Real Crime with Adam Shand

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.