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Inside Crime The Experts podcast
The Assassin or the Hitman?
In this episode, our experts explore what defines a murder for hire, with a detailed look into the life and crimes of notorious contract killer Christopher Flannery, known as “Mr. Rent-a-Kill.”
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the disappearance of Christopher Flannery who is believed to have been responsible for—or involved in—over a dozen contract killings, including the attempted murder of undercover police officer Mick Drury, who miraculously survived. A complex and chilling figure, Flannery was described by some as a loving husband and devoted father, yet he also earned a reputation as a cold-blooded killer.
We revisit his mysterious disappearance of Flannery and the legacy he left behind in the dark world of contract killing in Australia. We delve into some of Australia’s most high-profile contract killings, including the assassinations of Assistant Police Commissioner Colin Winchester and anti-drugs campaigner Donald Mackay, as well as more recent cases that reflect how the nature of these crimes has evolved.
While the terms “hitman” and “assassin” are often used interchangeably, we clarify the subtle but important distinction: a hitman is typically hired to kill for financial gain, whereas an assassin may act out of political or ideological motives.
We also examine the disturbing rise of drive-by shootings in Melbourne and Sydney. Once a targeted tactic used to intimidate or eliminate rivals outside their homes, this method has become increasingly reckless—spraying bullets into suburban streets, often hitting the wrong houses and injuring or killing innocent people caught in the crossfire.
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1. The Alpine Murders
25:48||Season 1, Ep. 1On this episode of Inside Crime our experts will be focusing on the deaths of campers Russell Hill and Carol Clay in Victoria's Alpine National Park in March 2020. The man accused of murdering them if Gregory Lynn a former Jetstar pilot who was found guilty of murder in July 2024 after a four-week trial. The jury found Mr Lynn was guilty of the murder of Miss Clay, but not guilty of the murder of Mr. Hill.
2. Robert Farquharson
26:58||Season 1, Ep. 2In this Episode of Inside Crime we will update you on the latest developments in the Robert Farquharson story. Robert Farquharson is in prison for the murders of his 3 children. Our experts will delve into the allegedly new evidence that may cast doubt on his conviction and what happens next. We'll look at the impact contemporary forensic science may have on cases, and what happens - fortunately rarely - when a person may be wrongfully convicted.
3. Christopher Wilder
31:51||Season 1, Ep. 3In this episode of Inside Crime we'll take you into the world of serial killer and sex predator Christopher Wilder whose crimes stretched from Sydney beaches to a murderous rampage across the USA. He's the prime suspect for Sydney's still unsolved Wanda Beach murders and probably over a dozen murders and attacks throughout the USA. His targets - young women hopeful of a modelling career.
4. The Easey Street Murders
24:54||Season 1, Ep. 4In this episode we take you inside the ‘Easey Street murders’ that took place in Collingwood, Australia in 1977. Described as ‘Victoria’s most brutal crime’, the case remained unsolved despite a A$1 million reward. Our experts discuss the case and the astounding news that someone has finally being detained in Italy, 47 years later. It's a story of a cold case now back on front page thanks to cutting edge forensic tech. We disucss what happens next and the technology impacting on so many cases - cold cases, criminal defence & wrongful convictions.
5. Serial Killer Couples
33:29||Season 1, Ep. 5Serial Killer Couples are fortunately rare beast and in this episode we'll talk about two utterly evil couples - one from the UK and the other from Australia.Fred and Rosemary West raped and killed at least 12 young women over a 20 year period from 1967 to 1987, including their own children.The Wests’ house at 25 Cromwell Street, Gloucester, where many of the crimes took places, and where the ghastly couple dismembered and buried the remains of their victims, was demolished in 1996. One year before the Wests were stopped - on the other side of the world in Western Australia - Catherine and David Birnie sexually assaulted and murdered four women over a 5 week rampage in October 1986. Fortunately, their fifth victim Kate Moir managed to escape after she was lured into their car and taken to the Birnies home at the now notorious 3 Moorhouse St, Willagee – a suburb in Perth’s south-west. The victim’s quick thinking and bravery brought an end to the Birnies dreadful crimes. These are modern day horror stories..
6. Deadly Dating Apps
33:15||Season 1, Ep. 6On this episode our experts discuss the perils of online dating apps. Users are tantalised with the prospect of love, a relationship, or just a quick good time but there is a very dark side of cons, stalking, murder, even cannibalism and some people with some even stranger habits. We feature the case of Michigan man Kevin Bacon, a Melbourne woman with vampire fantasies, Port Macquarie serial online stalker Paul Lambert, murder and cannibalism by consent in Germany and the very grisly murder of London cop Gordon Semple.
7. Obsessions
35:57||Season 1, Ep. 7On this episode our experts explore two high profile cases that have become ‘obsessions’.On November 7, 1974, the body of British nanny, Sandra Rivett, was discovered in a mail sack in the basement of a Belgravia townhouse in London. The chief suspect was the father of the children, Richard John Bingham, the seventh earl of Lucan who disappeared shortly after the murder. While most of Lord Lucan’s friends and family believed he had taken his own life, no body has ever been found. The manhunt for Lucan has lasted decades and has become the obsession for Sandra’s son, Hampshire builder, Neil Berriman. Neil believes his mother’s murderer Lord Lucan is alive and well and living in Queensland as an elderly gay Buddhist monk.We also feature the story of a well-to do Qatari who became obsessed with a psychic she’d met on ‘Purple Garden’, a psychic website offering advice on love. He won her confidence with a promise to heal her misery, she fell for him and handed over her bosses million-dollar jewellery collection for ‘cleansing via courier' but unfortunately there was no fairy-tale ending.
8. Poison
32:50||Season 1, Ep. 8On this episode our experts explore poison as a murder weapon with a detailed look at a number of recent cases that involve murder by poisoning, The town of Leongatha in central Victoria made global headlines in 2023 following the death of three people who were allegedly served BeefWellington made with death cap mushrooms.On Christmas Eve 2024 in Torres, Brazil, five members of the same family fell ill after eating a Christmas cake made with arsenic laced flour. Four family members died from eating the deadly Christmas cake which was made by a relative.Thai woman Sararat "Am" Rangsiwuthaporn, also known as 'Am Cyanide' who is believed to be Thailand's worst serial killer, murdered fourteen friends by poisoning them with cyanide. British serial killer Harold Shipman, who worked as a medical doctor was convicted of murdering 15 patients under his care by administering lethal doses of pharmaceutical heroin. Shipman is believed to have killed over 284 of his patients over a thirty year period before his arrest in 1998. He considered to be the most prolific serial killer in modern history.