Australian True Crime

Did you know a strangulation episode during a violent attack can kill months later? Even if it leaves no visible marks? Many victims don't even realise they've been strangled. Betty Taylor is the CEO of the Red Rose foundation in Brisbane that works to address the high number of domestic violence related deaths and suicides in the community. One of their main areas of focus is educating the community and first responders about non-fatal strangulation.

You can learn more about the work of the Red Rose Foundation, and donate here.

We'll be discussing male victims of domestic violence with Narelle Fraser at our live event at the Yarraville Club on April 8. You can book tickets here.

If you are in immediate danger in Australia, call 000.

There is help if you are experiencing family violence or coercive control. You can call 1800 RESPECT 24/7 on 1800 737 732, or visit their website here.

You can also call Lifeline 24/7 on 13 11 14.

CREDITS:

Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram here. 

Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here and listen to her podcast Killer Content here.

Guest: Betty Taylor

Producer/Editor: Meshel Laurie

Executive Producer: Jacqueline Tonks

GET IN TOUCH:

Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast

Email the show at [email protected]

Australian True Crime is a podcast by Smart Fella Media. Your story matters and how you tell it matters even more.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Narelle Fraser – Surprise!

So many of you have asked to hear Narelle again so here she is. You may remember I promised another episode with Rowland Legg this week and I haven’t forgotten but here’s the thing, due to unforeseen circumstance, Rowland can’t make our live show at the Yarraville club on April 8, so our old friend Narelle Fraser has agreed to step in for that one too.

You can get your tickets here.

That’s right, you can see Narelle, live on stage with Emily and I at the Yarraville club, you can ask her questions while she’s onstage and if you’re lucky, you might even get to take a selfie with her.

To celebrate, we bring you an episode of Narelle’s own podcast, ‘The Narelle Fraser Interviews’, featuring former detective Tim Peck. It’s always a treat to hear two detectives chatting and this conversation is very special. It does deal with severe mental health issues and suicide, so please be aware of that before you begin.

You can subscribe to The Narelle Fraser Interviews here.

If you are in immediate danger in Australia, call 000.

There is help if you are experiencing family violence or coercive control. You can call 1800 RESPECT 24/7 on 1800 737 732, or visit their website here.

You can also call Lifeline 24/7 on 13 11 14.

CREDITS:

Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram here. 

Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here and listen to her podcast Killer Content here.

Guest Host: Narelle Fraser

Guest: Tim Peck

Producer/Editor: Meshel Laurie

Executive Producer: Jacqueline Tonks

GET IN TOUCH:

Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast

Email the show at [email protected]

Australian True Crime is a podcast by Smart Fella Media. Your story matters and how you tell it matters even more.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rowland Legg was the lead homicide investigator on some of Australia's most notorious crimes including the murders of Jason Moran and his bodyguard Pasquale Barbaro at a suburban children's football game at the height of the Melbourne gang war in 2003, and the shocking murder of Mercina Helvagis as she tended her grandmother's grave at Fawkner Cemetery by serial killer Peter Dupas in 1997. He joins us as a guest on this week's podcast and he will join us live on stage at the Yarraville Club on April 8. Thanks to the easing of restrictions we've been able to release extra tickets to that event. You can book them here.

Next Week: Legendary Part 2 with retired homicide detective Rowland Legg discussing investigating the murders of the Bega School Girls and Jayden Leskie.

If you are in immediate danger in Australia, call 000.

There is help if you are experiencing family violence or coercive control. You can call 1800 RESPECT 24/7 on 1800 737 732, or visit their website here.

You can also call Lifeline 24/7 on 13 11 14.

CREDITS:

Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram here. 

Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here and listen to her podcast Killer Content here.

Guest: Rowland Legg

Producer/Editor: Lachie Flannigan

Executive Producer: Jacqueline Tonks

GET IN TOUCH:

Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast

Email the show at [email protected]

Australian True Crime is a podcast by Smart Fella Media. Your story matters and how you tell it matters even more.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The bullet point version of this week's episode of Australian True Crime.

Two extended families continue to pay a heavy price for turning a blind eye to the disfunction in one household. A mother joins us to talk about the lead up to her child becoming a killer, and the aftermath so many people must live with for the rest of their lives.

If you are in immediate danger in Australia, call 000.

There is help if you are experiencing family violence or coercive control. You can call 1800 RESPECT 24/7 on 1800 737 732, or visit their website here.

You can also call Lifeline 24/7 on 13 11 14.

Next Week: Legendary retired homicide detective Rowland Legg joins us to talk about some of Australia's most notorious killers, men he captured but not always saw convicted. Rowland will be live on stage with us in Melbourne on April 8 and thanks to the easing of restrictions we've been able to release extra tickets to that event. You can book them here.

CREDITS:

Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram here. 

Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here and listen to her podcast Killer Content here.

Guest: Anon

Producer/Editor: Lachie Flannigan

Executive Producer: Jacqueline Tonks

GET IN TOUCH:

Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast

Email the show at [email protected]

Australian True Crime is a podcast by Smart Fella Media. Your story matters and how you tell it matters even more.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two extended families continue to pay a heavy price for turning a blind eye to the disfunction in one household. A mother joins us to talk about the lead up to her child becoming a killer, and the aftermath so many people must live with for the rest of their lives.

If you are in immediate danger in Australia, call 000.

There is help if you are experiencing family violence or coercive control. You can call 1800 RESPECT 24/7 on 1800 737 732, or visit their website here.

You can also call Lifeline 24/7 on 13 11 14.

Next Week: Legendary retired homicide detective Rowland Legg joins us to talk about some of Australia's most notorious killers, men he captured but not always saw convicted. Rowland will be live on stage with us in Melbourne on April 8 and thanks to the easing of restrictions we've been able to release extra tickets to that event. You can book them here.

CREDITS:

Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram here. 

Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here and listen to her podcast Killer Content here.

Guest: Anon

Producer/Editor: Lachie Flannigan

Executive Producer: Jacqueline Tonks

GET IN TOUCH:

Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast

Email the show at [email protected]

Australian True Crime is a podcast by Smart Fella Media. Your story matters and how you tell it matters even more.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Melbourne criminal defence lawyer Bernie Balmer has represented some of Victoria’s most notorious identities like gangland matriarch Judy Moran, Mick Gatto and Mark “Chopper Read”, AFL and NRL players, past and present, and people you’ve probably never heard of, like the woman who stabbed to death the child she gave birth to, on an access visit, with the adoptive parents nearby.

He and his team are also known for representing some of the most vulnerable people, including children, who enter the court system each day.

Bernie is quite literally, a fighter - he was a boxer and has been involved in the sport, in and out of the ring, since 1966. Bernie, a country boy, even has an Australian University Heavyweight title. He boxed, nightclub-bounced and grafted his way through a law degree at Melbourne University. 

On March 27, 1986 Bernie, then a young solicitor, was, fatefully, at the site of the Russell Street bombing just as the bomb detonated. He tended to young police constable Angela Taylor, who was fatally injured by the blast, dying in hospital weeks later. Bernie carried Angela away from the burning wreckage, comforting her until medical help arrived. The sights, sounds and smells that day have stayed with Bernie all these years - a dropped plate in a kitchen or the sound of a car backfiring will take him right back to the trauma.

Bernie and his law firm Balmer and Associates ( his lawyer daughter Anna works in the family business too), are known for their sense of social justice and he’s one of the highest profile, and respected lawyers in Victoria.

He’s the man you’d want to call if you find yourself in need of a lawyer.

CREDITS:

Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram here. 

Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here and listen to her podcast Killer Content here.

Guest: Bernie Balmer

Producer/Editor: Lachie Flannigan

Executive Producer: Jacqueline Tonks

GET IN TOUCH:

Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast

Email the show at [email protected]

Australian True Crime is a podcast by Smart Fella Media. Your story matters and how you tell it matters even more.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

RE-ISSUE: EPISODE #98.

Retired Victoria Police Chief Inspector Rob Bailey has seen a lot over the course of his career. Among many other things, he was part of the legendary Victorian armed robbery squad in its heyday, and he was an eyewitness to what remains the most audacious attack ever carried out by the criminal underworld against Australian law enforcement, the bombing of Police Headquarters in Melbourne’s Russell Street.

Warning: please be advised this episode contains graphic content.

CREDITS:

Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram here and get her free monthly newsletter here.

Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here and listen to her podcast Killer Content here.

Guest: Rob Bailey

Producer/Editor: Lachie Flannigan

Executive Producer: Jacqueline Tonks

GET IN TOUCH:

Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast

Email the show at [email protected]

Australian True Crime is a podcast by Smart Fella Media. Your story matters and how you tell it matters even more.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

RE-ISSUE: EPISODE #16.

Doug O'Loughlin was a founding member of the Victorian Special Operations Group. His job was to deal with sieges, hostage situations, terrorist attacks and everything in between. Doug's son Heath has written a book about it and they both join us for a chat.

CREDITS:

Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram here and get her free monthly newsletter here.

Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here and listen to her podcast Killer Content here.

Guest: Rob Bailey

Producer/Editor: Lachie Flannigan

Executive Producer: Jacqueline Tonks

GET IN TOUCH:

Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast

Email the show at [email protected]

Australian True Crime is a podcast by Smart Fella Media. Your story matters and how you tell it matters even more.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some of you may recognise the name and voice of this episode’s guest, It’s retired NSW Police Detective Sergeant Damian Loone who featured on Hedley Thomas’s extraordinary podcast The Teacher’s Pet. Damian investigated the 1982 disappearance of Sydney mum Lynnette Dawson for years, bringing the case to two coronial inquests. Lynette’s former husband Chris Dawson was charged with her murder in 2018 and is awaiting trial.

Damian features again in another major podcast that’s gripped listeners' attention worldwide. It’s the excellent BBC Sounds multi-episode podcast Fairy Meadow about 3-year-old Cheryl Grimmer’s haunting disappearance from Fairy Meadow Beach in Wollongong in 1970.

Damian and Detective Frank Sanvitale, were the detectives tasked with having another look at Cheryl’s disappearance. The case had basically gone nowhere for more than 45 years until the file was passed to them.

The NSW Attorney General Mark Speakman can give the Grimmer family their day in court. You can contact him here.

If you'd like to go one step further to assist the Grimmer family, you can also sign this petition - addressed to Attorney General Speakman - to help in the fight to find justice for Cheryl.

The BBC Sounds podcast Fairy Meadow, hosted by Jon Kay, can be found here.

There is a $1 Million dollar reward from NSW Police for information about Cheryl’s abduction and murder.

NEXT WEEK

Terror Knocks in FNQ - A young man is woken in the dead of night by a terrfied woman at his door. He barricades the two of them inside against the men from whom she’s fleeing, none of whom he knows, and frantically calls police for help. Before help arrives, he’s forced to defend himself and the 000 operator listens helplessly as the men outside lose patience and invade his home. What follows is a tragedy.

Author Robyn Bowles sheds light on how this bizarre night really unfolded.

CREDITS:

Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram here and get her free monthly newsletter here.

Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here and listen to her podcast Killer Content here.

Guest: Damian Loone

Producer/Editor: Lachie Flannigan

Executive Producer: Jacqueline Tonks

GET IN TOUCH:

Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast

Email the show at [email protected]

Australian True Crime is a podcast by Smart Fella Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The disappearance of 3-year-old Cheryl Grimmer in 1970 has gripped listeners around the world due to the extraordinary BBC Sounds Podcast Fairy Meadow and our guest for this episode Frank Sanvitale is a big part of that podcast.

Now retired from the New South Wales Police, Frank has moved the wheels of justice further for Cheryl’s shattered family more than had ever been done in the more than 50 years since her disappearance.

Frank, was teamed up in 2016 with Detective Sergeant Damian Loone and the pair set about looking into this long cold case, combing over boxes of stored evidence.

It was a confession made in 1971 by a then 17-year-old that was found in one of these dusty boxes and set in motion events that would see that person, who we can only identify as Mercury, charged with Cheryl’s murder in 2017.

But tragically, the case against mercury fell apart because the trial judge applied a retrospective law on the confession and would not allow it as evidence.

The collapse of the case against Mercury was the breaking point for Frank who left the police soon after.

The NSW Attorney General Mark Speakman can give the Grimmer family their day in court. You can contact him here.

You can also sign this petition - addressed to Attorney General Speakman - to help in the fight to find justice for Cheryl.

The BBC Sounds podcast Fairy Meadow, hosted by Jon Kay, can be found here.

There is a $1 Million dollar reward from NSW Police for information about Cheryl’s abduction and murder.

NEXT WEEK

Terror Knocks in FNQ - A young man is woken in the dead of night by a terrfied woman at his door. He barricades the two of them inside against the men from whom she’s fleeing, none of whom he knows, and frantically calls police for help. Before help arrives, he’s forced to defend himself and the 000 operator listens helplessly as the men outside lose patience and invade his home. What follows is a tragedy.

Author Robyn Bowles sheds light on how this bizarre night really unfolded.

CREDITS:

Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram here and get her free monthly newsletter here.

Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here and listen to her podcast Killer Content here.

Guest: Frank Sanvitale

Producer/Editor: Lachie Flannigan

Executive Producer: Jacqueline Tonks

GET IN TOUCH:

Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast

Email the show at [email protected]

Australian True Crime is a podcast by Smart Fella Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.