The Trial of the Golden Toilet

In this episode, Caroline and Jack bring you the closing speeches from the prosecution and defence lawyers as the golden toilet trial draws to a close. The prosecutor told the court it was impossible to avoid the conclusion all three defendants were knowingly involved in the conspiracy surrounding the theft and sale of the toilet. But the defence barristers argued there was little evidence to support this - and accused police of failing to “flush out” the real culprits. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Caroline and Jack bring you the evidence of the second defendant, Fred Doe, who is accused of trying to broker a sale for the stolen golden toilet. Fred Doe told the court that he had no idea the gold was stolen and expressed regret for ever getting involved with the “idiot” burglar who was in the gang that smashed their way into Blenheim Palace. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode Caroline and Jack have more of the evidence from the man on trial for his involvement in the burglary of the solid gold toilet. Michael Jones insisted his visits to Blenheim Palace in the days before were innocent and he was there, not to carry out reconnaissance missions, but because he was interested in the exhibitions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode Caroline and Jack have the evidence of one of the defendants in the case. Michael Jones told the jury he was not carrying out reconnaissance missions at Blenheim Palace in the days before the theft of the solid gold toilet. He said he was visiting the exhibitions because he found the art intriguing. We also heard that the artist who created the loo was behind a piece of art which featured a banana duck-taped to a wall. It sold for over £5million. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In today's episode of the Trial of the Golden Toilet Caroline and Jack have the CCTV footage which shows the moment the heist takes place on Blenheim Palace. In dramatic footage a gang armed with sledgehammers and crowbars can be seen driving up to the main entrance and breaking in. Less than 6 minutes later they can be seen rolling the toilet away before dumping it into a car and speeding away. Three men are now accused of being involved either in the burglary or in selling off the gold. The defendants all deny the charges. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the first episode of The Trial of the Golden Toilet Caroline and Jack hear the prosecution’s case against three men. One of them is accused of being involved in a heist on Blenheim Palace and stealing a 4.8m solid gold toilet. The other two are accused of helping to sell off the gold. The jury have heard how five men broke into Blenheim Palace in two cars, armed with sledgehammers in 2019. Within 5 minutes they had snatched the toilet and driven away. The loo was never recovered and the prosecution case is the gold was somehow sold on. The defendants all deny the charges. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Caroline and Jack bringing you the sentencing of Daniel Khalife. The former British soldier was imprisoned for 14 years and 3 months after he was convicted of spying for Iran and escaping from HMP Wandsworth while awaiting trial in September 2023. Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb told the 23-year-old he was a 'dangerous fool'. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In today’s episode Caroline and Liz reflect on the fallout from the harrowing details of what was revealed at yesterday’s court hearing as Axel Rukakubana was sentenced to 52 years in prison. They’ll have the words of the parents of the three girls who died, and the other victims who survived, including a 14 year old girl who addressed the court herself. They’ll also have more on what went wrong to allow the attack to ever happen in the first place and how questions are also now being asked about the tech companies who didn’t give the police access to some of the material on his computer because the incident wasn’t classed as terrorism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Caroline and Liz bring you the moment Axel Rudakubana was sentenced to at least 52 years in prison. In all likelihood he will never be released. The judge said he murdered three of the girls he attacked, but he would have killed more if they hadn’t run for their lives - he wanted to carry out mass murder. In the terrifying attack which lasted for 12 minutes he stabbed child after child hundreds of times inflicting utterly horrific injuries. Then he gloated to the police and said he was glad they were dead.  It’s now become clear that Axel Rudakubana was in contact with Lancashire Police on several occasions and 2 years before he attacked the girls in Southport he was caught carrying a knife on a bus, but he was taken home instead of being arrested. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today, Caroline and Liz continue to discuss the fallout from Axel Rudakaban’s guilty pleas. They also chat to criminologist Professor David Wilson about the case, who explains his theories about Rudakubana and why he might have been driven to kill and why that police mug shot may have been part of his plan to become notorious.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices