught Daniel Morcombe's Killer.Producer/Ed

A NOTE FOR LISTENERS – This episode discusses the issue of deaths in custody of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Gamilaraay woman, Louise Lynch is the manager of Corrective Services NSW’s Aboriginal Strategy and Policy Unit. Louise first came to work in NSW prisons as a teacher more than 25 years ago and she’s dedicated her career to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in prison and, among many important initiatives, improving and embedding culturally appropriate training for staff in corrective services. Louise tells us about the complexities of the justice system for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and how, and why, it looks very different for men and women. Find out more about the work and employment opportunities in Corrective Services NSW here: https://correctiveservices.dcj.nsw.gov.au/ or at the service in your state.CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here and l

Megan Norris spent several years with Cindy Gambino in the wake of the murders of her three sons by their father, her ex-husband Robert Farquharson on Father’s Day 2005. They were working together on a book called ‘On father’s Day’. They remained close and Megan joins Emily Webb to reflect on Cindy’s tragic death and the ultimate form of family violence. You can pre order Megan Norris's upcoming book 'Messiah's Bride' here. CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here and listen to her podcast Killer Content here. Guest:  Megan NorrisProducer/Editor: Matthew TankardExecutive Producer: Jacqueline TonksArchival audio used in this episode is from Channel 10 News If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode you can contact: Lifeline on 13 11 14 13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) Thanks for listening, we’ll

 It’s 17 years since Cindy Gambino’s ex-husband Robert Farquharson murdered their three sons, ten-year-old Jai, seven-year old Tyler and three-year old Bailey by deliberately driving his car into a dam on the side of the Princes highway, near Winchelsea, West of Geelong on father’s day in 2005. Cindy Gambino died last week as the result of a medical emergency at her home in country Victoria. She was just 50 years old. Journalist and author Megan Norris developed a close relationship with Cindy in the years after the boys’ deaths as they worked on a book together. The book is called On Father’s Day, and Megan was one of our first guests on Australian True Crime back in 2017. She joined us to talk about the extraordinary experience of writing that book.You can pre order Megan Norris's upcoming book 'Messiah's Bride' here. CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here and listen to her podcast Killer Content here. 

Best-selling biographer and history author Peter FitzSimons has turned his attention to detailing the history of the Sydney Opera House - drama, scandals and even crimes. For this episode of Australian True Crime, Emily speaks to Peter about a crime linked with the Opera House and how it shocked the nation - the kidnapping and killing of Bondi schoolboy Graeme Thorne in 1960.Peter’s book The Opera House is published by Hachette Australia.CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here and listen to her podcast Killer Content here. Guest:  Peter FitzSimonsProducer/Editor: Matthew TankardExecutive Producer: Jacqueline TonksArchival audio used in this episode  is from https://www.nfsa.gov.au/ If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode you can contact: Lifeline  on 13 11 14 13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) Thanks f

Lindy Cameron,  journalist, award-winning author and publisher joins Meshel and Emily to talk about about Danny Deacon, who murdered his former partner Carlie Sinclair in Darwin. Lindy’s co-written a book with her sister Fin J Ross called Toxic: Cold-blooded Australian murders full of Aussie cases of men, including Deacon (in a chapter called “An Absolute Bastard”)  and women who kill.  Toxic: Cold-blooded Australian murders full of Aussie cases of men and women who killhttps://www.booktopia.com.au/toxic-lindy-cameron/book/9780655218968.htmlNEXT WEEK Australia’s favourite history author Peter Fitzsimons tells us about the Sydney Opera House’s sinister side and the crime that shocked the nation.CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here and listen to her podcast Killer Content here. Guest: Guest name Lindy Cameron  Lindy is the publisher of Clan Destine Press  Producer/Editor: Mat