Australian True Crime

This is a "Just The Facts" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed. In 2018, Ben Roberts-Smith, a decorated Australian war veteran who had won the Victoria Cross for his actions in Afghanistan, sued The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Canberra Times.The above newspapers had alleged that Roberts-Smith committed acts of war crimes, bullying and domestic violence.The civil trial ended in July 2022 after 110 days of evidence and legal submissions. It was dubbed one of the largest and most important defamation cases in Australian history.On June 1st, 2023, Justice Anthony Besanko dismissed Roberts-Smith's case against the media outlets, finding that most of the allegations against him were substantially true.Nick Mckenzie, one of the three journalists directly named in the defamation case, joins us on this episode to reflect on the last five years.More info:Nick Mckenzie has an upcoming book that details what went on behind the sc

In 2018, Ben Roberts-Smith, a decorated Australian war veteran who had won the Victoria Cross for his actions in Afghanistan, sued The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Canberra Times.The above newspapers had alleged that Roberts-Smith committed acts of war crimes, bullying and domestic violence.The civil trial ended in July 2022 after 110 days of evidence and legal submissions. It was dubbed one of the largest and most important defamation cases in Australian history.On June 1st, 2023, Justice Anthony Besanko dismissed Roberts-Smith's case against the media outlets, finding that most of the allegations against him were substantially true.Nick Mckenzie, one of the three journalists directly named in the defamation case, joins us on this episode to reflect on the last five years.More info:Nick Mckenzie has an upcoming book that details what went on behind the scenes of this incredible story. It is titled Crossing The Line, and can be preordered here.For Support: Lifeline  on 13 11 1413 YARN on 1

This is a "Just The Facts" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed. Tony Ryan's sister Marcia disappeared in 1996 after leaving her Melbourne home. Marcia told her family she was going on a road trip with her dog Ziggy to see their parents in Queensland. But as you'll hear from Tony, Marcia's car was found abandoned in the Latrobe Valley in Victoria with no sign of Marcia or Ziggy. Tony's been relentless in trying to find out what happened to Marcia, who was 33 when she vanished.More info:If you have any information in regards to the disappearance of Marcia Ryan, contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or on their websiteThe Ryan family's story is featured in Nicole Morris' book VANISHEDFor Support: Lifeline  on 13 11 1413 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Co-Host: Emily W

Tony Ryan's sister Marcia disappeared in 1996 after leaving her Melbourne home. Marcia told her family she was going on a road trip with her dog Ziggy to see their parents in Queensland. But as you'll hear from Tony, Marcia's car was found abandoned in the Latrobe Valley in Victoria with no sign of Marcia or Ziggy. Tony's been relentless in trying to find out what happened to Marcia, who was 33 when she vanished.More info:If you have any information in regards to the disappearance of Marcia Ryan, contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or on their websiteThe Ryan family's story is featured in Nicole Morris' book VANISHEDFor Support: Lifeline  on 13 11 1413 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here Guests: Tony RyanExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardGET IN TOUCH: Send us a question or c

This is a "Just The Facts" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed. Tina Louise Greer, 32, went missing from her Beechmont home in Queensland, January 18, 2012.She had gone to visit her ex boyfriend, a Finks bikie by the name of Les "Grumpy" Sharman, and has not been seen since.Despite being listed by a Queensland coroner and police as the primary suspect in Tina's disappearance, Les Sharman was never formally questioned by police. He then died in a car crash in 2018.Our guest for today's episode, Tina's daughter Lili, was 13 when her mother went missing. Now, as a young adult, Lili has been relentless in her fight to advocate for her mother and other families like theirs. Through Lili's advocacy, a coronial inquest has been announced into her mother's disappearance for August 2023. If you have any information in regards to the disappearance of Tina Greer, contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or on their websiteMore info

Tina Louise Greer, 32, went missing from her Beechmont home in Queensland, January 18, 2012.She had gone to visit her ex boyfriend, a Finks bikie by the name of Les "Grumpy" Sharman, and has not been seen since.Despite being listed by a Queensland coroner and police as the primary suspect in Tina's disappearance, Les Sharman was never formally questioned by police. He then died in a car crash in 2018.Our guest for today's episode, Tina's daughter Lili, was 13 when her mother went missing. Now, as a young adult, Lili has been relentless in her fight to advocate for her mother and other families like theirs. Through Lili's advocacy, a coronial inquest has been announced into her mother's disappearance for August 2023. If you have any information in regards to the disappearance of Tina Greer, contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or on their websiteMore info:The Tina Greer ProjectLili Greer's social media accountFor Support: Lifeline  on 13 11 1413 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone

This is a "Just The Facts" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed. Nicole Morris started a website more than 16 years ago called Australian Missing Persons Register. It was something she began as a personal project but it soon turned into a valuable resource and advocacy platform for the families and friends of missing people in Australia. Now some of these cases and stories are in her first book VANISHED, told through the experiences of siblings with a missing loved one - the desperate searches in the first days, the Police investigations and, for many, the heartbreak as the years, even decades, go by with no news and no answers. Nicole’s joined us for this episode. VANISHED is published by Big Sky Publishing and available for pre-order. It’s on the shelves and online on 7 June 2023.More info:PRE-ORDER VANISHED by Nicole Morris.Australian Missing Persons RegisterFor Support: Lifeline  on 13 11 1413 YARN on

Nicole Morris started a website more than 16 years ago called Australian Missing Persons Register. It was something she began as a personal project but it soon turned into a valuable resource and advocacy platform for the families and friends of missing people in Australia. Now some of these cases and stories are in her first book VANISHED, told through the experiences of siblings with a missing loved one - the desperate searches in the first days, the Police investigations and, for many, the heartbreak as the years, even decades, go by with no news and no answers. Nicole’s joined us for this episode. VANISHED is published by Big Sky Publishing and available for pre-order. It’s on the shelves and online on 7 June 2023.More info:PRE-ORDER VANISHED by Nicole Morris.Australian Missing Persons RegisterFor Support: Lifeline  on 13 11 1413 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie.

This is a "Just The Facts" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed. In 2007 when Kate Kyriacou was a reporter for the Adelaide Advertiser, she took up a story of a missing woman named Glenys Heyward.Glenys, 53, had been due to go on a holiday with her new partner. Instead, she went missing from her hometown of Mount Gambier, towards the Victorian border.Nowadays, Kate is the Courier Mail's Chief Crime Reporter, and has since reported on many harrowing cases. This one, however, is the one that sticks with her the most. In Kate's own words, "when people say "why didn't she just leave?", this case shows why it's a lot more complicated than that".For Support: Lifeline  on 13 11 1413 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here 

In 2007 when Kate Kyriacou was a reporter for the Adelaide Advertiser, she took up a story of a missing woman named Glenys Heyward.Glenys, 53, had been due to go on a holiday with her new partner. Instead, she went missing from her hometown of Mount Gambier, towards the Victorian border.Nowadays, Kate is the Courier Mail's Chief Crime Reporter, and has since reported on many harrowing cases. This one, however, is the one that sticks with her the most. In Kate's own words, "when people say "why didn't she just leave?", this case shows why it's a lot more complicated than that".For Support: Lifeline  on 13 11 1413 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here Guests:  Kate Kyriacou Executive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardGET IN TOUCH: Send us a question or comment on this episode to be used

This is a "Just The Facts" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed. Sarah Boyd immigrated from Scotland to Sydney in 1923. It was there, where she and an accomplice committed an unthinkable decision.What's even more terrifying, is that it was a decision that wasn't uncommon for women living in Sydney, Australia at the time. In fact, it was one of only a handful of difficult options faced by many women.Tanya Bretherton's book "The Suitcase Baby" can be purchased here: https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-suitcase-baby-tanya-bretherton/book/9780733639227.htmlFor Support: Lifeline  on 13 11 1413 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here Guests:  Tanya BrethertonExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardGET IN TOUCH: 

Sarah Boyd immigrated from Scotland to Sydney in 1923. It was there, where she and an accomplice committed an unthinkable decision.What's even more terrifying, is that it was a decision that wasn't uncommon for women living in Sydney, Australia at the time. In fact, it was one of only a handful of difficult options faced by many women.Tanya Bretherton's book "The Suitcase Baby" can be purchased here: https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-suitcase-baby-tanya-bretherton/book/9780733639227.htmlFor Support: Lifeline  on 13 11 1413 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here Guests:  Tanya BrethertonExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardGET IN TOUCH: Send us a question or comment on this episode to be used in our "Episode Download" series: https://www.speakpipe.com/ATCFollow the show on Instagr

This is a "Just The Facts" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed. We continue on from last week's episode with a breakdown of a suspect believed to be the perpetrator of the 1941 Pay Car massacre.That suspect's name is Lionel Charles Thomas. But don't get too used to it, because if there was one thing this guy loved, it was changing his name.You'll have to keep your wits about you because over the course of this episode, as he lies cheats, murders, but also romances his way around Australia and New Guinea, Lionel will go by no less than three more names. Despite his long and nefarious history, Lionel went mostly under the radar because of his incredible capacity to commit them on the same days as major historical events.You can listen to Michael's podcast, Forgotten Australia wherever you get your podcasts.For Support: Lifeline  on 13 11 1413 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Stra

We continue on from last week's episode with a breakdown of a suspect believed to be the perpetrator of the 1941 Pay Car massacre.That suspect's name is Lionel Charles Thomas. But don't get too used to it, because if there was one thing this guy loved, it was changing his name.You'll have to keep your wits about you because over the course of this episode, as he lies cheats, murders, but also romances his way around Australia and New Guinea, Lionel will go by no less than three more names. Despite his long and nefarious history, Lionel went mostly under the radar because of his incredible capacity to commit them on the same days as major historical events.You can listen to Michael's podcast, Forgotten Australia wherever you get your podcasts.For Support: Lifeline  on 13 11 1413 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her

This is a "Just The Facts" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed. On the morning of December 8, 1941, three men operating a "Pay Car" in south Sydney were unknowingly heading into a brutal ambush.This story, however, has been lost to history due to it taking place on the same day Pearl Harbour was attacked.Michael Adams from the Forgotten Australia podcast is back with us for another historical Australian crime.This is a part one of two part series.You can listen to Michael's podcast, Forgotten Australia wherever you get your podcasts.For Support: Lifeline  on 13 11 1413 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here Guests:  Michael AdamsExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardGET IN TOUCH: Send us a question

On the morning of December 8, 1941, three men operating a "Pay Car" in south Sydney were unknowingly heading into a brutal ambush.This story, however, has been lost to history due to it taking place on the same day Pearl Harbour was attacked.Michael Adams from the Forgotten Australia podcast is back with us for another historical Australian crime.This is a part one of two part series.You can listen to Michael's podcast, Forgotten Australia wherever you get your podcasts.For Support: Lifeline  on 13 11 1413 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here Guests:  Michael AdamsExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardGET IN TOUCH: Send us a question or comment on this episode to be used in our "Episode Download" series: https://www.speakpipe.com/ATCFollow the show on Instagram @australiantruec

Sandi Harvey has not seen her daughter Leisl Smith since 2012. At that time, Leisl was 23 years old. She was happy, healthy and working in her dream job caring for horses.But it was horses that brought her into contact with James Church, a much older man with whom she fell in love.After her disappearance, Sandi discovered Leisl's relationship with Church was one of cruelty and heartache.Ten years after Leisl's disappearance, Sandi and the rest of her family thought they may finally be on the verge of some kind of breakthrough. But James Church had one more cruel trick up his sleeve.We implore our listeners to join Leisl Smith's information page: https://www.facebook.com/FindLeislSmith/If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Leisl Smith, please contact CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000For Support: Lifeline  on 13 11 1413 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find h

This is a "Just The Facts" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed. Sandi Harvey has not seen her daughter Leisl Smith since 2012.At that time, Leisl was 23 years old. She was happy, healthy and working in her dream job caring for horses.But it was horses that brought her into contact with James Church, a much older man with whom she fell in love.After her disappearance, Sandi discovered Leisl's relationship with Church was one of cruelty and heartache.Ten years after Leisl's disappearance, Sandi and the rest of her family thought they may finally be on the verge of some kind of breakthrough. But James Church had one more cruel trick up his sleeve.We implore our listeners to join Leisl Smith's information page: https://www.facebook.com/FindLeislSmith/If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Leisl Smith, please contact CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000For Support: Lifeline  on 13 11 1413 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7

This is a "Just The Facts" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed. Our guest today is Boyd Unwin, a suburban tradie and father of three in his fifties, who's always thought of himself and his family as the epitome of normal and unremarkable.Boyd has committed himself to understanding how he lost his daughter, Katie Haley, to her partner five years ago. Boyd and his wife Tanya are now raising the child their daughter shared with her murderer. And bit by bit, they'll have to explain to that child why neither of her parents can be with her. They're doing this at a time when they thought they'd be settling into retirement and enjoying being grandparents.The Unwin's are determined to open the eyes of other normal families to what they now see were red flags in Katie's relationship. They'd all grown to dislike her partner, but none of them believed she was in mortal danger in her home. If they had, they'd never have allowed her and her k