The Veil

A professor of false confessions who said no, then yes. A diagnosis nobody had looked for in twenty years. Five judges in London. In the final part of The Boy in the Chair, Teina Pora's case reaches the Privy Council, a retired judge goes through every piece of evidence ever used against him, and the man who said he'd never met him finally stands trial for Susan Burdett's murder.SUBSCRIBE Hear every series on the day it launches, ad free, plus all my other shows and bonus episodes: https://guilt.supportingcast.fm/A NOTE ON SOURCING This series draws on the Privy Council's 2015 judgment, the 2016 reports of Hon Rodney Hansen QC to the Minister of Justice, later court decisions, contemporaneous reporting, and Michael Bennett's book In Dark Places. Where the official record and other accounts differ, we have followed the official record.THE BOOK In Dark Places: The Confessions of Teina Pora and an Ex Cop's Fight for Justice, by Michael Bennett (Paul Little Books, 2016). Winner of the 2017 Ngaio Marsh Award for best non fiction. Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DUTFV38SOURCES Pora v The Queen [2015] UKPC 9: https://jcpc.uk/uploads/jcpc_2013_0081_judgment_2c64906342.pdf Hon Rodney Hansen QC, innocence report (23 March 2016) and quantum report (31 May 2016), Ministry of Justice R v Rewa [2019] NZHC 577 (sentencing notes, Venning J) Rewa v R [2024] NZSC 28: https://www.courtsofnz.govt.nz/assets/cases/2024/2024-NZSC-28.pdf NZ Herald (Phil Taylor), "'Innocent man' in jail 20 years", 19 May 2012 NZ Herald (Phil Taylor), "Teina Pora's first interview: 'I forgive you, man'", 24 May 2015: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/teina-poras-first-interview-i-forgive-you-man/7BU7NPU4OYXAMCZQX5MCYS57CU/ RNZ, "Teina Pora freed from jail on parole", 14 April 2014: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/241609/teina-pora-freed-from-jail-on-parole RNZ, "Pora lawyer argues confession false", 5 November 2014: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/258578/pora-lawyer-argues-confession-false RNZ, "Privy Council reserves Pora decision", 6 November 2014: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/258692/privy-council-reserves-pora-decision RNZ, "Teina Pora's convictions quashed", 4 March 2015: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/267664/teina-pora's-convictions-quashed RNZ, "How justice for Susan Burdett took 27 years", 22 February 2019: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/in-depth/383186/how-justice-for-susan-burdett-took-27-yearsSUPPORT If this series has raised anything for you, support is available in New Zealand: Safe to Talk (sexual harm helpline): 0800 044 334, text 4334 Need to talk? Call or text 1737 Women's Refuge: 0800 REFUGE (0800 733 843) Family Violence Information Line: 0800 456 450 In an emergency, call 111.If you have information about a crime, contact Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or Police on 105.The Veil is a Brevity Studios production. theguiltpodcast.com | brevityplus.comWhile some dramatic license is taken during the retelling of these stories, but you can be sure that these true crime stories are all based 100% on real events and facts.If you would like to suggest a case, you can message us via our website at www.brevityplus.comSubscribers get ad free listening to The Veil and all of our podcasts. Please consider subscribing to support our work.This podcast is researched, and written by the Brevity Studios team using AI tools, and is narrated in its entirety by - Ryan Wolf. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2000, with a serial rapist already convicted of raping Susan Burdett, a second jury found Teina Pora guilty of her murder. Nine years later, a former detective who'd once heard the case argued over in police circles picked up the phone, and went looking for the evidence that had convicted him.In Part Two of The Boy in the Chair, we follow the witnesses who tied Teina to Malcolm Rewa, the blue leaf earrings, the affidavits that took that case apart, and the long lost police interview tapes, including the night Teina was driven to Pah Road and couldn't find the house.SUBSCRIBEHear every part of this series on the day it launches, ad free, plus all my other shows and bonus episodes: https://guilt.supportingcast.fm/A NOTE ON SOURCINGThis series draws on the Privy Council's 2015 judgment, the 2016 reports of Hon Rodney Hansen QC to the Minister of Justice, later court decisions, contemporaneous reporting, and Michael Bennett's book In Dark Places. Where the official record and other accounts differ, we have followed the official record.THE BOOKIn Dark Places: The Confessions of Teina Pora and an Ex Cop's Fight for Justice, by Michael Bennett (Paul Little Books, 2016). Winner of the 2017 Ngaio Marsh Award for best non fiction.Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DUTFV38SOURCESPora v The Queen [2015] UKPC 9: https://jcpc.uk/uploads/jcpc_2013_0081_judgment_2c64906342.pdfHon Rodney Hansen QC, Report on the compensation claim by Teina Anthony Pora (innocence report, 23 March 2016) and quantum report (31 May 2016), Ministry of Justice: https://www.justice.govt.nz/assets/pora-teina-compensation-claim-innocence-report.pdfRewa v R [2024] NZSC 28: https://www.courtsofnz.govt.nz/assets/cases/2024/2024-NZSC-28.pdfCourt of Appeal of New Zealand, Annual Reports 1999 and 2000Independent Police Conduct Authority, report on Police handling of investigations into Malcolm Rewa (July 2014)NZ Herald (Phil Taylor), "Susan Burdett: Did the police bungle this murder case?": https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/susan-burdett-did-the-police-bungle-this-murder-case/7NHBZOBDCIPHFUZEC7ENEIS2KA/NZ Herald (Phil Taylor), "Teina Pora's first interview: 'I forgive you, man'", 24 May 2015: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/teina-poras-first-interview-i-forgive-you-man/7BU7NPU4OYXAMCZQX5MCYS57CU/Woman's Day, "Whanau heals Teina Pora's heart", March 2016: https://www.nowtolove.co.nz/news/real-life/exclusive-whanau-heals-teina-poras-heart-24371/SUPPORTIf this episode has raised anything for you, support is available in New Zealand:Safe to Talk (sexual harm helpline): 0800 044 334, text 4334Need to talk? Call or text 1737Women's Refuge: 0800 REFUGE (0800 733 843)Family Violence Information Line: 0800 456 450In an emergency, call 111.If you have information about a crime, contact Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or Police on 105.The Veil is a Brevity Studios production. theguiltpodcast.com | brevityplus.comWhile some dramatic license is taken during the retelling of these stories, but you can be sure that these true crime stories are all based 100% on real events and facts.If you would like to suggest a case, you can message us via our website at www.brevityplus.comSubscribers get ad free listening to The Veil and all of our podcasts. Please consider subscribing to support our work.This podcast is researched, and written by the Brevity Studios team using AI tools, and is narrated in its entirety by - Ryan Wolf. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On a Monday night in March 1992, Susan Burdett came home from bowling to her unit on Pah Road in Papatoetoe. About twenty minutes later, her neighbour heard the thuds. A year later to the day, a seventeen year old car thief from Otara was charged with her rape and murder, on the strength of his own confession.In Part One of The Boy in the Chair, our new feature series, we follow the investigation into Susan's death, the family members who pointed police toward Teina Pora, the reward that hung over a police interview room in Otahuhu, and the arrest, three years later, of a serial rapist who said he'd never met him.SUBSCRIBEHear every part of this series on the day it launches, ad free, plus all my other shows and bonus episodes: https://guilt.supportingcast.fm/A NOTE ON SOURCINGThis series draws on the Privy Council's 2015 judgment, the 2016 reports of Hon Rodney Hansen QC to the Minister of Justice, later court decisions, contemporaneous reporting, and Michael Bennett's book In Dark Places. Where the official record and other accounts differ, we have followed the official record.THE BOOKIn Dark Places: The Confessions of Teina Pora and an Ex Cop's Fight for Justice, by Michael Bennett (Paul Little Books, 2016). Winner of the 2017 Ngaio Marsh Award for best non fiction.Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DUTFV38SOURCESPora v The Queen [2015] UKPC 9: https://jcpc.uk/uploads/jcpc_2013_0081_judgment_2c64906342.pdfHon Rodney Hansen QC, Report on the compensation claim by Teina Anthony Pora (innocence report, 23 March 2016) and quantum report (31 May 2016), Ministry of JusticeR v Rewa [2019] NZHC 577 (sentencing notes, Venning J): https://www.justice.govt.nz/jdo_documents/workspace___SpacesStore_6f7d3da5_bbf3_4056_abba_eff950e2bf7e.pdfRewa v R [2024] NZSC 28: https://www.courtsofnz.govt.nz/assets/cases/2024/2024-NZSC-28.pdfIndependent Police Conduct Authority, report on Police handling of investigations into Malcolm Rewa (July 2014)RNZ, "Burdett's son denies lawyer's accusation he killed his mother", 12 February 2019: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/382312/burdett-s-son-denies-lawyer-s-accusation-he-killed-his-motherRNZ, "How justice for Susan Burdett took 27 years", 22 February 2019: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/in-depth/383186/how-justice-for-susan-burdett-took-27-yearsNZ Herald (Phil Taylor), "Susan Burdett: Did the police bungle this murder case?": https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/susan-burdett-did-the-police-bungle-this-murder-case/7NHBZOBDCIPHFUZEC7ENEIS2KA/SUPPORTIf this episode has raised anything for you, support is available in New Zealand:Safe to Talk (sexual harm helpline): 0800 044 334, text 4334Need to talk? Call or text 1737Women's Refuge: 0800 REFUGE (0800 733 843)Family Violence Information Line: 0800 456 450In an emergency, call 111.If you have information about a crime, contact Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or Police on 105.The Veil is a Brevity Studios production. theguiltpodcast.com | brevityplus.comWhile some dramatic license is taken during the retelling of these stories, but you can be sure that these true crime stories are all based 100% on real events and facts.If you would like to suggest a case, you can message us via our website at www.brevityplus.comSubscribers get ad free listening to The Veil and all of our podcasts. Please consider subscribing to support our work.This podcast is researched, and written by the Brevity Studios team using AI tools, and is narrated in its entirety by - Ryan Wolf. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On 9 August 2011, in a room at the Hyatt in Perth, the boss of the gang Brett Cowan had worked for all winter asked him a simple question. After nearly eight years of denials, Cowan answered it. Days later he led his new friends to the places where it had happened, police were waiting, and the search for Daniel Morcombe finally had somewhere to look. This final part follows the arrest, the search through the bushland and creek at Glass House Mountains, the trial that asked whether a confession made to undercover police could be trusted, and the family who never gave up until they brought their son home.This is the final part of a three part series. If you’re on the free feed, Parts One and Two are available now.SUBSCRIBEOne Brevity Studios subscription unlocks every part of every series on the day it launches, plus all of Guilt: https://guilt.supportingcast.fm/FURTHER READINGKate Kyriacou, The Sting: The Undercover Operation That Caught Daniel Morcombe’s Killer (Echo Publishing). Many of the words you heard from inside the operation come from this book, which was built on the operation’s own recordings and the people who ran it. Highly recommended: https://booktopia.com.au/the-sting-kate-kyriacou/book/9781760681036.htmlTHE DANIEL MORCOMBE FOUNDATIONBruce and Denise Morcombe founded the Daniel Morcombe Foundation in 2005 to teach children how to keep themselves safe. Every year on the last Friday in October, schools across Australia wear red for Day for Daniel. Learn more about their work: https://danielmorcombe.com.auSupport the foundation: https://danielmorcombe.com.au/get-involved/A NOTE ON SOURCINGBrett Peter Cowan was convicted in March 2014 of the murder of Daniel Morcombe, indecent treatment of a child under sixteen and interfering with a corpse. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a non-parole period of twenty years. His appeal, and the Attorney-General’s appeal against sentence, were dismissed by the Queensland Court of Appeal in May 2015, and the High Court refused special leave in March 2016. The State Coroner delivered findings in April 2019. The undercover officers are referred to only by their cover names. The confession and the account of Daniel’s death are given as recorded in the Court of Appeal judgment. The defence case is described as it was put at trial; no alternative suspect is named. Cowan’s relatives, former partners and the couple connected to his alibi are not named. Dialogue from inside the operation is drawn from covert recordings as quoted in the court judgments and in Kate Kyriacou’s The Sting. As of late October 2026, no one else has been charged in connection with Daniel’s death.This episode contains strong language from recorded conversations.SOURCESR v Cowan [2013] QSC 337, 12 Dec 2013R v Cowan; R v Cowan; Ex parte Attorney-General (Qld) [2015] QCA 87, 21 May 2015Cowan v The Queen [2016] HCATrans 57, 11 Mar 2016Coroners Court of Queensland, findings of inquest into the death of Daniel James Morcombe, State Coroner Terry Ryan, 5 Apr 2019Queensland Government ministerial statement on Day for Daniel, 29 Oct 2025Kate Kyriacou, The Sting (Echo Publishing, 2015)ABC News and AAP, coverage of the arrest, search, committal, trial, verdict and funeral, 2011 to 2014ABC News, Daniel’s Law public register, 2025Newcastle Herald, 2023 (interview with Bruce Morcombe)SUPPORTThis series deals with the abduction and murder of a child. If it raises anything for you: Lifeline 13 11 14 (Australia), Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (Australia), 1737 (New Zealand).COMING NEXTThe next feature series on The Veil heads home to South Auckland in 1992, to the murder of Susan Burdett, and the teenager who confessed to a crime he didn’t commit.Written and hosted by Ryan Wolf. Researched with AI assistance and fact-checked against the court judgments and coronial findings. A Brevity Studios production. https://theguiltpodcast.com | https://brevityplus.comWhile some dramatic license is taken during the retelling of these stories, but you can be sure that these true crime stories are all based 100% on real events and facts.If you would like to suggest a case, you can message us via our website at www.brevityplus.comSubscribers get ad free listening to The Veil and all of our podcasts. Please consider subscribing to support our work.This podcast is researched, and written by the Brevity Studios team using AI tools, and is narrated in its entirety by - Ryan Wolf. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

5, 4, 3, 2, 1: The Incredible True Story of How Australian Police Trapped Daniel Morcombe’s Killer, Part Two of ThreeIn April 2011, days after giving evidence at the inquest into Daniel Morcombe’s disappearance, Brett Cowan flew home to Perth and made a new friend on the plane. Within weeks he was out of work, out of a home and running jobs for what he believed was a powerful criminal organisation: debt collections, gun deliveries, brothel takings and a bag of diamonds worth close to a million dollars. The gang paid him, praised him and told him there was nothing in the world it couldn’t fix. He called it the first family he’d ever had. Every member of it was a police officer, and every word he said was being recorded. Then a notice arrived from the Coroners Court in Brisbane, and the man at the top of the gang asked to see him.This is Part Two of a three part series. Subscribers have all three parts now. On the free feed, Part Three, The Confession, is out Friday.SUBSCRIBEOne Brevity Studios subscription unlocks every part of every series on the day it launches, plus all of Guilt: https://guilt.supportingcast.fm/FURTHER READINGKate Kyriacou, The Sting: The Undercover Operation That Caught Daniel Morcombe’s Killer (Echo Publishing). This series relies heavily on Kate’s reporting, and her book is highly recommended: https://booktopia.com.au/the-sting-kate-kyriacou/book/9781760681036.htmlTHE DANIEL MORCOMBE FOUNDATIONBruce and Denise Morcombe founded the Daniel Morcombe Foundation in 2005 to teach children how to keep themselves safe. Learn more about their work: https://danielmorcombe.com.auSupport the foundation: https://danielmorcombe.com.au/get-involved/A NOTE ON SOURCINGBrett Peter Cowan was convicted in 2014 of the murder of Daniel Morcombe. His appeal was dismissed by the Queensland Court of Appeal in 2015 and the High Court refused special leave in 2016. The undercover officers in this episode are referred to only by their cover names. Every crime Cowan took part in during the operation was staged, and every debtor, sex worker and official he met was a police officer; no real offences were committed. Dialogue from the operation is drawn from covert recordings as quoted in the court judgments and in Kate Kyriacou’s The Sting. Where those accounts differ, the court record is followed. Cowan’s own claims and stories recorded during the operation are presented as his words, and none of the evidence connects them to anyone else. The Coroners Court notice to attend was genuine; the trial judge found it was not a ploy. Private individuals, including Cowan’s former partners and girlfriend, are not named.This episode contains strong language from recorded conversations.SOURCESR v Cowan [2013] QSC 337, 12 Dec 2013R v Cowan; R v Cowan; Ex parte Attorney-General (Qld) [2015] QCA 87, 21 May 2015Coroners Court of Queensland, findings of inquest into the death of Daniel James Morcombe, State Coroner Terry Ryan, 5 Apr 2019Cowan v The Queen [2016] HCATrans 57, 11 Mar 2016Kate Kyriacou, The Sting (Echo Publishing, 2015)SBS News / AAP, trial coverage, 2014SUPPORTThis series deals with the abduction and murder of a child. If it raises anything for you: Lifeline 13 11 14 (Australia), Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (Australia), 1737 (New Zealand).Written and hosted by Ryan Wolf. Researched with AI assistance and fact-checked against the court judgments and coronial findings.A Brevity Studios production. https://theguiltpodcast.com | https://brevityplus.comWhile some dramatic license is taken during the retelling of these stories, but you can be sure that these true crime stories are all based 100% on real events and facts.If you would like to suggest a case, you can message us via our website at www.brevityplus.comSubscribers get ad free listening to The Veil and all of our podcasts. Please consider subscribing to support our work.This podcast is researched, and written by the Brevity Studios team using AI tools, and is narrated in its entirety by - Ryan Wolf. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.