Australian True Crime

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**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, victim/survivors, investigators and perpetrators, she probes the underbelly of our towns and suburbs, and uncovers the darkness at the heart of Australian life.

Latest Episodes:

Leisl Smith is missing, and her family can not get a judge's verdict May 07, 2023

Show notes

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 333 000

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

CREDITS:

Host:Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram

Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here

Guests: Sandi Harvey

Executive Producer/Editor: Matthew Tankard

GET IN TOUCH:

Send us a question or comment on this episode to be used in our "Episode Download" series: https://www.speakpipe.com/ATC

Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/AustralianTrueCrimePod/

Email the show at team@smartfella.com.au

Australian True Crime is a podcast by Smart Fella Media. Your story matters and how you tell it matters even more.

Shortcut: Leisl Smith is missing, and her family can not get a judge's verdict May 06, 2023

Show notes

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.

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 333 000

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

CREDITS:

Host:Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram

Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here

Guests: Sandi Harvey

Executive Producer/Editor: Matthew Tankard

GET IN TOUCH:

Send us a question or comment on this episode to be used in our "Episode Download" series: https://www.speakpipe.com/ATC

Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/AustralianTrueCrimePod/

Email the show at team@smartfella.com.au

Australian True Crime is a podcast by Smart Fella Media. Your story matters and how you tell it matters even more.

Shortcut: The ripple effects after your family is touched by an act of pure evil Apr 30, 2023

Show notes

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.

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 Tania 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 kids to be in that home for a single second, and that's the very important message Boyd wants us all to hear.

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

CREDITS:

Host:Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram

Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here

Guests: Boyd Unwin

Executive Producer/Editor: Matthew Tankard

GET IN TOUCH:

Send us a question or comment on this episode to be used in our "Episode Download" series: https://www.speakpipe.com/ATC

Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/AustralianTrueCrimePod/

Email the show at team@smartfella.com.au

Australian True Crime is a podcast by Smart Fella Media. Your story matters and how you tell it matters even more.

The ripple effects after your family is touched by an act of pure evil Apr 30, 2023

Show notes

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.

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

CREDITS:

Host:Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram

Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here

Guests: Boyd Unwin

Executive Producer/Editor: Matthew Tankard

GET IN TOUCH:

Send us a question or comment on this episode to be used in our "Episode Download" series: https://www.speakpipe.com/ATC

Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/AustralianTrueCrimePod/

Email the show at team@smartfella.com.au

Australian True Crime is a podcast by Smart Fella Media. Your story matters and how you tell it matters even more.

Shortcut: Setting the record straight on Christopher Dale Flannery, AKA Mr Rent-a-Kill Apr 27, 2023

Show notes

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.

Ray Mooney joins us again this week to tell us about his friend, Christopher Dale Flannery (AKA Mr Rent-a-kill).

Chris was a teenager when they first met in Pentridge Prison. Chris was not long out of the notorious Morning Star boys home in Victoria's Mt Eliza.

Over the following decades, they maintained their close friendship. While Ray Mooney went on to become a published author, playwright, director and educator, Chris went on to become Australia's best known hitman.

Chris disappeared in 1985. Ray says that since then, many have taken the opportunity to say things they wouldn't have dared say when he was alive.

Today, Ray sets the record straight and shares the true story of Christopher Dale Flannery's life, and what he believes is the most likely truth of his death.

All of Ray's books and more can be found on his website here: https://raymooney.com/my-books/

If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode you can contact:

Lifeline on 13 11 14

13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people)

For ad-free listening, early access and exclusive content, join Australian True Crime Plus on Apple Podcasts here: http://apple.co/australiantruecrime

CREDITS:

Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram

Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here a

Guests: Ray Mooney

Editor: Meshel Laurie

Executive Producer: Matthew Tankard

GET IN TOUCH:

Send us a question or comment on this episode to be used in our "Episode Download" series: https://www.speakpipe.com/ATC

Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AustralianTrueCrimePod/

Email the show at team@smartfella.com.au

Australian True Crime is a podcast by Smart Fella Media. Your story matters and how you tell it matters even more.

Setting the record straight on Christopher Dale Flannery, AKA Mr Rent-a-Kill Apr 27, 2023

Show notes

Ray Mooney joins us again this week to tell us about his friend, Christopher Dale Flannery (AKA Mr Rent-a-kill).

Chris was a teenager when they first met in Pentridge Prison. Chris was not long out of the notorious Morning Star boys home in Victoria's Mt Eliza.

Chris disappeared in 1985. Ray says that since then, many have taken the opportunity to say things they wouldn't have dared say when he was alive.

Today, Ray sets the record straight and shares the true story of Christopher Dale Flannery's life, and what he believes is the most likely truth of his death.

All of Ray's books and more can be found on his website here: https://raymooney.com/my-books/

If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode you can contact:

Lifeline on 13 11 14

13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people)

For ad-free listening, early access and exclusive content, join Australian True Crime Plus on Apple Podcasts here: http://apple.co/australiantruecrime

CREDITS:

Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram

Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here a

Guests: Ray Mooney

Editor: Meshel Laurie

Executive Producer: Matthew Tankard

GET IN TOUCH:

Send us a question or comment on this episode to be used in our "Episode Download" series: https://www.speakpipe.com/ATC

Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AustralianTrueCrimePod/

Email the show at team@smartfella.com.au

Australian True Crime is a podcast by Smart Fella Media. Your story matters and how you tell it matters even more.

Shortcut: From Pentridge to Playwright, Ray Mooney proves rehabilitation is possible Apr 24, 2023

Show notes

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.

Our guest today is Ray Mooney. He's in his seventies now, and for most of his life, he's been a celebrated writer of novels, plays, films, non-fiction books, and a university lecturer.

At a different time in his life, though, the only institution he was allowed inside of was the Bluestone College: The College of Knowledge, also known as Pentridge Prison.

Ray Mooney was convicted of rape when he was 19, and today we hear Ray's story, which is extraordinary in its own right, not least because of the honesty and openness he's prepared to bring to it.

All of Ray's books and more can be found on his website here: https://raymooney.com/my-books/

If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode you can contact:

Lifeline on 13 11 14

13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people)

For ad-free listening, early access and exclusive content, join Australian True Crime Plus on Apple Podcasts here: http://apple.co/australiantruecrime

CREDITS:

Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram

Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here a

Guests: Ray Mooney

Editor: Meshel Laurie

Executive Producer: Matthew Tankard

GET IN TOUCH:

Send us a question or comment on this episode to be used in our "Episode Download" series: https://www.speakpipe.com/ATC

Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AustralianTrueCrimePod/

Email the show at team@smartfella.com.au

Australian True Crime is a podcast by Smart Fella Media. Your story matters and how you tell it matters even more.

From Pentridge to Playwright, Ray Mooney proves rehabilitation is possible Apr 23, 2023

Show notes

Our guest today is Ray Mooney. He's in his seventies now, and for most of his life, he's been a celebrated writer of novels, plays, films, non-fiction books, and a university lecturer.

At a different time in his life, though, the only institution he was allowed inside of was the Bluestone College: The College of Knowledge, also known as Pentridge Prison.

Ray Mooney was convicted of rape when he was 19, and today we hear Ray's story, which is extraordinary in its own right, not least because of the honesty and openness he's prepared to bring to it.

All of Ray's books and more can be found on his website here: https://raymooney.com/my-books/

If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode you can contact:

Lifeline on 13 11 14

13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people)

For ad-free listening, early access and exclusive content, join Australian True Crime Plus on Apple Podcasts here: http://apple.co/australiantruecrime

CREDITS:

Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram

Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here a

Guests: Ray Mooney

Editor: Meshel Laurie

Executive Producer: Matthew Tankard

GET IN TOUCH:

Send us a question or comment on this episode to be used in our "Episode Download" series: https://www.speakpipe.com/ATC

Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AustralianTrueCrimePod/

Email the show at team@smartfella.com.au

Australian True Crime is a podcast by Smart Fella Media. Your story matters and how you tell it matters even more.

Modern day organised crime gangs in Australia Apr 16, 2023

Show notes

Anthony Dowsley has been a crime reporter at Melbourne's Herald Sun since 2004. In that time, he's covered everything from homicides, solved and unsolved, law and order reforms and police corruption.

We're very honoured to have him in to discuss one of his speciality topics: gang related crime in Australia.

In this episode we will get a snapshot of who's who in Australian bikie gangs, how they're linked to organised crime in other countries, and the biggest police Trojan Horse operation yet.

If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode you can contact:

Lifeline on 13 11 14

13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people)

For ad-free listening, early access and exclusive content, join Australian True Crime Plus on Apple Podcasts here: http://apple.co/australiantruecrime

GET IN TOUCH:

Send us a question or comment on this episode to be used in our "Episode Download" series: https://www.speakpipe.com/ATC

Email the show at team@smartfella.com.au

Australian True Crime is a podcast by Smart Fella Media. Your story matters and how you tell it matters even more.

Shortcut: Modern day organised crime gangs in Australia Apr 15, 2023

Show notes

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.

Anthony Dowsley has been a crime reporter at Melbourne's Herald Sun since 2004. In that time, he's covered everything from homicides, solved and unsolved, law and order reforms and police corruption.

We're very honoured to have him in to discuss one of his speciality topics: gang related crime in Australia.

In this episode we will get a snapshot of who's who in Australian bikie gangs, how they're linked to organised crime in other countries, and the biggest police Trojan Horse operation yet.

You can listen to Anthony Dowsley's podcast "The Devil's Apprentice" wherever you get your podcasts.

If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode you can contact:

Lifeline on 13 11 14

13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people)

For ad-free listening, early access and exclusive content, join Australian True Crime Plus on Apple Podcasts here: http://apple.co/australiantruecrime

GET IN TOUCH:

Send us a question or comment on this episode to be used in our "Episode Download" series: https://www.speakpipe.com/ATC

Email the show at team@smartfella.com.au

Australian True Crime is a podcast by Smart Fella Media. Your story matters and how you tell it matters even more.

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