Crime Insiders

Our latest episodes

Forensics: The Persecution of Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton

One of Australia's greatest ever miscarriages of justice. For decades, The Crown and much of the Australian public called for Lindy Chamberlain to be gaoled. Then, when she was, it was only until a chance discovery of new evidence was she released. 

Uncover the failings of forensics in one of Australia's most infamous criminal matters with expert Mackenzie de la Hunty. Hear as she walks host Kathryn Fox through the case, and gives intricate detail into what was involved in the forensics of the case and how things would be different today. 

This content contains graphic descriptions of violence against children, please listen with care.

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LISTEN > FORENSICS: The Persecution of Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton | 31 Jan 2024

Forensics: How persistence and polyester convicted a killer

When the body of Frances Tizzone was found, the only physical evidence located at the scene was several coarse fibres adhering to the soles of her shoes.

Distinguished Professor Claude Roux is the Director of the UTS Centre for Forensic Science and President of the International Association of Forensic Sciences.

In this episode, join host Kathryn Fox, and gain a deeper understanding of how the smallest details can unlock the doors to justice, and how Claude's research, in the middle of a murder trial, led to the conviction of a killer.

LISTEN > FORENSICS: How persistence and polyester convicted a killer | 22 Nov 2023

FORENSICS: How the police can use your DNA

One of your family members could be missing, and your DNA could help find them. The AFP is putting out a call to the general public to help solve cold cases that have police them for decades.

Jodie Ward, Associate Professor at the Centre of Forensic Science UTS, is the Program Lead of the National DNA Program for Unidentified and Missing Persons at the Australian Federal Police. Funded by the Confiscated Assets Account, the program is a nationwide effort to find, or identify people who are unaccounted for. 

Understand it all with host Kathryn Fox, as Jodie takes her through exactly what the program does and how it's helping track down and identify hundreds of missing Australians.

LISTEN > FORENSICS: How the police can use your DNA | 15 Nov 2023

The power of a single fingerprint

The murder of Inge Lotz is one of the most controversial homicide investigations in South Africa's history. A lone fingerprint police claim to have lifted from a DVD case led to the acquittal of the alleged murderer, and resulted in accusations of fabricated evidence. 

Dr Scott Chadwick is a fingermark detection expert and leading academic at the UTS Centre for Forensic Science. His research focuses on optimising existing fingermark detection techniques and developing new reagents for revealing fingermarks on the most challenging of surfaces.

In this episode, join host Kathryn Fox, and hear about the science behind the acquittal of Inge Lotz's accused killer, and the importance of transparent and accurate crime scene investigation.

LISTEN > The power of a single fingerprint | 8 Nov 2023

The Body Farm

A place in the Blue Mountains where scientists perform tests on human remains, train sniffer dogs and understand what happens to the body in strange circumstances.

Professor Maiken Ueland is an ARC Discovery Early Career Research Fellow at the Centre for Forensic Science at UTS and the Deputy Director at the Australian Facility for Taphonomic Experimental Research, or more commonly known as AFTER. She is a leader in the field of forensic taphonomy, where she uses analytical biochemical and spectroscopic techniques to conduct human post-mortem investigations.

The work she does is fascinating, and host Kathryn Fox is taken through exactly how Maiken is helping solve and prevent crime.

LISTEN > The Body Farm | 1 Nov 2023

What happens if your DNA is found at a crime scene

15% of the DNA on your hands isn't even yours. So, could you be found guilty of a crime you didn't commit? Just because your DNA was found at the scene?

Professor Georgina Meakin, Senior Lecturer at UTS, is an expert in DNA transfer. She studies how DNA is moved from people to things, from things to people, and what it means in the context of crime. She exclusively works in defence, and has worked across an increidbly high profile case in the UK, involving a man named 'Flakey Dave'.

Hear what happened to Flakey Dave, as host Kathryn Fox unpacks Georgina's work, and gets an understanding of how DNA can be used to convict, but also defend.

LISTEN > What happens if your DNA is found at a crime scene | 4 OCT 2023

The Golden State Killer

A first-hand account of how the GSK case was solved, the science used in Australia to crack similar cases and the ethical complexities that are muddying the waters.

The case of the Golden State Killer puzzled police and amateur sleuths for decades. Then, in April 2018, a Sacramento man was arrested and charged. How did police find their man, and what led them to him after years of nothing but cold clues and lack of leads?

Genealogy is a complex, and often misunderstood science. But, according to Professor Dennis McNevin, an expert in the field of forensic genetics, it's a technique police are becoming more and more interested in, and something we could see used in Australia very soon.

Join host Kathryn Fox as she unpacks Dennis' work and career, and dives into cases like the Golden State Killer and the Somerton man.

LISTEN > The Golden State Killer | 13 Sep 2023