Share

cover art for Ben Roberts-Smith: From Hero to Accused

The Trial: Australia

Ben Roberts-Smith: From Hero to Accused

Season 2, Ep. 27

For years, Ben Roberts-Smith, Australia’s most decorated soldier, has been celebrated for his service in Afghanistan. But now, the man who was once considered a national hero is at the centre of serious criminal allegations.


He has been charged with five counts of the war crime of murder, and is in custody in New South Wales' Silverwater Correctional Complex after arrest by the Australian Federal Police last week. But Ben Roberts-Smith has consistently denied any wrongdoing.


In this episode, Wayne is joined by veteran court reporter Stephen Gibbs to unpack how we got here, from explosive media investigations and a bruising civil trial, to a complex and unprecedented criminal prosecution that could take years to resolve.


The Trial Australia is part of The Crime Desk. Subscribe today for ad-free listening, early access to new shows, exclusive bonus episodes and complete access to our true-crime podcast collection. Visit thecrimedesk.com for more information.


Follow us on Tiktok @DailyMailCrime


Follow us on instagram @TheTrialPod


Subscribe to our YouTube channel @TheCrimeDesk


Click here to sign up to The Crime Desk's weekly newsletter. It's free and packed with exclusive interviews, expert insight, and gripping deep dive investigations from across the world. 


Email us thetrial@dailymail.com


Whatsapp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’)


Presenter: Wayne Flower

Producer: Sam Morris

Creative Director: Caroline Cheetham

Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini


A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.



Seriously Popular.



More episodes

View all episodes

  • 43. Ralph Carr: Convicted Rapist Exposed After Years of Secrecy

    21:35||Season 2, Ep. 43
    For more than three years, one of Australia's most powerful entertainment managers fought to keep his identity hidden in an ongoing criminal case from the public.Now, after a jury found Ralph Carr guilty of two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, the suppression order protecting him has finally been lifted.In this episode, Wayne is joined by reporter Paul Shapiro to unpack the case that couldn't be reported, examining the allegations, the evidence heard by the jury, the controversial suppression order and the legal battles behind the scenes.The Trial: Australia is part of The Crime Desk. Subscribe today for ad-free listening, early access to new shows, exclusive bonus episodes and complete access to our true-crime podcast collection. Visit thecrimedesk.com for more information.Follow us on Tiktok @DailyMailCrimeFollow us on instagram @TheTrialPodSubscribe to our YouTube channel @TheCrimeDeskClick here to sign up to The Crime Desk's weekly newsletter. It's free and packed with exclusive interviews, expert insight, and gripping deep dive investigations from across the world. Email us thetrial@dailymail.comWhatsapp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’)Presenter: Wayne FlowerProducer: Sam MorrisCreative Director: Caroline CheethamProduction Manager: Vittoria CecchiniA Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • 42. Elly Warren: The Father’s Hunt For a Killer

    39:06||Season 2, Ep. 42
    On what should have been the final days of a life-changing volunteer trip to Mozambique, 20-year-old Australian Elly Warren was found dead near a beachside toilet block, her lungs filled with sand. Nearly a decade later, the question of what really happened to her remains unanswered.Frustrated by the authorities failing to provide answers, Elly's father, Paul Warren, embarked on an extraordinary quest for the truth. He has travelled to Mozambique, uncovered new evidence, interviewed key witnesses, published a book, and spent years challenging official findings in the hope of discovering what happened to his daughter. He knows that his daughter’s killer is out there, and he wants to know their identity.In this episode, Paul joins Wayne to tell the remarkable story of his relentless search for answers, the evidence that points to foul play, and why his fight for justice continues almost ten years after Elly's death.The Trial Australia is part of The Crime Desk. Subscribe today for ad-free listening, early access to new shows, exclusive bonus episodes and complete access to our true-crime podcast collection. Visit thecrimedesk.com for more information.Follow us on Tiktok @DailyMailCrimeFollow us on instagram @TheTrialPodSubscribe to our YouTube channel @TheCrimeDeskClick here to sign up to The Crime Desk's weekly newsletter. It's free and packed with exclusive interviews, expert insight, and gripping deep dive investigations from across the world. Email us thetrial@dailymail.comWhatsapp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’)Presenter: Wayne FlowerProducer: Sam MorrisCreative Director: Caroline CheethamProduction Manager: Vittoria CecchiniA Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • 41. Dr Chris Webster: The Fallout After the Erin Patterson Trial

    36:24||Season 2, Ep. 41
    Almost a year after Erin Patterson’s trial, and on the run up to her appeal, one of it's most significant witnesses says his own life has been turned upside down.Dr Chris Webster was the rural GP who treated Ian and Heather Wilkinson after the deadly mushroom lunch, questioned Erin Patterson when she came to hospital, and made the call to police that helped set the investigation in motion. His evidence became one of the defining moments of the trial.But after speaking publicly following the verdict, Dr Webster found himself facing complaints to Australia's medical regulator. He says the consequences have been devastating: restrictions on his practice, the collapse of his medical clinic, the loss of his livelihood and a future in doubt.In this episode, Wayne and Caroline are joined Dr Webster to speak about emotional toll of the case, why he believes he has been unfairly treated and why he refuses to compromise his principles.The Trial Australia is part of The Crime Desk. Subscribe today for ad-free listening, early access to new shows, exclusive bonus episodes and complete access to our true-crime podcast collection. Visit thecrimedesk.com for more information.Follow us on Tiktok @DailyMailCrimeFollow us on instagram @TheTrialPodSubscribe to our YouTube channel @TheCrimeDeskClick here to sign up to The Crime Desk's weekly newsletter. It's free and packed with exclusive interviews, expert insight, and gripping deep dive investigations from across the world. Email us thetrial@dailymail.comWhatsapp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’)Presenters: Wayne Flower and Caroline CheethamProducer: Sam MorrisCreative Director: Caroline CheethamProduction Manager: Vittoria CecchiniA Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • 40. Keren Rowland: Ivan Milat's First Victim?

    30:49||Season 2, Ep. 40
    Ivan Milat is known worldwide as one of Australia's most notorious serial killers, convicted in 1996 of murdering seven backpackers in New South Wales. But a parliamentary inquiry is now examining whether Milat could be linked to many more of Australia's unsolved murders and long-term missing persons cases.In this episode, Wayne speaks with retired British detective Hugh Hughes, who believes he has identified the first victim of Australia's most notorious serial killer.After spending eight years investigating the unsolved 1971 murder of 20-year-old Keren Rowland, Hughes explains why he believes there is compelling evidence linking Milat to the case. He discusses his investigation, the challenges of accessing police records, his evidence before a New South Wales parliamentary inquiry, and why Keren's family are still seeking answers more than 50 years after her death.The Trial Australia is part of The Crime Desk. Subscribe today for ad-free listening, early access to new shows, exclusive bonus episodes and complete access to our true-crime podcast collection. Visit thecrimedesk.com for more information.Follow us on Tiktok @DailyMailCrimeFollow us on instagram @TheTrialPodSubscribe to our YouTube channel @TheCrimeDeskClick here to sign up to The Crime Desk's weekly newsletter. It's free and packed with exclusive interviews, expert insight, and gripping deep dive investigations from across the world. Email us thetrial@dailymail.comWhatsapp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’)Presenter: Wayne FlowerProducer: Sam MorrisCreative Director: Caroline CheethamProduction Manager: Vittoria CecchiniA Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • 39. Peter Falconio: The Unanswered Questions

    32:34||Season 2, Ep. 39
    Twenty-five years after the murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio shocked Australia and the world, one question still remains: where is Peter?In this episode, Wayne Flower is joined by Daily Mail Australia News Editor Kevin Airs, who reported from the heart of the investigation as the case unfolded in 2001. Together they revisit the night of Peter’s murder on the remote Stuart Highway, the extraordinary survival of Joanne Lees, and the trial that convicted Bradley John Murdoch. But Murdoch is now dead, Peter's body is still missing, and crucial questions of the case may never be answered.The Trial Australia is part of The Crime Desk. Subscribe today for ad-free listening, early access to new shows, exclusive bonus episodes and complete access to our true-crime podcast collection. Visit thecrimedesk.com for more information.Follow us on Tiktok @DailyMailCrimeFollow us on instagram @TheTrialPodSubscribe to our YouTube channel @TheCrimeDeskClick here to sign up to The Crime Desk's weekly newsletter. It's free and packed with exclusive interviews, expert insight, and gripping deep dive investigations from across the world. Email us thetrial@dailymail.comWhatsapp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’)Presenter: Wayne FlowerProducer: Sam MorrisCreative Director: Caroline CheethamProduction Manager: Vittoria CecchiniA Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • 38. The Pattaya Suitcase Investigation - Murder or Self-Defence?

    33:10||Season 2, Ep. 38
    The discovery of a teenager’s body contained inside an abandoned suitcase, in the tourist city of Pattaya, made headlines and shocked people around the world.An Australian man has been charged over the death of 17-year-old Thunchanok "Cake" Donhomla, but he denies murder, claiming he acted in self-defence.In this episode, Wayne is joined by Daily Mail reporters Candace Sutton and Jonica Bray to unpack the timeline, examine the CCTV evidence and the accused's version of events, and bring you fresh reporting from the ground in Thailand.The Trial Australia is part of The Crime Desk. Subscribe today for ad-free listening, early access to new shows, exclusive bonus episodes and complete access to our true-crime podcast collection. Visit thecrimedesk.com for more information.Follow us on Tiktok @DailyMailCrimeFollow us on instagram @TheTrialPodSubscribe to our YouTube channel @TheCrimeDeskClick here to sign up to The Crime Desk's weekly newsletter. It's free and packed with exclusive interviews, expert insight, and gripping deep dive investigations from across the world. Email us thetrial@dailymail.comWhatsapp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’)Presenter: Wayne FlowerProducer: Sam MorrisCreative Director: Caroline CheethamProduction Manager: Vittoria CecchiniA Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • 37. The Mystery of Gus Lamont - Josie Murray Breaks Her Silence

    41:50||Season 2, Ep. 37
    For the first time since four-year-old Gus Lamont vanished from a remote South Australian sheep station, his grandmother Josie Murray has spoken publicly.In a bombshell television interview, Josie Murray revealed she is the family member police identified as a suspect in their major crime investigation, while strongly denying any involvement in Gus's disappearance. Instead, she claims Gus may have been abducted and raises fresh questions about the police investigation.This week, Wayne is joined by reporter Jonica Bray, to unpack all the revelations from Josie Murray. Jonica also recounts her shocking and extraordinary encounter with Josie Murray, brandishing a shotgun at Oak Park Station.The Trial Australia is part of The Crime Desk. Subscribe today for ad-free listening, early access to new shows, exclusive bonus episodes and complete access to our true-crime podcast collection. Visit thecrimedesk.com for more information.Follow us on Tiktok @DailyMailCrimeFollow us on instagram @TheTrialPodSubscribe to our YouTube channel @TheCrimeDeskClick here to sign up to The Crime Desk's weekly newsletter. It's free and packed with exclusive interviews, expert insight, and gripping deep dive investigations from across the world. Email us thetrial@dailymail.comWhatsapp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’)Presenter: Wayne FlowerProducer: Sam MorrisEditor: Alex GrahamCreative Director: Caroline CheethamProduction Manager: Vittoria CecchiniA Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • 36. James Dalamangas: Three Decades In Hiding

    26:49||Season 2, Ep. 36
    More than 25 years after a fatal stabbing inside a Western Sydney nightclub, one of Australia's most elusive fugitives has been found living under an assumed identity in rural Greece.In this episode, Wayne is joined by veteran crime journalist Candace Sutton to unravel the extraordinary story of James Dalamangus, a man who vanished in 1999 after becoming a suspect in the murder of George Giannopoulos.From the controversial death of Dalamangus' younger brother during a violent brawl at Sydney's Star City Casino, to years of speculation that he had fled overseas, many questions in this case have gone unanswered for decades. Now, following his arrest in Greece, Wayne and Candace unpack all the new information surrounding this story, the challenges facing Australian extradition efforts, and whether the family of the slain nightclub patron will finally have answers.The Trial Australia is part of The Crime Desk. Subscribe today for ad-free listening, early access to new shows, exclusive bonus episodes and complete access to our true-crime podcast collection. Visit thecrimedesk.com for more information.Follow us on Tiktok @DailyMailCrimeFollow us on instagram @TheTrialPodSubscribe to our YouTube channel @TheCrimeDeskClick here to sign up to The Crime Desk's weekly newsletter. It's free and packed with exclusive interviews, expert insight, and gripping deep dive investigations from across the world. Email us thetrial@dailymail.comWhatsapp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’)Presenter: Wayne FlowerProducer: Sam MorrisEditor: Alex GrahamCreative Director: Caroline CheethamProduction Manager: Vittoria CecchiniA Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • 35. Beau Lamarre-Condon: The Road to a Double Murder Trial

    21:44||Season 2, Ep. 35
    The deaths of TV presenter Jesse Baird and his partner Luke Davies captured attention across Australia. The couple had been shot, and their bodies were discovered inside surfboard bags on a rural property in February 2024.The man accused of their murders is Baird's former partner, former police officer and celebrity chaser Beau Lamarre-Condon, who remains in custody awaiting trial on charges he denies.Today, Wayne is joined by reporter Stephen Gibbs to trace the story from the very beginning and to recap every twist in the proceedings so far, including the latest developments ahead of Beau Lamarre-Condon's highly anticipated trial.The Trial Australia is part of The Crime Desk. Subscribe today for ad-free listening, early access to new shows, exclusive bonus episodes and complete access to our true-crime podcast collection. Visit thecrimedesk.com for more information.Follow us on Tiktok @DailyMailCrimeFollow us on instagram @TheTrialPodSubscribe to our YouTube channel @TheCrimeDeskClick here to sign up to The Crime Desk's weekly newsletter. It's free and packed with exclusive interviews, expert insight, and gripping deep dive investigations from across the world. Email us thetrial@dailymail.comWhatsapp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’)Presenter: Wayne FlowerProducer: Sam MorrisCreative Director: Caroline CheethamProduction Manager: Vittoria CecchiniA Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.