Australian True Crime

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Jan 25, 2026 • 15min

Shortcut: Never To Be Released?

This is a "Shortcut" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed. In 1986, Sydney nurse Anita Cobby was abducted and murdered after a sexual assault, followed two years later by the abduction, sexual assault and murder of Janine Balding after she was taken from Sutherland train station. In the aftermath, the New South Wales government introduced laws that ensured the teenage offenders would spend their lives in prison with no chance of parole. Criminal lawyer and former NSW MP Peter Breen joins Australian True Crime to argue those laws were deeply flawed and that some of the men convicted may have been innocent. You can purchase your copy of "Shorty: Mistaken Identity or Stitch Up?" here. Watch the video version of this episode here. Join our Facebook Group here. Do you have information regarding any of the cases discussed on this podcast? Please report it on the Crime Stoppers website or by calling 1800 333 000. 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 732Blue Knot Helpline: 1300 657 380CREDITS:Host: Meshel LaurieGuest: Peter BreenExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardGET IN TOUCH:https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at AusTrueCrimePodcast@gmail.com
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Jan 25, 2026 • 50min

Never To Be Released?

In 1986, Sydney nurse Anita Cobby was abducted and murdered after a sexual assault, followed two years later by the abduction, sexual assault and murder of Janine Balding after she was taken from Sutherland train station. In the aftermath, the New South Wales government introduced laws that ensured the teenage offenders would spend their lives in prison with no chance of parole. Criminal lawyer and former NSW MP Peter Breen joins Australian True Crime to argue those laws were deeply flawed and that some of the men convicted may have been innocent. You can purchase your copy of "Shorty: Mistaken Identity or Stitch Up?" here. Watch the video version of this episode here. Join our Facebook Group here. Do you have information regarding any of the cases discussed on this podcast? Please report it on the Crime Stoppers website or by calling 1800 333 000. 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 732Blue Knot Helpline: 1300 657 380CREDITS:Host: Meshel LaurieGuest: Peter BreenExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardGET IN TOUCH:https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at AusTrueCrimePodcast@gmail.com
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Jan 21, 2026 • 15min

Shortcut: What happened to 3-year-old Lachie Jones? - ATC International

This is a "Shortcut" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed. In 2019, three-year-old New Zealand boy Lachie Jones was found dead in an oxygenation pond near his home, with police ruling it an accidental drowning. His father, unconvinced by the official finding, sought the help of investigative journalists Melanie Reid and Bonnie Sumner, hosts of Delve: The Boy in the Water. In this bonus international episode of Australian True Crime, they share insights from the long-awaited inquest inside the Coroners Court. You can listen to Delve: The Boy in the Water, wherever you get your podcasts. Do you have information regarding any of the cases discussed on this podcast? Please report it on the Crime Stoppers website or by calling 1800 333 000. Join our Facebook Group here. For Support:  Lifeline on 13 11 14 13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples) 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732   Blue Knot Helpline: 1300 657 380 CREDITS:   Host: Meshel Laurie Guests: Melanie Reid and Bonnie Sumner Executive Producer/Editor: Matthew Tankard This episode contains extra content from Newsroom NZ, Stuff and The Platform NZ GET IN TOUCH: https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/ Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook  Email the show at AusTrueCrimePodcast@gmail.com 
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Jan 21, 2026 • 40min

What happened to 3-year-old Lachie Jones? - ATC International

In 2019, three-year-old New Zealand boy Lachie Jones was found dead in an oxygenation pond near his home, with police ruling it an accidental drowning. His father, unconvinced by the official finding, sought the help of investigative journalists Melanie Reid and Bonnie Sumner, hosts of Delve: The Boy in the Water. In this bonus international episode of Australian True Crime, they share insights from the long-awaited inquest inside the Coroners Court. You can listen to Delve: The Boy in the Water, wherever you get your podcasts. Do you have information regarding any of the cases discussed on this podcast? Please report it on the Crime Stoppers website or by calling 1800 333 000. Join our Facebook Group here. For Support:  Lifeline on 13 11 14 13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples) 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732   Blue Knot Helpline: 1300 657 380 CREDITS:   Host: Meshel Laurie Guests: Melanie Reid and Bonnie Sumner Executive Producer/Editor: Matthew Tankard This episode contains extra content from Newsroom NZ, Stuff and The Platform NZ GET IN TOUCH: https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/ Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook  Email the show at AusTrueCrimePodcast@gmail.com 
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Jan 18, 2026 • 16min

Shortcut: The Story of the World's Oldest Prisoner

This is a "Shortcut" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed. On the December 9th, 1925, a 44-year-old man by the name of Bill Wallace was arrested in Melbourne for the fatal shooting of electrician Ernest Williams after a dispute over smoking in a cafe.Refusing to explain who he was, Wallace was declared unfit to stand trial and spent the rest of his life in Aradale Psychiatric Hospital, becoming the world’s oldest prisoner at the age of 107.Our guest is Gideon Haigh, discussing his new book, Who Is Wallace?You can buy Who Is Wallace? directly from Gideon for $50Transfer to:BSB 733 152, Account number 525322, then email your postal address to gideonhaigh@hotmail.comJoin our Facebook Group here.Do you have information regarding any of the cases discussed on this podcast? Please report it on the Crime Stoppers website or by calling 1800 333 000. 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 732Blue Knot Helpline: 1300 657 380CREDITS:Host: Meshel LaurieGuest: Gideon HaighExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardGET IN TOUCH:https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Send us a question to have played on the show by recording a voice message here.Email the show at AusTrueCrimePodcast@gmail.com
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Jan 18, 2026 • 51min

The Story of the World's Oldest Prisoner

On the December 9th, 1925, a 44-year-old man by the name of Bill Wallace was arrested in Melbourne for the fatal shooting of electrician Ernest Williams after a dispute over smoking in a cafe.Refusing to explain who he was, Wallace was declared unfit to stand trial and spent the rest of his life in Aradale Psychiatric Hospital, becoming the world’s oldest prisoner at the age of 107.Our guest is Gideon Haigh, discussing his new book, Who Is Wallace?You can buy Who Is Wallace? directly from Gideon for $50Transfer to:BSB 733 152, Account number 525322, then email your postal address to gideonhaigh@hotmail.com You can watch the video version of this episode here. Join our Facebook Group here.Do you have information regarding any of the cases discussed on this podcast? Please report it on the Crime Stoppers website or by calling 1800 333 000. 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 732Blue Knot Helpline: 1300 657 380CREDITS:Host: Meshel LaurieGuest: Gideon HaighExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardGET IN TOUCH:https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Send us a question to have played on the show by recording a voice message here.Email the show at AusTrueCrimePodcast@gmail.com
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Jan 15, 2026 • 16min

Shortcut: The Inner Worlds of Violent Offenders

This is a "Shortcut" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed. Content warning: this conversation includes discussion of child sexual abuse. Support services can be found further down in these show notes. Pamela Nathan is a clinical and forensic psychologist with more than 40 years’ experience working in prisons, courts and forensic hospitals, and a long history of listening to people whose crimes have shocked the public. Pamela has recently published a book titled Pain Bleeds Crime, which takes us inside the inner worlds of violent offenders to explore how  trauma, silence and past harm shape acts of extreme violence, not as excuses, but as revelations about what lies beneath the crime. Pamela also reflects on her work in central Australia with young people through CASSE, Creating A Safe Supportive Environment, where she served as CEO for a decade and continues as a board member. You can purchase your copy of Pain Bleeds Crime here. Join our Facebook Group here. Do you have information regarding any of the cases discussed on this podcast? Please report it on the Crime Stoppers website or by calling 1800 333 000.   For Support:  Lifeline  on 13 11 14 13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples) 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732 Blue Knot Helpline: 1300 657 380   CREDITS: Host: Meshel Laurie Guest: Pamela Nathan Executive Producer/Editor: Matthew Tankard GET IN TOUCH: https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/ Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook  Send us a question to have played on the show by recording a voice message here. Email the show at AusTrueCrimePodcast@gmail.com
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Jan 15, 2026 • 57min

The Inner Worlds of Violent Offenders

Content warning: this conversation includes discussion of child sexual abuse. Support services can be found further down in these show notes. Pamela Nathan is a clinical and forensic psychologist with more than 40 years’ experience working in prisons, courts and forensic hospitals, and a long history of listening to people whose crimes have shocked the public. Pamela has recently published a book titled Pain Bleeds Crime, which takes us inside the inner worlds of violent offenders to explore how  trauma, silence and past harm shape acts of extreme violence, not as excuses, but as revelations about what lies beneath the crime. Pamela also reflects on her work in central Australia with young people through CASSE, Creating A Safe Supportive Environment, where she served as CEO for a decade and continues as a board member. You can purchase your copy of Pain Bleeds Crime here. Join our Facebook Group here. Do you have information regarding any of the cases discussed on this podcast? Please report it on the Crime Stoppers website or by calling 1800 333 000.   For Support:  Lifeline  on 13 11 14 13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples) 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732 Blue Knot Helpline: 1300 657 380   CREDITS: Host: Meshel Laurie Guest: Pamela Nathan Executive Producer/Editor: Matthew Tankard GET IN TOUCH: https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/ Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook  Send us a question to have played on the show by recording a voice message here. Email the show at AusTrueCrimePodcast@gmail.com
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Jan 11, 2026 • 35min

The Day They Blew Up The Police Station: The Russell Street Bombing *Re-Issue*

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.   This episode is a re-issue of episode #98 from April 25th, 2019.   Join our Facebook Group here.   Do you have information regarding any of the cases discussed on this podcast? Please report it on the Crime Stoppers website or by calling 1800 333 000.   For Support:  Lifeline  on 13 11 14 13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples) 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732 Blue Knot Helpline: 1300 657 380   CREDITS: Host: Meshel Laurie Guest: Rob Bailey GET IN TOUCH: https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/ Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook  Send us a question to have played on the show by recording a voice message here. Email the show at AusTrueCrimePodcast@gmail.com 
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Jan 9, 2026 • 45min

The Real Dog Day Afternoon - ATC International

In this episode of ATC International, we're going to the movies. We're looking at the real story behind the 1995 classic film, Dog Day Afternoon, starring Al Pacino. It's known as a classic heist flick. But the true story is based on the complicated gay relationship between a Vietnam veteran, and a man desperate to transition and live as a woman. Join our Facebook Group here. Do you have information regarding any of the cases discussed on this podcast? Please report it on the Crime Stoppers website or by calling 1800 333 000. For Support:  Lifeline  on 13 11 14 13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples) 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732 Blue Knot Helpline: 1300 657 380   CREDITS: Hosted and created by Meshel Laurie Executive Producer: Matthew Tankard GET IN TOUCH: https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/ Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook  Send us a question to have played on the show by recording a voice message here. Email the show at AusTrueCrimePodcast@gmail.com Email the show at AusTrueCrimePodcast@gmail.com 

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