Australian True Crime

This is a "Shortcut" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed.   In a recent episode, we spoke about the decades-long fight for justice for Scott Johnson, whose 1988 death in Sydney was initially ruled a suicide by police, despite evidence of a wider pattern of gay hate crimes.   Today, we’re joined by Sue Thompson, one of the key Australians who supported Scott’s brother, Steve, in his quest for the truth.   A former lawyer turned police officer, Sue spent 17 years creating programs to bridge the divide between NSW Police and the LGBTQIA+ community, helping to address the entrenched prejudice that plagued investigations like Scott’s.   Send us a question by recording a voice message here.   Click here to subscribe to ATC Plus on Apple Podcasts and access all ATC episodes early and ad-free, as well as exclusive bonus episodes.   For Support:  Lifeline  on 13 11 14 13 Y

In a recent episode, we spoke about the decades-long fight for justice for Scott Johnson, whose 1988 death in Sydney was initially ruled a suicide by police, despite evidence of a wider pattern of gay hate crimes.   Today, we’re joined by Sue Thompson, one of the key Australians who supported Scott’s brother, Steve, in his quest for the truth.   A former lawyer turned police officer, Sue spent 17 years creating programs to bridge the divide between NSW Police and the LGBTQIA+ community, helping to address the entrenched prejudice that plagued investigations like Scott’s.   Send us a question by recording a voice message here.   Click here to subscribe to ATC Plus on Apple Podcasts and access all ATC episodes early and ad-free, as well as exclusive bonus episodes.   For Support:  Lifeline  on 13 11 14 13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples) 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732   CREDITS: Host: Meshel

This is a "Shortcut" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed.   Anthony Whealy KC is a former NSW Supreme Court Judge, and is the current Chair at the Centre for Public Integrity.   Whealy and our guest host, Criminologist Dr Xanthé Mallett delve into the most defining moments of his storied career and offer candid insights on the state of legal proceedings today. Xanthé is also here to answer your burning true crime questions. if you have a question or a comment about today's episode, you can leave a voice message using the link below.   Send us a question by recording a voice message here.   Click here to subscribe to ATC Plus on Apple Podcasts and access all ATC episodes early and ad-free, as well as exclusive bonus episodes.   CREDITS: Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram  Guest Host: Dr. Xanthé Mallett Guest: Anthony Whealy KC Executive Producer/Editor: Ma

Anthony Whealy KC is a former NSW Supreme Court Judge, and is the current Chair at the Centre for Public Integrity.   Whealy and our guest host, Criminologist Dr Xanthé Mallett delve into the most defining moments of his storied career and offer candid insights on the state of legal proceedings today. Xanthé is also here to answer your burning true crime questions. if you have a question or a comment about today's episode, you can leave a voice message using the link below.   Send us a question by recording a voice message here.   Click here to subscribe to ATC Plus on Apple Podcasts and access all ATC episodes early and ad-free, as well as exclusive bonus episodes.   CREDITS: Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram  Guest Host: Dr. Xanthé Mallett Guest: Anthony Whealy KC Executive Producer/Editor: Matthew Tankard This episode contains extra content from the ABC and Seven West Media.   GET IN TOUCH: https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/ F

This is a "Shortcut" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed.   The Australian Federal Police have released a short podcast series to mark the ten year anniversary of the downing of flight MH17 in Ukraine.   It's called Search Among the Sunflowers. The title reflects the surreal spectacle that faced the ten member team of AFP officers who were among the first international investigators allowed to enter the site.   All 298 people on board were killed, including 38 people who called Australia home.   Officer Hilda Sirec, who is now Assistant Commissioner of the AFP, was part of that first small team and she joins us on Australian True Crime to talk about the mission.   Search Among The Sunflowers is available now, wherever you get your podcasts.   Send us a question by recording a voice message here.   Click here to subscribe to ATC Plus on Apple Podcasts and access all ATC episodes early and

The Australian Federal Police have released a short podcast series to mark the ten year anniversary of the downing of flight MH17 in Ukraine.   It's called Search Among the Sunflowers. The title reflects the surreal spectacle that faced the ten member team of AFP officers who were among the first international investigators allowed to enter the site.   All 298 people on board were killed, including 38 people who called Australia home.   Officer Hilda Sirec, who is now Assistant Commissioner of the AFP, was part of that first small team and she joins us on Australian True Crime to talk about the mission.   Search Among The Sunflowers is available now, wherever you get your podcasts.   Send us a question by recording a voice message here.   Click here to subscribe to ATC Plus on Apple Podcasts and access all ATC episodes early and ad-free, as well as exclusive bonus episodes.   CREDITS: Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram  Guest: AFP Assistant Commissioner

This is a "Shortcut" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed.   On last week's episode, we spoke with Nicole Morris, the director and founder of the Australian Missing Persons Register, about her new book, Missing.   Nicole described one of those cases as very solvable, and in this episode of Australian True Crime, we find out why.   Western Australian man, Rigby Fielding was already retired at 53 years of age after a successful career as a restaurateur. He decided to move back to his childhood home in Rockingham, half an hour south of Perth, to live with and care for his elderly mother and his younger sister, who lives with Down Syndrome.   Rigby, known as Rig, traveled by train to Perth on August 15, 2015 to visit friends. He called his mother in the afternoon to let her know he was heading home, but he never made it and that was the last known contact he had with anyone. Since that day, Rig's sister, St

On last week's episode, we spoke with Nicole Morris, the director and founder of the Australian Missing Persons Register, about her new book, Missing.   Nicole described one of those cases as very solvable, and in this episode of Australian True Crime, we find out why.   Western Australian man, Rigby Fielding was already retired at 53 years of age after a successful career as a restaurateur. He decided to move back to his childhood home in Rockingham, half an hour south of Perth, to live with and care for his elderly mother and his younger sister, who lives with Down Syndrome.   Rigby, known as Rig, traveled by train to Perth on August 15, 2015 to visit friends. He called his mother in the afternoon to let her know he was heading home, but he never made it and that was the last known contact he had with anyone. Since that day, Rig's sister, Stephenie, has devoted herself to finding him and she joins us on Australian True Crime to share her story.   If you have information regarding the dis

This is a "Shortcut" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed.   We're back with our guest host, Criminologist Dr Xanthé Mallett to go beyond the headlines of this week's biggest true crime stories.Xanthé is also here to answer your burning true crime questions. if you have a question or a comment about today's episode, you can leave a voice message using the link below.   Send us a question by recording a voice message here.   Click here to subscribe to ATC Plus on Apple Podcasts and access all ATC episodes early and ad-free, as well as exclusive bonus episodes.   CREDITS: Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram  Guest Host: Dr. Xanthé Mallett Executive Producer/Editor: Matthew Tankard This episode contains extra content from France 24, Seven West Media and Channel 10.   GET IN TOUCH: https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/ Follow the show on Instagram @aus

We're back with our guest host, Criminologist Dr Xanthé Mallett to go beyond the headlines of this week's biggest true crime stories.Xanthé is also here to answer your burning true crime questions. if you have a question or a comment about today's episode, you can leave a voice message using the link below.   Send us a question by recording a voice message here.   Click here to subscribe to ATC Plus on Apple Podcasts and access all ATC episodes early and ad-free, as well as exclusive bonus episodes.   CREDITS: Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram  Guest Host: Dr. Xanthé Mallett Executive Producer/Editor: Matthew Tankard This episode contains extra content from France 24, Seven West Media and Channel 10.   GET IN TOUCH: https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/ Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook  Send us a question to have played on the show by recording a voice message here. Email the show at AusTrueCrime

This is a "Shortcut" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed.   Nicole Morris joins us again on Australian True Crime to talk about her latest book devoted to missing persons.   The book is simply called Missing, but there's nothing simple or easy about the stories she tells inside.   Nicole is the director and founder of the Australian Missing Persons Register, which she created in 2005. Prior to that, there was no national database of missing people and no hub for families who are missing someone to share information, resources and support for each other.   Missing, and Nicole's previous book, Vanished, have both been written in close collaboration with these families. The portraits she paints of the disappeared are intimate, in depth and relatable.   Click here to view and purchase Nicole's books.   Click here to visit the Australian Missing Persons Register Facebook page.   Send us a que

Nicole Morris joins us again on Australian True Crime to talk about her latest book devoted to missing persons.   The book is simply called Missing, but there's nothing simple or easy about the stories she tells inside.   Nicole is the director and founder of the Australian Missing Persons Register, which she created in 2005. Prior to that, there was no national database of missing people and no hub for families who are missing someone to share information, resources and support for each other.   Missing, and Nicole's previous book, Vanished, have both been written in close collaboration with these families. The portraits she paints of the disappeared are intimate, in depth and relatable.   Click here to view and purchase Nicole's books.   Click here to visit the Australian Missing Persons Register Facebook page.   Send us a question by recording a voice message here and it may be answered on next week's episode.   Click here to subscribe to ATC Plus on Apple Podcasts and ac

This is a "Shortcut" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed.   Lex Lasry is a guest we've been hunting since day one of Australian True Crime.   Since graduating quite miraculously from law school in 1972, Lex has forged a mighty career. He acted both as prosecution and defence counsel, he was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1990 and then appointed to the bench of the Supreme Court of Victoria in 2007.   In his various capacities, Lex has been a central figure in some of this country's most high profile cases, from a failed attempt to prosecute Mr. Rent-A-Kill, Christopher Flannery for murder to the demise of the feared Painters and Dockers Union. From advocating for so-called Australian Taliban, David Hicks, to the controversial case that turned out to be his last, the 2020 Eastern Freeway crash that saw four police members struck and killed by a truck driver under the influence of drugs.   Send us a ques

Lex Lasry is a guest we've been hunting since day one of Australian True Crime.   Since graduating quite miraculously from law school in 1972, Lex has forged a mighty career. He acted both as prosecution and defence counsel, he was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1990 and then appointed to the bench of the Supreme Court of Victoria in 2007.   In his various capacities, Lex has been a central figure in some of this country's most high profile cases, from a failed attempt to prosecute Mr. Rent-A-Kill, Christopher Flannery for murder to the demise of the feared Painters and Dockers Union. From advocating for so-called Australian Taliban, David Hicks, to the controversial case that turned out to be his last, the 2020 Eastern Freeway crash that saw four police members struck and killed by a truck driver under the influence of drugs.   Send us a question by recording a voice message here and it may be answered on next week's episode.   Click here to subscribe to ATC Plus on Apple Podcasts and acc

This is a "Shortcut" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed.   We've spoken to a number of people over the years who've been victimised by youth offenders.   Some of our guests have lost loved ones to violence perpetrated by them. Some of our other guests were youth offenders.   There are two very distinct schools of thought when it comes to how to deal with children who commit adult crimes.   In this episode of Australian True Crime, our guest host, criminologist Xanthé Mallett talks about the age of criminal responsibility in Australia. Xanthé will also answer some of your questions. And don't forget, if you have a question or a comment about today's episode, you can leave a voice message using the link below.   Send us a question by recording a voice message here.   Click here to subscribe to ATC Plus on Apple Podcasts and access all ATC episodes early and ad-free, as well as ex

We've spoken to a number of people over the years who've been victimised by youth offenders.   Some of our guests have lost loved ones to violence perpetrated by them. Some of our other guests were youth offenders.   There are two very distinct schools of thought when it comes to how to deal with children who commit adult crimes.   In this episode of Australian True Crime, our guest host, criminologist Xanthé Mallett talks about the age of criminal responsibility in Australia. Xanthé will also answer some of your questions. And don't forget, if you have a question or a comment about today's episode, you can leave a voice message using the link below.   Send us a question by recording a voice message here.   Click here to subscribe to ATC Plus on Apple Podcasts and access all ATC episodes early and ad-free, as well as exclusive bonus episodes.   CREDITS: Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram  Guest Host: Dr. Xanthé Mallett Guest: Professor S

This is a "Shortcut" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed.   Mark 'Trigger' Tregellas is a country copper through and through, and has served in various towns around Victoria during his three decades in the job.   They were tough towns full of tough people, and even though Mark is definitely among the toughest, he's managed to retain his sense of humour.   Mark has written a book called "Backup is Three Hours Away" and he joins us on Australian True Crime to tell us more about the time his life was saved by a truckload of Bega Cheese and many other examples of the unpredictable life of a country cop.   You can click here to purchase "Backup is Three Hours Away".   Click here to subscribe to ATC Plus on Apple Podcasts and access all ATC episodes early and ad-free, as well as exclusive bonus episodes.   For Support:  Lifeline  on 13 11 14 13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone

Mark 'Trigger' Tregellas is a country copper through and through, and has served in various towns around Victoria during his three decades in the job.   They were tough towns full of tough people, and even though Mark is definitely among the toughest, he's managed to retain his sense of humour.   Mark has written a book called "Backup is Three Hours Away" and he joins us on Australian True Crime to tell us more about the time his life was saved by a truckload of Bega Cheese and many other examples of the unpredictable life of a country cop.   You can click here to purchase "Backup is Three Hours Away".   Click here to subscribe to ATC Plus on Apple Podcasts and access all ATC episodes early and ad-free, as well as exclusive bonus episodes.   For Support:  Lifeline  on 13 11 14 13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples) 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732   CREDITS: Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram 

This is a "Shortcut" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed.   Scott Johnson's naked body was found on the rocks at Blue Fish Point near Manly in Sydney in December 1988. Above him loomed the jagged cliffs from which he had fallen the night before.   Manly police were quick to declare his death a suicide, even though gay men were being found in similar circumstances around the Sydney shoreline with shocking regularity.   Scott was, and still is, deeply loved by his friends, family and older brother, Steve Johnson.   Steve refused to give up in his pursuit of justice for Scott. His crusade uncovered the truth about decades of gay hate crimes in Sydney and the police inaction that allowed them to thrive.   Steve Johnson has just released a book called A Thousand Miles from Care, and he joins us on Australian True Crime to talk about it.   You can purchase "A Thousand Miles from Care" by clicking t

Scott Johnson's naked body was found on the rocks at Blue Fish Point near Manly in Sydney in December 1988. Above him loomed the jagged cliffs from which he had fallen the night before.   Manly police were quick to declare his death a suicide, even though gay men were being found in similar circumstances around the Sydney shoreline with shocking regularity.   Scott was, and still is, deeply loved by his friends, family and older brother, Steve Johnson.   Steve refused to give up in his pursuit of justice for Scott. His crusade uncovered the truth about decades of gay hate crimes in Sydney and the police inaction that allowed them to thrive.   Steve Johnson has just released a book called A Thousand Miles from Care, and he joins us on Australian True Crime to talk about it.   You can purchase "A Thousand Miles from Care" by clicking this link.   Click here to subscribe to ATC Plus on Apple Podcasts and access all ATC episodes early and ad-free, as well as exclusive bonus episodes.