The Case Of

The jury in the murder trial of Rajwinder Singh is walking up Wangetti Beach, where Toyah Cordingley's body was found in 2018. In this special episode we take you there too. With waves crashing in the background, Chris Testa speaks to Stephen Stockwell from the beach, explaining what the jury saw, how the excursion worked and whether the robes and wigs of the courtroom made the journey too. If you...

Rajwinder Singh is the victim of "wrong place, wrong time", his defence counsel says. In opening statements, barrister Gregory McGuire offered an explanation for Mr Singh leaving the country so soon after Toyah Cordingley's murder. In this episode, Chris Testa joins Stephen Stockwell in Cairns to talk through opening statements and cross examinations from Mr Singh's legal team, including suggestio...

Prosecutor Nathan Crane has alleged 41-year-old nurse Rajwinder Singh fled the country the day after killing Toyah Cordingley in a confrontation on Wangetti beach. Mr Crane's opening address outlined the prosecution's case against Mr Singh, who will fight the murder charge in a three-week trial, with a freshly empaneled jury in Cairns. In this episode, Stephen Stockwell joins Christopher Testa in...

You can't spend too long in Far North Queensland without spotting a bumper sticker bearing the name "Toyah". This week, The Case Of is in Cairns to follow the long-awaited trial for Toyah Cordingley's alleged killer, Rajwinder Singh. Rajwinder Singh, 41, has pleaded not guilty to one count of murder. In this episode, ABC Far North Queensland reporter Christopher Testa and Stephen Stockwell talk th...

In 2018, 24-year-old Toyah Cordingley went for a walk with her dog on one of north Queensland's idyllic beaches. The next morning, her body was found buried in the sand. Next week, her accused killer will stand trial before a jury in Cairns. The defendant, Rajwinder Singh, denies the charges. The Case of Toyah's Murder will be your eyes and ears inside the Cairns Supreme Court as the trial of Rajw...

Disputed evidence, oppressive questioning and jury bungles are just some of the grounds for appeal Erin Patterson has outlined in her application to the Supreme Court of Victoria. The convicted triple-murderer filed the application on the final day of the appeal period, claiming a substantial miscarriage of justice had occurred during her now infamous mushroom murders trial. In this episode, ABC c...

As the Easey Street committal hearing is on hold, we reflect on the evidence so far and answer your questions, with investigative reporter Rachael Brown returning to the pod. Rachael also shares her reactions to triple-murderer Erin Patterson's appeal application, filed this week. If you have any questions you'd like answered in future episodes, please email thecaseof@abc.net.au . The Case Of is t...

Neighbours on Easey Street have given evidence along with a former homicide detective, in the second day of the committal hearing for accused killer Perry Kouroumblis. In this episode, ABC reporter Alexandra Alvaro joins Stephen Stockwell to talk through the key moments in court, including hints at the other men in the picture that Perry Kouroumblis's defence team have focused on.  They also answe...

The prosecution has detailed the graphic crime scene on Easey Street, on the first day of a committal hearing for alleged murderer Perry Kouroumblis. Reporter Alexandra Alvaro joins Stephen Stockwell to talk through the events in court, including a legal battle over whether media could report on DNA evidence allegedly linking accused Perry Kouroumblis to the scene. Also, we answer your questions a...

Last year a man was arrested in Italy, charged over the murders of Suzanne Armstrong and Susan Bartlett in Melbourne, almost 50 years ago. Tomorrow the path to his potential trial begins in a Melbourne Magistrates Court. In this episode, ABC Reporter Alexandra Alvaro joins Stephen Stockwell to explain what we know about the crime, what this committal hearing is and who the key players are. If you...

In 1977, two women were brutally murdered in their small Collingwood terrace house. Suzanne Armstrong and Susan Bartlett were stabbed dozens of times, with Suzanne's baby in the next room. The crime went unsolved for decades, leaving the community scarred and confused. But now, almost 50 years later, it's going to court. The Case of the Easey Street Murders will follow the committal hearing of acc...

Snowtown serial killer James Vlassakis was expected to begin his transition to parole on Monday, but there was a hold-up which wasn’t immediately explained.  In this episode, ABC reporters James Wakelin and Rebecca Brice join Stephen Stockwell to discuss the secrecy surrounding the parole and what the next steps are for Vlassakis.  If you have any questions you'd like James, Beck Stocky to answer...

A quarter of a century after being imprisoned, quadruple-murderer James Vlassakis is preparing to begin his parole in Adelaide. He will be based at a pre-release centre, soon to begin the adjustment to modern day life — a very different world to the one he left 26 years ago. In this episode, ABC reporters James Wakelin and Rebecca Brice join Stephen Stockwell to discuss Vlassakis's behaviour and e...

It took 11 months in court to convict two of the Snowtown murderers, John Bunting and Robert Wagner. In that mammoth trial, the core of the prosecution's case was based on evidence from the third murderer: James Vlassakis. In this episode, ABC senior reporter James Wakelin joins Stephen Stockwell to explain how the trials of these murderers unfolded, and how Vlassakis helped convict his co-conspir...

In less than a week from today, Snowtown murderer James Vlassakis is expected to be released on parole. To understand why he's been given this opportunity, we go back to 1999 to understand his role in the serial killings. In this episode, ABC senior reporter James Waklein joins Stephen Stockwell from Adelaide, to describe the day the Snowtown bank vault was opened, and what Vlassakis did after the...

In just over a week, one of the murderers behind Australia's most infamous serial killings is set to be released on parole. The Case Of Snowtown Parole looks at James Vlassakis's role in the killings and why he has been given the opportunity for parole, when it was denied for the other two murderers, and how he will be reintegrated into the community. In this season of The Case Of, Stephen Stockwe...

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...