
Australian True Crime
Think nothing ever happens in your town? Australia's suburbs are home to some of the most mysterious and disturbing true crime cases in the world. Meshel Laurie is a true crime obsessive, and with the help of expert interviews with writers, victims, investigators and perpetrators, she probes the underbelly of our towns and suburbs, and uncovers the darkness at the heart of Australian life.We choose to stay @ Ovolo HotelsJoin our ATC EMAIL LIST Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Latest episodes

Feb 11, 2024 • 13min
Shortcut: Was my ancestor Australia's first serial killer?
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. Like many of us, our guest today has researched her family tree using an online ancestry website.Unlike most of us, Julie DiBella found a serial killer lurking in hers.Julie has spent the last couple of years researching the crimes of her great great grandfather, Robert Francis Burns, who has gone down in the histroy books as potentially Australia's first serial killer.Julie is writing a book about her infamous ancestor, and she joins us on Australian True Crime today to tell us what she's discovered so far.We will keep you updated once Julie's book on Robert Francis Burns is released. Click here to purchase her previous book on 1970s Sharpie culture: Rage - A Sharpie's Journal Click here to listen to our episode with Michael Adams from the "Forgotten Australia" podcast, about Robert Francis Burns' hangman, Elijah Upjohn.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 Guest: Julie DiBellaExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardGET IN TOUCH:Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at team@smartfella.com.auBuild your pro podcast with The Audio College Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 11, 2024 • 39min
Was my ancestor Australia's first serial killer?
Like many of us, our guest today has researched her family tree using an online ancestry website.Unlike most of us, Julie DiBella found a serial killer lurking in hers.Julie has spent the last couple of years researching the crimes of her great great grandfather, Robert Francis Burns, who has gone down in the histroy books as potentially Australia's first serial killer.Julie is writing a book about her infamous ancestor, and she joins us on Australian True Crime today to tell us what she's discovered so far.We will keep you updated once Julie's book on Robert Francis Burns is released. Click here to purchase her previous book on 1970s Sharpie culture: Rage - A Sharpie's Journal Click here to listen to our episode with Michael Adams from the "Forgotten Australia" podcast, about Robert Francis Burns' hangman, Elijah Upjohn.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 Guest: Julie DiBellaExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardGET IN TOUCH:Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at team@smartfella.com.auBuild your pro podcast with The Audio College Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 7, 2024 • 17min
Shortcut: The poet who was once a bikie associate
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. Scott Keighran is a published poet.If you Google him, though, you're more likely to find him described as an associate of the Rebels Motorcycle Club, an arsonist, a kidnapper, a home invader, and an attempted murderer.Scott is well aware that his rap sheet is nothing short of terrifying. He has hurt and traumatized a lot of people.However, in 2016, when an attempt to intimidate went wrong, he ended up paying a very high price himself.Scott Keighran joins us on Australian True Crime today to talk about his reflections on his life and crimes.Click here to get a copy of Scott Keighran’s book “Prison Poetry”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 Guest: Scott KeighranExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardGET IN TOUCH:Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at team@smartfella.com.auBuild your pro podcast with The Audio College Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 7, 2024 • 1h 3min
The poet who was once a bikie associate
Scott Keighran is a published poet.If you Google him, though, you're more likely to find him described as an associate of the Rebels Motorcycle Club, an arsonist, a kidnapper, a home invader, and an attempted murderer.Scott is well aware that his rap sheet is nothing short of terrifying. He has hurt and traumatized a lot of people.However, in 2016, when an attempt to intimidate went wrong, he ended up paying a very high price himself.Scott Keighran joins us on Australian True Crime today to talk about his reflections on his life and crimes.Click here to get a copy of Scott Keighran’s book “Prison Poetry”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 Guest: Scott KeighranExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardGET IN TOUCH:Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at team@smartfella.com.auBuild your pro podcast with The Audio College Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 4, 2024 • 14min
Shortcut: The day this police officer was stabbed by an alleged child sex offender
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. CW: This episode contains discussions of child sexual assault.Retired Detective Sergeant John Breda narrowly escaped being murdered by an alleged child sex offender, Nick Newman, on January 26th, 2018.It is alleged that Nick Newman was 26 when he entered a sexual relationship with a 14 year old relative of his ex wife. After the child reported Newman to the police, he had made threats of "wanting to hunt her down" as well as issuing death threats to his ex-wife and family.He was wanted by the police on the day Breda and his team were informed of his whereabouts in a Maroubra pub.The altercation between Breda and Newman didn't turn out well for either of them, but there's only one of them still around to tell the tale.For reasons that will become apparent in this episode, John Breda is an enthusiastic advocate for blood donation. Please click this link to learn more about how you can contribute to blood donation.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 Guest: John BredaExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardGET IN TOUCH:Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at team@smartfella.com.auBuild your pro podcast with The Audio College Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 4, 2024 • 49min
The day this police officer was stabbed by an alleged child sex offender
CW: This episode contains discussions of child sexual assault.Retired Detective Sergeant John Breda narrowly escaped being murdered by an alleged child sex offender, Nick Newman, on January 26th, 2018.It is alleged that Nick Newman was 26 when he entered a sexual relationship with a 14 year old relative of his ex wife. After the child reported Newman to the police, he had made threats of "wanting to hunt her down" as well as issuing death threats to his ex-wife and family.He was wanted by the police on the day Breda and his team were informed of his whereabouts in a Maroubra pub.The altercation between Breda and Newman didn't turn out well for either of them, but there's only one of them still around to tell the tale.For reasons that will become apparent in this episode, John Breda is an enthusiastic advocate for blood donation. Please click this link to learn more about how you can contribute to blood donation.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 Guest: John BredaExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardGET IN TOUCH:Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at team@smartfella.com.auBuild your pro podcast with The Audio College Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 28, 2024 • 17min
Shortcut: My grandfather's vicious act created generational trauma
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. Sarah's grandfather murdered her grandmother and hid her under the floorboards.This event has long since fallen from the news, but she joins us to share the many ways it has affected and still affects her family.Sarah is a professional woman. She's married with young children, and she takes great pride in the ordered nature of her life.It's a far cry from the chaos left behind for her father's generation by her grandparents, whose marriage came to a violent end in the 1950s.Sarah's peaceful existence has required a lot of effort on her part. The family continues to be impacted by the chaos, dysfunction, and trauma from the gruesome family headline of three-quarters of a century ago.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 Guest: Sarah (not her real name).Executive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardGET IN TOUCH:Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at team@smartfella.com.auBuild your pro podcast with The Audio College Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 28, 2024 • 60min
My grandfather's vicious act created generational trauma
Sarah's grandfather murdered her grandmother and hid her under the floorboards.This event has long since fallen from the news, but she joins us to share the many ways it has affected and still affects her family.Sarah is a professional woman. She's married with young children, and she takes great pride in the ordered nature of her life.It's a far cry from the chaos left behind for her father's generation by her grandparents, whose marriage came to a violent end in the 1950s.Sarah's peaceful existence has required a lot of effort on her part. The family continues to be impacted by the chaos, dysfunction, and trauma from the gruesome family headline of three-quarters of a century ago.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 Guest: Sarah (not her real name).Executive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardGET IN TOUCH:Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at team@smartfella.com.auBuild your pro podcast with The Audio College Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 24, 2024 • 36min
Roger Rogerson is dead. What secrets will he keep forever?
Infamous corrupt NSW police officer, Roger Rogerson, has died this week at the age of 83 from suffering a brain aneurism.Rogerson was serving a life sentence for the murder of a 20 year old Jamie Gao. His conviction for that murder was somewhat ironic, given he proudly boasted of killing three drug dealers during his police career and gotten away with it.The true extent of Rogerson's corruption and criminal activities may now never be fully uncovered.Ray Mooney, an author, playwright and former inmate of Pentridge Prison, joins us this episode to provide valuable insights into Rogerson's notorious legacy.Click here listen to our previous episode with Ray Mooney, which goes deeper into his memories and theories regarding Christopher Dale Flannery AKA Mr.Rent.A.KillFor 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 Guest: Ray MooneyExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardThis episode contains extra content from Channel 7 News.GET IN TOUCH:Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at team@smartfella.com.auBuild your pro podcast with The Audio College Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 24, 2024 • 13min
Shortcut: Roger Rogerson is dead. What secrets will he keep forever?
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. Infamous corrupt NSW police officer, Roger Rogerson, has died this week at the age of 83 from suffering a brain aneurism. Rogerson was serving a life sentence for the murder of a 20 year old Jamie Gao. His conviction for that murder was somewhat ironic, given he proudly boasted of killing three drug dealers during his police career and gotten away with it.The true extent of Rogerson's corruption and criminal activities may now never be fully uncovered. Ray Mooney, an author, playwright and former inmate of Pentridge Prison, joins us this episode to provide valuable insights into Rogerson's notorious legacy.Click here listen to our previous episode with Ray Mooney, which goes deeper into his memories and theories regarding Christopher Dale Flannery AKA Mr.Rent.A.KillFor 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 Guest: Ray MooneyExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardThis episode contains extra content from Channel 7 News.GET IN TOUCH:Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at team@smartfella.com.auBuild your pro podcast with The Audio College Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.