Catching Worms: A Hong Kong True Crime Podcast

John MacLennan was found dead in the Ho Man Tin government quarters. 

A note beside him making just one request - his dying wish.

This episode is published with special thanks to...

Nigel Collett, author of 'A Death In Hong Kong'

Detective Norrie MacKillop

And Detective Iain Grant

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

The press had begun to theorise all sorts of ways this man could have been murdered. But more headline-grabbing than the method was the motive.

Why would anyone want John MacLennan dead? What secrets did they want to silence?

This episode is published with special thanks to...

Nigel Collett, author of 'A Death In Hong Kong'

Detective Norrie MacKillop

And Detective Iain Grant

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

Just after 11.30 on the morning of the 15th January 1980, John MacLennan, a 29-year-old police officer from the highlands of Scotland was found dead on the floor of his police flat in downtown Kowloon.

What the police first interpreted as a clear case of suicide soon become a media-inspired murder hunt.

With special thanks to…

Dr Robert Green - OBE - Forensic Specialist 

Eclipse and the team at Gun Range Zero 

Nigel Collett - Author of A Death in Hong Kong

Detective Norrie MacKillop

And Detective Iain Grant

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

On January 15th 1980, John MacLennan requested an early call. He woke and then walked the 10 - 15 minute stroll to the station.

What was he thinking? What did he need the gun for? What happened next? 

This episode is published with special thanks to...

Nigel Collett, author of 'A Death In Hong Kong'

Detective Norrie MacKillop

And Detective Iain Grant

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

The SIU have a prime suspect.

They spent 1979 trying to gather evidence.

Now they are ready to make an arrest. 

This episode is published with special thanks to...

Nigel Collett, author of 'A Death In Hong Kong'

Detective Norrie MacKillop

And Detective Iain Grant

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

1978 was drawing to a close. It had been an eventful few months for John MacLennan. 

Yet the worse was yet to come.

This episode is published with special thanks to...

Nigel Collett, author of 'A Death In Hong Kong'

Detective Norrie MacKillop

And Detective Iain Grant

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

1978 was an important year. 

This was the year that Duffy was arrested 

This was the year that the SIU was set up 

This was the year John MacLennan moved to the Yuen Long Police division. 

This episode is published with special thanks to...

Nigel Collett, author of 'A Death In Hong Kong'

Detective Norrie MacKillop

And Detective Iain Grant

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

It’s a story of conspiracies, paedophile rings, government cover-ups, police corruption and killings—a tale of bias, scandal and homophobia that ends the life of a young police officer. 

But before we meet him - a chain of events begins.

This episode is published with special thanks to...

Nigel Collett, author of 'A Death In Hong Kong'

Detective Norrie MacKillop

And Detective Iain Grant

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

The team now have to complete the mission to intercept the Oui and find the drugs. Only then do they stand a chance of identifying the drug syndicate in Australia.

This episode is published with special thanks to...

Rod Mason, author of 'Operation Clinker'

Bill Renwick

And Les Bird, author of 'A Small Band Of Men'

If you would like to win a signed copy of Operation Clinker by Rod Mason or A Small Band Of Men by Les Bird follow us on Instagram @CatchingWormsHK before the 1st May 2022.

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

They were ready to set sail. But they had an unexpected new crew member to deal with first.

This episode is published with special thanks to...

Rod Mason, author of 'Operation Clinker'

Bill Renwick

And Les Bird, author of 'A Small Band Of Men'

If you would like to win a signed copy of Operation Clinker by Rod Mason or A Small Band Of Men by Les Bird follow us on Instagram @CatchingWormsHK before the 1st May 2022.

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