Advertise on podcast: Real Crime with Adam Shand

Aubrey Maurice Broughill, a career armed robber, better known as the Beanie Bandit, died in February 1999 under mysterious circumstances. His corpse was found in a dam on the Victorian border, hundreds of miles from his last reported location, minus his testicles. In the first of a two-part series, Broughill’s daughter, Ilsa, and her friend, Amanda, share the results of their investigation into his death, which has raised questions about whether foul play could have been involved.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In March 1993, career criminals Archie Butterly and Peter Gibb blasted their way out of the Melbourne Remand Centre using smuggled explosives, with the help of prison officer Heather Parker, who had become romantically involved with Gibb. Six days later beside the Goulburn River in Victoria’s high country. Gibb and Parker were captured. Butterly was found dead, with a single bullet wound to his head. For Scott Bell, Butterly’s death was a massive relief. In 1992, before the jail break, Butterly took this average suburban bloke hostage. For the first time, Scott recounts that terrifying experience and the aftermath that he still deals with today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia's notorious tobacco kingpin Kaz Hamad is serving life in an Iraqi prison. But explosive allegations suggest he was brutally tortured, and Iraqi authorities doctored photographs to conceal his injuries. Australian intelligence helped secure his arrest. So what did our authorities know, and when?In this episode of From the Desk, Adam Shand examines the disturbing allegations and asks, 'Should Australia cooperate with countries that practise torture to bring dangerous criminals to justice? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Calvin and Nicole were lovers who balanced their love for each other and their two children, with the heroin addiction that dominated their lives. This is not a glamorous crime yarn, it’s the story of feeding a voracious beast. It’s about compromises, crimes, and the shameful acts that must be committed to survive. Calvin’s death, when it came, was a kind of relief for Nicole, a chance to restore family relationships and to deal with her own addiction. In this honest conversation with Adam, Nicole does not make excuses but provides insight into life, death, and surviving Calvin.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On January 31, 1971, 15-year-old Rosalyn Nolte left her home in Hamilton, Victoria, to walk her dog. She never returned.Rosalyn was brutally murdered by two 18-year-old men, Christopher Russell Lowery and Charles King. Both were convicted of murder and sentenced to death, but their sentences were commuted and both eventually walked free.For a young Phil Dunn, who was part of the defence team, it was a trial he would never forget.More than 50 years later, Phil joins Adam Shand to revisit the case that has haunted his professional memory.He reflects on the challenges of defending the accused, the extraordinary pressures inside and outside the courtroom, the death penalty and the difficult question of whether justice was ultimately served. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adam is creating a new podcast series called The Real Chopper, and he wants your stories. Today, From the Desk, Adam asks how the late Mark Brandon Read created such enduring myths about his life and why people were so willing to believe them, or to suspend their disbelief.Thirteen years after his death, his books continue to sell, and his legend  grows ever larger. He’s created a place for himself in crime history alongside Ned Kelly that his true story does not justify. What in the Australian psyche did Read understand when weaving his tales, and did he have an unspoken agreement with his audience?    If you have a story about Chopper email me here   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

She lived a life of drugs, crime and prison, married to a major heroin dealer and surrounded by the trappings of wealth. But behind the money and glamour, Elizabeth — not her real name — knew little of love, safety or happiness. When her husband suddenly vanished, presumed murdered, her world collapsed. The money disappeared, addiction tightened its grip, and Elizabeth spiralled towards rock bottom. Yet somehow, after decades trapped in a destructive cycle of addiction and crime, she found the strength to turn her life around. It's a remarkable journey through addiction, loss and despair to redemption, faith and the power of hope — and a reminder that even the most damaged lives can be rebuilt. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For two years, Queensland police officer Jason Somerville lived a dangerous double life. Under the assumed identity of Michael Bates, he posed as a heroin dealer, infiltrated Brisbane's drug trade, befriended hardened criminals and earned their trust to gather evidence against them. He even went undercover in a police cell to obtain a confession from an accused double murderer. But living a lie comes at a price. When the operations ended, Somerville discovered that leaving his undercover identity behind was far harder than adopting it. The constant danger, deception and paranoia had taken a psychological toll. His marriage eventually collapsed, and the effects of his undercover years followed him long after the operations were over. Jason discusses his new book, Undercurrent: The Hidden Cost of Going Undercover, revealing the close calls, moral dilemmas and personal sacrifices involved in infiltrating Australia's criminal underworld. https://artists.australianculturalfund.org.au/s/project/a2EMn00000k7A78   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The alleged attack on Helen Haines has shocked Australia and raised urgent questions about the safety of our elected representatives. How do we protect politicians while keeping them accessible to the communities they serve? Adam Shand examines the threatening language poisoning public debate and reflects on his own approach to handling vile comments on social media. With the accused’s motive still to be established, this is a call to consider the conversations we create—and our responsibility when anger becomes an invitation to violence. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former police officer Amanda Schultz has spent years questioning the official finding that her father, Detective Inspector Geoffrey “Whit” Whitford, took his own life. The highly respected Whitford was found dead from a gunshot wound at a remote South Australian beach in October 1981. His death was officially ruled a suicide by police without a formal coronial inquest, backed by a sealed 30-year coronial report. Whitford led a covert organised crime and drug taskforce targeting the marijuana and heroin trade. Amanda discusses the evidence she believes doesn’t fit the accepted account, what her father may have known through his police work—and why she continues to fight for a fresh investigation into his death. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ivan Milat murdered seven young backpackers in the Belanglo State Forest. But were those his only victims? Investigative journalist Camille Bianchi joins Adam Shand to discuss her gripping new podcast, Back to the Wall, which explores disturbing allegations linking Australia's most notorious serial killer to the dark underworld of Sydney's Kings Cross. In the 1980s and 1990s, vulnerable streetkids gathered at a place known simply as the Wall. Some disappeared. Others survived with stories of predators, powerful men and secrets that have remained buried for decades. As a New South Wales inquiry examines allegations about Milat's activities before his arrest, Bianchi tracks down witnesses whose accounts challenge the accepted history. Were opportunities to investigate serious crimes missed? Who knew what was happening? And how much of the truth can still be uncovered? A confronting conversation about missing children, institutional failures and the survivors who are finally finding their voices. Follow and listen to Back to the Wall here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A photograph, a bare wedding finger and a possible message. Adam Shand examines Snezana Wood’s first reported public appearance since her husband Sam was charged with domestic violence offences. Is this a declaration of independence, or are we reading too much into the picture? Beyond the tabloid signals lie serious questions about prosecution, family support and access to justice. Wood denies the allegations, which remain unproven. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Part Two of Kyle Madden's story, he returns to jail to find a darker more brutal environment where the old rules are breaking down. He must form strong bonds with jail gangs and fighting for survival becomes the norm. Once free again, it's only a matter of time before he's back inside, especially as his offending becomes more serious and violent. He comes to place no value on life until the loss of his unborn son and he finally begins to take responsibility for his choices. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A special double episode on the journey of former Sydney criminal Kyle Madden from an underworld heavy to a new life beyond crime. In Part One, Kyle is jailed for a home invasion that results in the shooting of an innocent bystander. After his first stint, jail becomes a revolving door for Kyle as family and personal relationships break down. In custody, Kyle aligns himself with heavy crooks and begins building his criminal network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christa Pike survived Tennessee’s attempt to execute her. Should the state be allowed to try again? From the Desk, Adam Shand examines the legal precedent, the English legend of mercy after a failed hanging, and the moral limits of capital punishment. Even if another execution attempt is lawful, does that make it right? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.