Australian True Crime

It's easy to forget it takes a lot of courage to write stories about bad guys week after week. Andrew Rule has irritated some of the baddest in the business and every so often it gets a little bit scary. Andrew joined Meshel and Emily live on stage recently at Melbourne's Chapel off Chapel to talk about a case involving many twists and turns, and one of the scariest times in his reporting career.Warning: please be advised this episode contains graphic content.Show notes for Episode 114:Your hosts are Meshel Laurie and Emily WebbWith thanks to Andrew RuleAndrew is a senior writer at https://www.heraldsun.com.au/journalists/andrew-ruleAndrew's podcast is https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/sunday-herald-sun-podcast-series-life-and-crimes-with-andrew-rule/news-story/c9212d37357eae04fa655646870f7067This episode was recorded live at https://chapeloffchapel.com.au/Like us on Facebook ​Follow us on Instagram or TwitterSupport us on PatreonListen on Apple PodcastsListen on Google PodcastsListen on SpotifyIf you have any information on the cases covered by this podcast, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Margaret Harrod and her twin brother Michael both dedicated their lives to God, she as a nun and he as a priest. Their family was the envy of their Catholic community, but there were many secrets inside their home and eventually Margaret found the courage and the faith to call every one of them out. It continues to be a traumatic journey.

Margaret's book, co written with journalist Sue Smethurst is called "Blood on the Rosary".

Warning: please be advised this episode contains graphic content.

Show notes for Episode 113:

Your hosts are Meshel Laurie and Emily Webb

With thanks to Margaret Harrod

Like us on Facebook ​

Follow us on Instagram or Twitter

Support us on Patreon

Purchase Blood on the Rosary in our Bookshop

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Google Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

If you have any information on the cases covered by this podcast, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

In 1981, a psychopathic New Zealand teenager came very close to assassinating Queen Elizabeth. Embarrassed police not only covered it up but sent him away to Australia, a free man. Why haven't we seen that on the Crown? Former high-ranking New Zealand Detective, now Gold Coast retiree Tom Lewis tried to tell the world and was driven out of his homeland. He and his granddaughter Maria join us to tell the incredible story that's now the subject of a major corruption investigation in New Zealand.Warning: please be advised this episode contains graphic content.Show notes for Episode 112:Your hosts are Meshel Laurie and Emily WebbWith thanks to Tom and Maria LewisLike us on Facebook ​Follow us on Instagram or TwitterSupport us on PatreonTom Lewis' book Cover Ups and Cop Outs is not currently available.Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on Google PodcastsListen on SpotifyIf you have any information on the cases covered by this podcast, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Belinda Neil was settling in on her first day in the homicide squad when she took a phone call that would change the course of her career. An unassuming suburban mother and two of her three teenage children had been brutally murdered. Later that day Belinda and her colleagues would attend the most traumatising crime scene of their careers. One of her colleagues left the police force that day, never to return. This is the case of the De Gruchy family murders. Former Detective Belinda Neil talks us through the investigation.Warning: please be advised this episode contains graphic content.Show notes for Episode 111:Your hosts are Meshel Laurie and Emily WebbWith thanks to Belinda NeilBelinda is on the board of http://fearless.org.au/Like us on Facebook ​Follow us on Instagram or TwitterSupport us on PatreonPurchase Under Siege in our BookshopListen on Apple PodcastsListen on Google PodcastsListen on SpotifyIf you have any information on the cases covered by this podcast, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

From humble beginnings in suburban Melbourne to reincarnation as Jesus Christ, a cohort of devoted, well-heeled followers and an enviable real estate portfolio, Anne Hamilton Byrne who died in a nursing home last week really was the quintessential 20th Century cult leader. The only thing more shocking than the abuse she inflicted on dozens of children in her care throughout the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s, is how various Governmental authorities approved of her guardianship over them in the first place.This interview with journalist Chris Johnston, who created the book and documentary THE FAMILY with Rosie Jones.

The companion interview with former detective Lex De Man, whom you'll hear a lot about in this interview, was recorded the day after Anne's death.

Warning: please be advised this episode contains graphic content.

Show notes for Episode 110:

Your hosts are Meshel Laurie and Emily Webb

With thanks to Chris Johnston author of THE FAMILY

Like us on Facebook ​

Follow us on Instagram or Twitter

Support us on Patreon

Visit our Bookshop

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Google Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

If you have any information on the cases covered by this podcast, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Thank you for listening!

When former Detective Lex De Man received a text reading simply, "The Witch is Dead!" he knew exactly what it meant. Since attending a school fire in the small Victorian town of Monbulk in 1987, Lex's life has been consumed with trying to bring about some justice for the people whose childhood's were stolen by Anne.Warning: please be advised this episode contains graphic content.Show notes for Episode 109:Your hosts are Meshel Laurie and Emily WebbWith thanks to Lex De ManListen to previous episode on ‘The Family’, Episode 41 with Chris Johnston https://australiantruecrimepodcast.com/notorious-cult-the-family-with-chris-johnston/Like us on Facebook ​Follow us on Instagram or TwitterSupport us on PatreonVisit our BookshopListen on Apple PodcastsListen on Google PodcastsListen on SpotifyIf you have any information on the cases covered by this podcast, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.Thank you for listening!

Homicide Detective Charlie Bezzina received a phone call about a man who'd been punched outside a popular St Kilda pub during an altercation with a bouncer. The man was clinging to life, but the prognosis wasn't good. The caller said there was one more detail Charlie needed to know, the victim was International Cricket legend and television commentator David Hookes.Warning: please be advised this episode contains graphic content.Show notes for Episode 108:Your hosts are Meshel Laurie and Emily WebbWith thanks to Charlie BezzinaLike us on Facebook ​Follow us on Instagram or TwitterSupport us on PatreonVisit our BookshopListen on Apple PodcastsListen on Google PodcastsListen on SpotifyIf you have any information on the cases covered by this podcast, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.Thank you for listening!

Charlie Bezzina was lead investigator on the Frankston Serial Killer Case in which Carmel and Brian's daughter Natalie was the final victim. In this episode Charlie talks us through the investigation.Warning: please be advised this episode contains graphic content.Show notes for Episode 107:Your hosts are Meshel Laurie and Emily WebbWith thanks to Charlie BezzinaTo support Carmel and Brian please donate to: https://www.gofundme.com/keeptherussellsinfrankstonLike us on Facebook ​Follow us on Instagram or TwitterSupport us on PatreonPurchase The Frankston Murders 25 Years On in our Bookshop Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on Google PodcastsListen on SpotifyIf you have any information on the cases covered by this podcast, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.Thank you for listening!

The Frankston Serial Killer took their 17-year-old daughter Natalie in 1993, and Carmel and Brian have lived through many more challenges since then. Now they're looking at eviction from their home of 30 years and they're very reluctantly asking for help.Warning: please be advised this episode contains graphic content.Show notes for Episode 106:Your hosts are Meshel Laurie and Emily WebbWith thanks to Carmel and Brian RussellTo support Carmel and Brian please donate to: https://www.gofundme.com/keeptherussellsinfrankstonLike us on Facebook ​Follow us on Instagram or TwitterSupport us on PatreonPurchase The Frankston Murders 25 Years On in our Bookshop Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on Google PodcastsListen on SpotifyIf you have any information on the cases covered by this podcast, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.Thank you for listening!

Emily is joined by Sandra Charlton, the cousin of Vicki Arnold. Vicki was the woman accused of murdering her best friend Julie-Anne Leahey before killing herself in this week's episode of Australian True Crime. Sandra tells us what it's like to be thrust into the spotlight of a homicide investigation, and to have to clear a beloved relative's name.Warning: please be advised this episode contains graphic content.Show notes for Episode 105:Your hosts are Meshel Laurie and Emily WebbWith thanks to Sandra CharltonLike us on Facebook ​Follow us on Instagram or TwitterSupport us on PatreonVisit our BookshopListen on Apple PodcastsListen on Google PodcastsListen on SpotifyIf you have any information on the cases covered by this podcast, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.Thank you for listening!