The Case Of

Immediately following his guilty verdict, Croc Wrangler Matt Wright stood on the Darwin court steps and said he would appeal. His legal team has now made good on that promise, and we have all the details. In this episode, ABC Darwin court reporter Olivana Lathouris joins Stephen Stockwell to explain the appeal grounds, including the alleged mistake Wright's lawyers say the judge made. We also have...

Throughout The Case of the Romance Scam, you've sent in heaps of questions, asking things like why Donna Nelson is in solitary confinement, what happened to the man she was going to visit and why the court sketches looked so different. In this episode, North Asia Correspondent James Oaten and Australian Story producer Olivia Rousset join Stephen Stockwell to answer all your questions, complete wit...

In an administrative hearing today, Erin Patterson's legal team confirmed her plans to appeal her murder conviction. In this episode, Kristian Silva joins Stephen Stockwell to explain what we learnt from this hearing, how Patterson's appeal could unfold and the new faces on her legal team If you've got questions about the case that you'd like Kristian and Stocky to answer in future episodes, send...

Even though Donna Nelson's appeal has failed, it's opened the door to diplomacy that could get her back to Australia. In this episode, North Asia Correspondent James Oaten and Australian Story producer Olivia Rousset join Stephen Stockwell to discuss how Donna's family took the appeal dismissal and the next steps in their fight to get her out of prison in Japan. To catch up on The Case of the Roma...

Desperate to overturn her drug trafficking conviction, Donna Nelson lodged an appeal with the Japanese courts. Today they handed down their decision. In this mini-episode, North Asia Correspondent James Oaten joins Stephen Stockwell from outside the appeal court with the decision and an explanation of what comes next. To catch up on The Case of the Romance Scam you can listen back here: Episode on...

After her trial, the judges retired to consider Donna Nelson's fate. Then came the moment Donna and her family feared the most. In this episode, James Oaten and Olivia Rousset join Stephen Stockwell to talk through the verdict, and the appeal she's now hanging her hope on. If you have any questions you'd like James, Olivia and Stocky to answer in future episodes, please email thecaseof@abc.net.au...

Japan’s legal system has a 99% conviction rate, so Donna Nelson and her family knew she had a hard case to argue. But when they saw the judge become tearful about Donna’s experience, a window of hope appeared.  In the second episode of the Romance Scam, James Oaten and Olivia Rousset join Stephen Stockwell to explain how Donna Nelson’s drug trafficking trial unfolded, her conditions in prison, and...

Perth woman Donna Nelson said she was going to Japan to meet the man she was going to marry. Instead, she was arrested at a Tokyo airport, carrying two kilograms of methamphetamine. While Japanese prosecutors say Donna was a drug mule, her family says she was the victim of a prolonged romance scam. Later this month, judges will deliver their judgement on Donna Nelson's appeal — her last chance to...

During any trial we're limited in what we can say, but now the jury has found Matt Wright guilty of two counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice, we're off the chain. In this episode Olivana Lathouris and Matt Garrick join Stephen Stockwell to talk through some of the surprising moments, what evidence we thought hit hardest and what made this trial so sad. Also, Oli reveals a bit abou...

Some of the best questions we get are ones we can't answer during the trial because they haven't been addressed before the jury. Finally, now we can. In this episode Olivana Lathouris and Matt Garrick dive into The Case Of mailbag and explain if Matt Wright could still be found responsible for the helicopter crash, the legalities of police bugs and why croc eggs are collected in the wild (with Exe...

Erin Patterson has been sentenced to life in prison, but Justice Christopher Beale has left a light on with the option of parole after 33 years. In this episode Kristian Silva and Rachael Brown join Stephen Stockwell to explain Justice Beale's reasons for the sentence, why he left the door open for parole and whether Erin Patterson is likely to appeal. If you've got questions about the case that y...

The Northern Territory courts have been dealing with the fallout from the helicopter crash that killed Chris Wilson for years before this trial. In this episode, Olivana Lathouris and Matt Garrick join Stephen Stockwell to explain the other charges brought following the crash — including against another helicopter pilot and an off-duty cop — and what the transport regulator found caused it in the...

Now that the jury has delivered its verdict, the suppression of pre-trial hearings and nail-biting legal arguments during the trial has lifted. In this episode, Stephen Stockwell, Olivana Lathouris and Matt Garrick reveal the moments that almost ended the trial, that prompted aggressive questioning and led to some surprising friendships. If you have any questions you'd like Oli and Stocky to answe...

The jury has reached its verdict in the trial of croc wrangler Matt Wright — but not without a twist. In this episode, reporters Olivana Lathouris and Matt Garrick join Stephen Stockwell to take you inside the courtroom as the decision was handed down and discuss what comes next for Matt Wright. If you have any questions you'd like Oli and Stocky to answer in future episodes, please email thecaseo...

The jury has begun deliberations in the trial of Matt Wright, after three days of closing arguments and judge's directions. In this episode, Stephen Stockwell, Olivana Lathouris and Matthew Garrick step through the key arguments each side made regarding whether to convict or acquit the former Territory face of tourism, Matt Wright, for attempting to pervert the course of justice. If you have any q...

Mushroom Case Daily reporters Kristian Silva and Rachael Brown join Stephen Stockwell for a breakdown of Erin Patterson's plea hearing. Seven weeks after her guilty verdict, Patterson has returned to court to face her victims — the sole survivor of the deadly lunch, Ian Wilkinson; her estranged husband Simon Patterson, and other family members. In this episode, we talk through the victim impact st...

Covert recordings of croc wrangler Matt Wright allegedly discussing the destruction of a helicopter maintenance document have been played to the court as his trial nears its end. In this episode reporter Olivana Lathouris joins Stephen Stockwell to talk through the key moments of these recordings and the next stages as the prosecution closes its case against Matt Wright. If you have any questions...

In a flurry of activity following the 2022 fatal chopper crash, witnesses have described conflicting accounts of who did what. Specifically, who moved what: a logbook, a document and a diary. In this episode reporters Olivana Lathouris and Matt Garrick join Stephen Stockwell to talk through scenes from pilot Sebastian Robinson's hospital room and his cottage, as well as Matt Wright's defence team'...

Pilot Sebastian Robinson has spent a gruelling four days in the witness box, giving evidence against his former employer, TV star Matt Wright. In this episode, Olivana Lathouris and Stephen Stockwell break down the examination of this key witness: the survivor of the fatal chopper crash that is at the heart of Matt Wright's trial. Sebastian Robinson's evidence included details of the life-altering...

A deadly helicopter crash in February 2022 during a croc egg collection mission set in train the events that led to Matt Wright being charged with three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice. In this episode, Olivana Lathouris, Matt Garrick and Stephen Stockwell explain how one of the Northern Territory's richest men and a senior off-duty police officer ended up at the crash, and w...

Celebrity croc wrangler Matt Wright is facing three very specific charges relating to an alleged cover up of evidence. We explain what they are, as well as his alleged motive. In this episode, Darwin court reporter Olivana Lathouris and Stephen Stockwell unpack the prosecution's case against Matt Wright, and how his legal team will defend the charges. We also answer our first curious listener ques...

It's the trial everyone in Darwin is talking about. In February 2022 a helicopter on a crocodile egg collection mission crashed in remote Arnhem Land, killing the egg collector and paralysing the pilot. NT Croc Wrangler Matt Wright isn't on trial for the crash, but for what allegedly he did after. Charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice, prosecutors say he tried to interfere with...

Police knew Erin Patterson was being deceptive about her lunch preparation early in their investigation, but they kept a straight face.   In today’s episode, we bring you audio of moments in Patterson's police interview where she lied, and police knew it.  Rachael Brown and Stephen Stockwell also talk through the next key dates in the case, and deliver a correction regarding an earlier episode’s c...

Allegations of prior poisonings, a mysterious cat story, and a survivor's hallucinations. These are just some of the things that have been suppressed from media reporting until today. Now that the restriction has been lifted, we can finally reveal many other things the jury didn't hear in Erin Patterson's triple murder trial as well. In this episode, Rachael Brown, Kristian Silva and Stephen Stock...

You asked, we answered. As the trial of Erin Patterson wrapped up, you made it clear we should keep making this podcast. So we decided we will, and from this weekend it will become The Case Of. We're keeping this window into the justice system open, using this feed to continue being your eyes and ears in the courtroom for high-profile Australian trials. around the country. Listen to this short dro...