It took 11 months in court to convict two of the Snowtown murderers, John Bunting and Robert Wagner. In that mammoth trial, the core of the prosecution's case was based on evidence from the third murderer: James Vlassakis.

In this episode, ABC senior reporter James Wakelin joins Stephen Stockwell to explain how the trials of these murderers unfolded, and how Vlassakis helped convict his co-conspirators.

If you have any questions you'd like James and Stocky to answer in future episodes, please email [email protected].

You can read more about the murders and how they’re felt in South Australia now in this article by James Wakelin and Rebecca Brice.

The Case Of is the follow-up to the hit podcast Mushroom Case Daily, and all episodes of that show will remain available in the back catalogue of The Case Of.

In less than a week from today, Snowtown murderer James Vlassakis is expected to be released on parole. To understand why he's been given this opportunity, we go back to 1999 to understand his role in the serial killings.

In this episode, ABC senior reporter James Waklein joins Stephen Stockwell from Adelaide, to describe the day the Snowtown bank vault was opened, and what Vlassakis did after the bodies had been found.

If you have any questions you'd like James and Stocky to answer in future episodes, please email [email protected].

You can read more about the murders and how they’re felt in South Australia now in this article by James Wakelin and Rebecca Brice that was mentioned in this episode.

The Case Of is the follow-up to the hit podcast Mushroom Case Daily, and all episodes of that show will remain available in the back catalogue of The Case Of.

In just over a week, one of the murderers behind Australia's most infamous serial killings is set to be released on parole.

The Case Of Snowtown Parole looks at James Vlassakis's role in the killings and why he has been given the opportunity for parole, when it was denied for the other two murderers, and how he will be reintegrated into the community.

In this season of The Case Of, Stephen Stockwell will be joined by ABC reporters James Wakelin and Rebecca Brice. James reported from Snowtown the day the bodies were uncovered in May 1999.

Follow The Case Of in the ABC Listen app or wherever you get your podcasts so you can get the full story when it drops on Tuesday.

The Case Of is the follow-up to the hit podcast Mushroom Case Daily, and all episodes of that show will remain available in the back catalogue of The Case Of.

Immediately following his guilty verdict, Croc Wrangler Matt Wright stood on the Darwin court steps and said he would appeal. His legal team has now made good on that promise, and we have all the details.

In this episode, ABC Darwin court reporter Olivana Lathouris joins Stephen Stockwell to explain the appeal grounds, including the alleged mistake Wright's lawyers say the judge made. We also have some Spicy updates about Matt Wright's life outside the courtroom.

The Case Of is the follow-up to the hit podcast Mushroom Case Daily, and all episodes of that show will remain available in the back catalogue of The Case Of.

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It's the trial everyone in Darwin is talking about. In February 2022 a helicopter on a crocodile egg collection mission crashed in remote Arnhem Land, killing the egg collector and paralysing the pilot.

NT Croc Wrangler Matt Wright isn't on trial for the crash, but for what allegedly he did after. Charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice, prosecutors say he tried to interfere with the investigation.

Matt Wright has pled not guilty and denies all the allegations.

To hear the background of this story, listen to our episode introducing the case of the croc wrangler.

The Case Of is the follow-up to the hit ABC podcast Mushroom Case Daily. The response to Mushroom Case Daily was overwhelming, with more than 8000 emails from listeners, many of them noting how the coverage had given them unprecedented insight into Australia's criminal judicial system.

We decided to convert the podcast into an ongoing trial coverage feed to continue delivering on this front, following cases that capture the public's attention.

Throughout The Case of the Romance Scam, you've sent in heaps of questions, asking things like why Donna Nelson is in solitary confinement, what happened to the man she was going to visit and why the court sketches looked so different.

In this episode, North Asia Correspondent James Oaten and Australian Story producer Olivia Rousset join Stephen Stockwell to answer all your questions, complete with some surprising revelations around life in Japan.

To catch up on The Case of the Romance Scam you can listen back here:

• Episode one: Who is Donna Nelson
• Episode two: The evidence that defined the trial
• Episode three: Last Chance for Donna Nelson
• Episode four: Donna's appeal result
• Episode five: Donna's path home

You can also check out the Australian Story on Donna Nelson produced by Olivia Rousset to learn more about Donna's story.

The Case Of is the follow-up to the hit podcast Mushroom Case Daily, and all episodes of that show will remain available in the back catalogue of The Case Of.

In an administrative hearing today, Erin Patterson's legal team confirmed her plans to appeal her murder conviction.

In this episode, Kristian Silva joins Stephen Stockwell to explain what we learnt from this hearing, how Patterson's appeal could unfold and the new faces on her legal team

If you've got questions about the case that you'd like Kristian and Stocky to answer in future episodes, send them through to [email protected].

To recap the story of Erin Patterson's mushroom lunch, check out this series:

• Mushroom Recap: The Lunch
• Mushroom Recap: Who is Erin
• Mushroom Recap: The Murder Weapon
• Mushroom Recap: The Deadly Decline
• Mushroom Recap: The Cover Up

To catch up on how the trial of Erin Patterson unfolded, you can listen back to all our Friday Wrap episodes:

• A tragic accident or ultimate betrayal? Our Friday Wrap
• What happened to the leftovers? Our Friday Wrap
• Death caps, DNA and drama: Our Friday Wrap
• Everything you need to know about Erin's messages: Our Friday Wrap
• Key moments in the case so far: Our Friday Wrap
• Explaining Erin's evidence: Our Friday Wrap
• The biggest moments of Erin's evidence: Our Friday Wrap
• Kill them all, or reconnect? Our Friday Wrap
• Judging Erin's lies: Our Friday Wrap

Even though Donna Nelson's appeal has failed, it's opened the door to diplomacy that could get her back to Australia.

In this episode, North Asia Correspondent James Oaten and Australian Story producer Olivia Rousset join Stephen Stockwell to discuss how Donna's family took the appeal dismissal and the next steps in their fight to get her out of prison in Japan.

To catch up on The Case of the Romance Scam you can listen back here:

• Episode one: Who is Donna Nelson
• Episode two: The evidence that defined the trial
• Episode three: Last Chance for Donna Nelson
• Episode four: Donna's appeal result

Read James Oaten's story about a Japanese woman arrested for drug trafficking in Australia. You can also check out the Australian Story on Donna Nelson produced by Olivia Rousset to learn more about Donna's story.

If you have any questions you'd like James, Olivia and Stocky to answer in future episodes, please email [email protected].

The Case Of is the follow-up to the hit podcast Mushroom Case Daily, and all episodes of that show will remain available in the back catalogue of The Case Of.

Desperate to overturn her drug trafficking conviction, Donna Nelson lodged an appeal with the Japanese courts. Today they handed down their decision.

In this mini-episode, North Asia Correspondent James Oaten joins Stephen Stockwell from outside the appeal court with the decision and an explanation of what comes next.

To catch up on The Case of the Romance Scam you can listen back here:

• Episode one: Who is Donna Nelson
• Episode two: The evidence that defined the trial
• Episode three: Last Chance for Donna Nelson

You can also check out the Australian Story on Donna Nelson produced by Olivia Rousset to learn more about Donna's story.

If you have any questions you'd like James, Olivia and Stocky to answer in future episodes, please email [email protected].

The Case Of is the follow-up to the hit podcast Mushroom Case Daily, and all episodes of that show will remain available in the back catalogue of The Case Of

After her trial, the judges retired to consider Donna Nelson's fate. Then came the moment Donna and her family feared the most.

In this episode, James Oaten and Olivia Rousset join Stephen Stockwell to talk through the verdict, and the appeal she's now hanging her hope on.

If you have any questions you'd like James, Olivia and Stocky to answer in future episodes, please email [email protected].

This is the third episode of The Case of the Romance Scam. You can catch up here on episode one and episode two.

To learn more about Donna's case, check out the Australian Story on Donna Nelson produced by Olivia Rousset. 

The Case Of is the follow-up to the hit podcast Mushroom Case Daily, and all episodes of that show will remain available in the back catalogue of The Case Of

Japan’s legal system has a 99% conviction rate, so Donna Nelson and her family knew she had a hard case to argue. But when they saw the judge become tearful about Donna’s experience, a window of hope appeared. 

In the second episode of the Romance Scam, James Oaten and Olivia Rousset join Stephen Stockwell to explain how Donna Nelson’s drug trafficking trial unfolded, her conditions in prison, and the evidence that turned the case. 

If you have any questions you’d like James, Olivia and Stocky to answer in future episodes, please email [email protected].

You can listen back to the first episode of The Case of the Romance Scam here.

The Case Of is the follow-up to the hit podcast Mushroom Case Daily, and all episodes of that show will remain available in the back catalogue of The Case Of.