Felon True Crime

Australia has seen moments when ordinary life was torn apart by sudden violence. In 1942, the mining town of Boulder was struck by bombings that killed fourteen and injured fifteen, carried out by miner Pero Raecivich, whose motives remain unclear. In 1978, Sydney faced the Hilton Hotel bombing. A bomb hidden in a rubbish bin killed three men, injured eleven, and exposed gaps in security during a Commonwealth leaders’ meeting. The legal aftermath raised questions about justice and intelligence failures. Melbourne endured the Russell Street Police bombing in 1986. The attack killed Constable Angela Taylor, injured more than twenty others, and revealed the deadly coordination of criminal networks, reshaping policing in the city. Finally, in 2010, Darwin’s CBD was rocked when Paul Wayne Clarke detonated petrol and fireworks inside the Territory Insurance Office, wounding nineteen. Amid the chaos, civilians and police acted with extraordinary bravery. This episode explores these four bombings—the human toll, the investigations, and the communities forever changed by sudden acts of terror.

1. Domestic Violence Escalates to Murder A woman and her three children were killed in a deliberate act of domestic violence. Investigations later revealed prior reports of abuse, stalking, and threats were not fully acted upon by authorities, raising questions about police inaction and systemic failures. 2. Prisoner Challenges Vegemite Ban A long-term prisoner has launched a legal challenge against a longstanding ban on Vegemite in Victorian correctional facilities, claiming the restriction breaches his cultural rights and wellbeing, sparking debate over prison policies and prisoners’ rights. 3. Australian Tourists Killed Abroad Two brothers were murdered during a trip overseas, with the accused facing extremely long prison sentences. The case involves allegations of violent robbery, cartel connections, and multiple accomplices, highlighting the dangers faced by Australians traveling abroad. 4. Hit-and-Run Fatality A former lawyer was sentenced for causing a fatal hit-and-run while intoxicated, leaving the pedestrian dead and fleeing the scene. The case underscores the consequences of reckless driving and drink-driving offences. 5. Police Shooting in Queensland Police shot and killed a man after he stabbed one person and threatened another. Investigations are ongoing, with oversight from multiple agencies, including the Crime and Corruption Commission. 6. Police Use of Excessive Force in Sydney A coroner found police used unreasonable force in a fatal shooting following a pursuit. The incident exposed issues with proactive policing, use of body-worn cameras, and procedural failures. 7. Teen Murder in Melbourne A teenager was sentenced for a brutal attack on a 14-year-old, involving a stolen vehicle, machetes, and multiple wounds. The case highlights the severity of youth-perpetrated violent crime. 8. Grisly Regional Murder Trial An elderly man was found murdered, with mutilation and images carved into his body. The trial focuses on alleged confessions and DNA evidence linking the accused to the crime. 9. Cold Case: Missing Schoolboy A boy disappeared in the 1970s, with evidence pointing to a nearby mine shaft. Family-led searches continue, frustrated by lack of government funding, highlighting challenges in resolving decades-old cold cases. 10. Fatal Rural Shooting in Queensland Three people ambushed police during a missing persons call, killing officers. Coronial findings revealed the perpetrators suffered from severe delusional disorder, and recommendations aim to improve law enforcement responses to such threats. 11. Toddler Stolen from Vehicle A young child was taken from an unlocked, running car and later found unharmed in a box. Police arrested the perpetrator, who faces multiple charges, highlighting risks to children in seemingly everyday situations.

1. Toyah Cordingley Murder Trial – Cairns, QLD Rajwinder Singh, 41, is on trial for the murder of 24-year-old animal shelter volunteer Toyah Cordingley, whose body was found buried at Wangetti Beach with stab wounds and a slashed throat on October 22, 2018. Singh’s sudden flight to India, combined with mobile tower data, traffic camera footage, DNA evidence, and his vehicle, forms the basis of the Crown case, while the trial also examined the movements and alibi of Cordingley’s boyfriend, Marco Heidenreich. The case continues, with covert recordings yet to be heard. 2. Ray McCormack Murder – Wollongong, NSW Aaron Michael Lord, 38, was found not criminally responsible for the murder of 68-year-old homeless man Ray McCormack, whose body was discovered in a train station stairwell on May 12, 2024. Evidence, including security footage and psychological reports, confirmed Lord, diagnosed with schizophrenia, attacked McCormack under the influence of persistent hallucinations. The court acknowledged the tragic circumstances, and Lord remains in custody under the Mental Health Review Tribunal. 3. Ms Skeen Murder – Jilkminggan, NT Steven John, 48, was found guilty of murdering his wife, Ms Skeen, during a drunken domestic dispute in July 2023, despite his claim of provocation. The court highlighted the disproportionate nature of the attack, shaped by alcohol abuse and intergenerational domestic violence, and John received a life sentence with a 20-year non-parole period. 4. Gordon Kessey Stabbing – Bega, NSW Gordon Kessey was fatally stabbed on October 6, 2025, during an altercation between known parties in Bega. Police have conducted searches, recovered a secondary weapon and devices, and investigated a possible link to a house fire, but no arrests have been made and the investigation remains ongoing. 5. Brenton Young / Shantelle Nielsen – Port Pirie, SA Brenton Young was initially reported as murdered on October 3, 2025, leading to charges against his partner Shantelle Nielsen, which were later dropped after a post-mortem confirmed a heart attack. The case’s mishandling caused public criticism, and Nielsen left Port Pirie due to the psychological impact of false accusations. 6. Michael Simon Wilson – Hoppers Crossing, VIC Michael Simon Wilson pleaded not guilty to over 60 charges, including rape and child abuse material, on November 14, 2025. The case will return to court in December, with a trial expected in 2026, and has led to broader investigations revealing offences by former childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown. 7. Bradley Wilkinson – Blackett, NSW Bradley Wilkinson was sentenced to 16 years in prison, with a 12-year non-parole period, for the June 2024 manslaughter of tradesman Rhyce Harding during a road rage incident in Sydney’s west. CCTV footage confirmed Harding was pinned and dragged under Wilkinson’s ute, and the sentence considered Wilkinson’s remorse and prior violent record. 8. Simone Strobel Cold Case – Lismore, NSW Twenty years after Simone Strobel, a 25-year-old German backpacker, was murdered in Lismore, a coronial inquest confirmed homicide but could not identify the perpetrator. DNA recovered from her clothing is now being re-examined by the NSW Unsolved Homicide Team for renewed investigation. 9. Stanley Obi Inquest – Logan, QLD Stanley Obi died in March 2022 after being doused in fuel and set alight by his former partner, Sarah Mudge. The coronial inquest examined coercive control, systems failures, and gender-based assumptions that left Obi at risk, with findings expected in early 2026. 10. Victoria Youth Crime Law Update – VIC Victoria will treat children aged 14 and over who commit serious violent crimes as adults, with sentences ranging from youth detention to life imprisonment, prioritising community safety while raising concerns about disproportionate impacts on Indigenous youth and adolescent development. 11. Casula Machine Gun Attack – Sydney, NSW A home in Casula was sprayed with over 40 rounds from a high-powered machine gun on November 15, 2025, in a suspected targeted hit. No one was injured, and police are pursuing leads linked to a fleeing black Audi while urging public assistance.

Felon will return shortly with Season Five. The new season is progressing, and release is not far off. Until then, the feed will include a number of shorter episodes — brief examinations of individual cases and incidents that sit outside the main season’s structure. Season Five is on the way. In the meantime, these mini episodes will bridge the gap. This week, we examine three cases where violence was delivered not through force, but through patience, calculation, and substances chosen for their silence. These stories span more than a century, yet each reveals the same unsettling truth: the most deliberate forms of harm are often carried out by those who stand closest.

1. Logan Road Rage Verdict Umar Al Enizi, 24, has been found not guilty of murder over the 2021 death of Troy Vandenberg during a Brisbane road rage incident. The court heard the fatal collision followed escalating confrontations and aggressive behaviour by Vandenberg. The jury accepted Al Enizi acted in self-defence, acquitting him of murder and manslaughter. 2. “Bike Boy” Lawsuit Against Daniel Andrews Ryan Meuleman, who was 17 at the time of a 2013 collision involving Daniel Andrews’ family car, has filed a civil lawsuit against the former Victorian premier and his wife. The case, tied to longstanding controversy over police handling and political influence, alleges serious injuries caused by the Andrews family. Details of the proceedings remain limited. 3. Erin Patterson Appeals Conviction Convicted triple murderer Erin Patterson is appealing her life sentence for the murders of her in-laws and aunt-in-law, as well as the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson. Her legal team argues there were miscarriages of justice in cross-examination, the Crown’s closing address, jury management, and exclusion of forensic evidence. The Supreme Court has accepted the appeal filing. 4. Melbourne Stabbing Incident A 37-year-old man is in critical condition after being stabbed inside his car in Narre Warren. The 52-year-old suspect, known to the victims, allegedly attacked the man, who then crashed into another vehicle. The accused has been charged with intentionally causing serious injury. 5. Sydney Police Officer Stabbed A probationary police officer is in serious condition after being stabbed in the leg with a sword during an arrest in Grasmere. The 20-year-old suspect had also thrown a spear at officers. He has been charged with 11 offences, including attempted murder, and refused bail. 6. Sydney Murder of Claire Austin A 44-year-old man has been charged with the murder and coercive control of 38-year-old Claire Austin, who died after sustaining injuries inside her Randwick unit in April. Strike Force Lyndoch is investigating, and the accused is due in court shortly. 7. Liverpool Murder Conviction Danny Zayat has been found guilty of murdering his ex-girlfriend Tatiana Dokhotaru in Liverpool in 2023. Dokhotaru, 34, was killed in front of her four-year-old son. Zayat faces sentencing in December, with the victim’s friend expected to deliver a statement. 8. Simone Strobel Cold Case An inquest confirms German backpacker Simone Strobel was murdered in 2005 in Lismore, NSW, though her killer remains unknown. The coroner recommended further DNA testing on two unmatched samples. Strobel’s former boyfriend was charged in 2022, but the case remains unsolved despite a $1 million reward. 9. Roberta Williams Speaks on Carl Williams Roberta Williams reflects on her late husband Carl Williams, Melbourne underworld figure, who was murdered in Barwon Prison in 2010. She criticised the circumstances of his death, questioned prison oversight, and described his character, family devotion, and the realities of underworld life. 10. John Versace Murder Charges Two men, aged 19 and 43, have been charged over the May 2025 gangland-style shooting of John Versace in Condell Park. The 43-year-old allegedly staged vehicles and drove the shooter, while the 19-year-old assisted with planning. Versace had no known criminal links, and the case is part of Sydney’s ongoing underworld violence investigations.

From the creator of Felon. A podcast exploring the secrets of the Great Southern Land... Listen to more episodes wherever you get your podcasts. Some roads are ordinary. They take us from point A to point B, lined with familiar landmarks and the comfort of the known. But some roads are different. They carry a weight that cannot be measured in kilometres or signs. They are etched with history, tragedy, and stories that linger long after the last car has passed. These roads seem to remember. Every rut, every bend, every stretch of tar or dirt hums with something older than the traffic that wears it down. On certain nights, when the air is too still and the dark too thick, you can feel it pressing against you—the sense that you are no longer alone. The headlights cut only a narrow path forward, and beyond their glow the world feels watchful, waiting. The silence isn’t empty. It breathes. Along these roads, the ordinary twists into the uncanny. The echoes of past tragedies seep into the present. You catch movement in the periphery of your vision—shadows that gather at the edge of the trees, shapes that vanish when you look too directly. Figures standing by the roadside, pale and patient, as if they’ve been waiting all along. The temperature drops without warning. Your chest tightens. The car feels smaller, fragile, and the road ahead stretches out not as a promise, but as a question: what lies waiting in the dark?

Crime and Justice: Nathan McPherson Murder: In August 2023, Nathan McPherson, 43, was killed in a one-punch attack in Maryborough by Joshua Berrigan, who was already on bail for grievous bodily harm. McPherson fell, hit his head, and died at the scene. Berrigan was sentenced on 27 October 2025 to 10 years in prison, with eligibility for parole in 2032. Eric James Forrest Conviction: Forrest was found guilty of murdering David Collisson, 53, near Mudgee on 25 September 2023, shooting him three times, placing his body in a tree stump, and setting it on fire. Sentencing submissions are scheduled for 27 February 2026. Umar Alkhalifa Al Enizi Trial: A Queensland jury is hearing Al Enizi’s case for the 2021 murder of Troy Vandenberg during a road rage incident. The defence claims self-defence, while the Crown alleges intentional actions. Erin Patterson Appeal: Patterson, convicted of three murders via poisoned food in 2023, has been granted leave to appeal her guilty verdicts in Victoria. Youth Crime and Gang Violence: A coronial report reveals 18 Victorian children killed by knives or machetes in the past four years, 11 linked to gangs, mostly in migrant communities. Hotspots include Melbourne’s northwest suburbs. Coroner Ingrid Giles urges community-led initiatives alongside policing to address youth violence. High-Profile Offender Banned: Dutch Olympian Steven van de Velde, convicted of raping a 12-year-old in 2016, was denied entry to Australia for the Beach Volleyball World Championships in Adelaide in October 2025. The ban prevents the Netherlands from competing and reinforces Australia’s zero-tolerance policy for sex offenders. Firearms and Illegal Guns: The Australia Institute reports that stolen, legally owned firearms are now the main source of illegal guns in Australia, with over 44,600 stolen in the last 21 years. The report calls for tighter gun laws, national registration, and ownership limits. Online Exploitation: Australian police warn of networks of “crimefluencers” coercing young girls into violence online through gaming and messaging platforms. Nearly 60 offenders are active in Australia. Authorities are developing AI tools to detect coded language, alongside a planned social media ban for under-16s. Prison Strikes and Assaults: NSW correctional officers staged a 48-hour strike after Cameron Welsh, who assaulted four guards, received a community-based order. The strike caused prison lockdowns across 36 facilities, prompting government intervention. Targeted Violence and Rewards: Penelope Travers, a single mother in WA, suffered 25% burns after a firebomb attack at her home in October 2025. Authorities are investigating as a targeted attack. NSW Police announced a $1 million reward for information on the 2003 murder of Theresa Binge, whose killer remains unidentified. Drug Crime: NSW, WA, and AFP charged 18 people following a national syndicate bust, seizing 268 kg of drugs (methamphetamine, pseudoephedrine, ketamine, cocaine), 14 firearms, and nearly $2.4 million. Authorities described the operation as completely dismantled, disrupting interstate drug distribution.

On the evening of October 30th, 2010, seventeen-year-old Eden Delir attended a Halloween party in Restwell Road, Bossley Park. It was a typical suburban gathering — organised through Facebook, and attended by dozens of teenagers, most of whom had never met before that night. As the invitations spread online, so did the reach of the event. Posts began circulating suggesting that a group of young men from Campbelltown intended to attend, bringing with them drugs and alcohol.  It was enough to draw the attention of another group — young males from the Wakeley area — who claimed they were going to the party to “keep the peace” if the Campbelltown boys showed up. They arrived uninvited. Witnesses later described the group as being of Middle Eastern appearance — known locally as the Wakeley boys.Their arrival shifted the tone of the gathering. What began as a social event had become a volatile mix of unfamiliar faces, teenage bravado, and alcohol.

1. The Gladstone House Fire A horrific blaze in Toolooa, Queensland, claimed three lives — Jordana Johnson, her son Jordan Norris, and his friend Chazz Mather. Contessa Leigh Marie Richardson has been charged with their murders and two counts of arson. 2. The Wilson Suppression Lifted Accused rapist Michael Simon Wilson failed to block media coverage linking him to childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown, who faces over 70 child sex charges. Wilson’s case, involving multiple rape and assault allegations, will proceed in 2026. 3. Operation Athena: Guns Off the Streets Police across Australia and New Zealand seized more than 1,000 illegal and 3D-printed firearms in a major cross-border crackdown targeting black-market weapons and organised crime. 4. Justice for Arthur Haines After 27 years, Gregory John Walker pleaded guilty to the 1998 firebombing that killed 13-year-old Arthur Haines in Waterloo, NSW — finally closing one of the state’s longest-running cold cases. 5. Death in Custody: Phillip Walton Inquest A Lismore inquest investigates the death of Phillip Mark Walton, who died after being tasered and restrained by police at Casino Station. The inquiry examines police and paramedic conduct during the arrest. 6. The Miss Oceania Scandal Former beauty pageant organiser William Wee Liat Tan faces 31 child abuse charges, accused of running online groups that promoted the sexual assault of children. He remains in custody as investigations widen. 7. The Cheryl Grimmer Confession NSW MP Jeremy Buckingham reignited the 1970 Fairy Meadow Beach cold case by reading the 1971 confession of a 17-year-old who admitted abducting and killing three-year-old Cheryl Grimmer. 8. The Easey Street Murders After 47 years, Perry Kouroumblis is charged over the 1977 killings of Suzanne Armstrong and Susan Bartlett in Collingwood. The case shocked Melbourne, with both women found stabbed to death in their home. 9. The Murder of Thi Kim Tran Three men have been charged with the abduction and murder of Sydney mother Thi Kim Tran, whose body was found in a burnt-out car. Police allege the killing was linked to organised crime revenge plots. 10. Tragedy at Beenleigh Police Station A three-year-old boy died in the foyer of Beenleigh Police Station following a car crash in Ormeau, Queensland. The driver, linked to a domestic violence order, has been charged as investigations continue. 11. The Cocaine Boat Fiasco Three WA men — Mate Stipinovich, Aristides Avlonitis, and Karl Whitburn — were jailed after their cocaine-smuggling operation went wrong and their boat sank, losing 230 kilograms of drugs. 12. The Broome Domestic Killing Bruce Grant Kittimbill, 56, has been charged with the murder of a 58-year-old woman in Broome, WA, in what police describe as a domestic violence-related stabbing. 13. Gym Ambush in Oakleigh East A 29-year-old man was brutally attacked at Derrimut 24:7 Gym by five men armed with machetes or hammers. The victim sustained head injuries; police are searching for the attackers. 14. The Balenciaga Bikie Arrest Notorious ex-Comanchero Tarek Zahed was arrested after a month on the run. Known as the “Balenciaga Bikie,” Zahed survived a 2022 hit that killed his brother and remains under heavy police scrutiny. 15. The Murder of Hannah McGuire Ballarat woman Hannah McGuire was murdered by her boyfriend, Lachlan Young, who staged her death to look like a suicide. He faces a potential life sentence after pleading guilty to her killing.

On the evening of July 20th, 2019, emergency services received a call from a quiet suburban street in St Clair, New South Wales.  The woman on the line was twenty-five-year-old Jessica Camilleri — frantic, disoriented. When police arrived, they found a scene so violent… so surreal… that even the most seasoned officers were left shaken. The victim was Jessica’s mother, Rita Camilleri, a fifty-seven-year-old woman described by neighbours as kind, devoted, and endlessly patient.  Her body was found inside the home. Her head — outside, on the front footpath. And standing nearby, covered in blood, still holding strands of her mother’s hair...was Jessica.