Shandee's Story
A TRUE CRIME PODCAST BY HEDLEY THOMAS
Subscribers to The Australian have exclusive first access to episodes of Shandee's Story via The Australian app. Subscribe to The Australian here.
Shandee's Story is investigated and written by Hedley Thomas.
Audio and music production by Blacksmith & Co.
Additional reporting by David Murray and Isaac Irons.
Additional research by Isaac Irons.
Video trailer by Gwyn Dixon, 3P Studio.
Editorial Director, Claire Harvey.
Digital execution by Isabel Trujillo and Kellie Southan.
Marketing by Alice Bradbury, Dean Roffe and Jarrah Petzold.
Audio compiling, Lia Tsamoglou and Nicholas Adams-Dzierzba.
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SHANDEE'S STORY
SHANDEE'S STORY
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Read stories from this podcast here
Shandee's Story
A TRUE CRIME PODCAST BY HEDLEY THOMAS
Shandee's Story
A TRUE CRIME PODCAST BY HEDLEY THOMAS
Unheard Evidence
EPISODE 13
Episode 14 is available now exclusively to subscribers to
The Australian via the podcast player in The Australian app.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe to The Australian here.
• Shandee Blackburn murder investigation reopened after podcast ›
• Lab’s DNA-detection flaws ‘failing victims of sex assault’ ›
• Victims call for forensic lab inquiry ›
• Video: Murder suspect caught on police property ›
• New clue could link chief suspect’s car to murder ›
• ‘Give my ute back,’ murder suspect demands of coroner ›
STORIES FROM THIS EPISODE
Forensic biologist Dr Kirsty Wright says she’s found irrefutable evidence that the forensics train wreck in Shandee’s case is not a one-off incident – and reveals the shocking results that have led her to believe many victims of rape and serious sexual assault have been denied a fair shot at justice. In 2017, a recently acquitted John Peros insists on the return of his Toyota Hilux – but coroner David O’Connell seizes it under his coronial powers and scours the vehicle for clues. The vehicle and its unique features are examined by a retired photogrammetrist. And as the ninth anniversary of Shandee’s murder passes, coroner O’Connell formally reopens the coronial investigation into Shandee’s death, giving the Blackburn family renewed hope for justice.
Sugar Town
EPISODE 14
Renewed Hope
Episode 14 is available now exclusively to subscribers to
The Australian via the podcast player in The Australian app.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe to The Australian here.
• ‘Give my ute back,’ murder suspect demands of coroner ›
• Video: Murder suspect caught on police property ›
• New clue could link chief suspect’s car to murder ›
• Victims call for forensic lab inquiry ›
• Lab’s DNA-detection flaws ‘failing victims of sex assault’ ›
• Shandee Blackburn murder investigation reopened after podcast ›
STORIES FROM THIS EPISODE
Forensic biologist Dr Kirsty Wright says she’s found irrefutable evidence that the forensics train wreck in Shandee’s case is not a one-off incident – and reveals the shocking results that have led her to believe many victims of rape and serious sexual assault have been denied a fair shot at justice. In 2017, a recently acquitted John Peros insists on the return of his Toyota Hilux – but coroner David O’Connell seizes it under his coronial powers and scours the vehicle for clues. The vehicle and its unique features are examined by a retired photogrammetrist. And as the ninth anniversary of Shandee’s murder passes, coroner O’Connell formally reopens the coronial investigation into Shandee’s death, giving the Blackburn family renewed hope for justice.
Listen to the episode and explore related stories ›
Episode 14 is available now exclusively to subscribers to
The Australian via the podcast player in The Australian app.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe to The Australian here.
• ‘Give my ute back,’ murder suspect demands of coroner ›
• Video: Murder suspect caught on police property ›
• New clue could link chief suspect’s car to murder ›
• Victims call for forensic lab inquiry ›
• Lab’s DNA-detection flaws ‘failing victims of sex assault’ ›
• Shandee Blackburn murder investigation reopened after podcast ›
STORIES FROM THIS EPISODE
Forensic biologist Dr Kirsty Wright says she’s found irrefutable evidence that the forensics train wreck in Shandee’s case is not a one-off incident – and reveals the shocking results that have led her to believe many victims of rape and serious sexual assault have been denied a fair shot at justice. In 2017, a recently acquitted John Peros insists on the return of his Toyota Hilux – but coroner David O’Connell seizes it under his coronial powers and scours the vehicle for clues. The vehicle and its unique features are examined by a retired photogrammetrist. And as the ninth anniversary of Shandee’s murder passes, coroner O’Connell formally reopens the coronial investigation into Shandee’s death, giving the Blackburn family renewed hope for justice.
Renewed Hope
EPISODE 14
Listen to the episode and explore related stories ›
Episode 14 is available now exclusively to subscribers to
The Australian via the podcast player in The Australian app.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe to The Australian here.
• ‘Give my ute back,’ murder suspect demands of coroner ›
• New clue could link chief suspect’s car to murder ›
• Video: Murder suspect caught on police property ›
• Victims call for forensic lab inquiry ›
• Lab’s DNA-detection flaws ‘failing victims of sex assault’ ›
• Murder investigation reopened after podcast ›
STORIES FROM THIS EPISODE
Forensic biologist Dr Kirsty Wright says she’s found irrefutable evidence that the forensics train wreck in Shandee’s case is not a one-off incident – and reveals the shocking results that have led her to believe many victims of rape and serious sexual assault have been denied a fair shot at justice. In 2017, a recently acquitted John Peros insists on the return of his Toyota Hilux – but coroner David O’Connell seizes it under his coronial powers and scours the vehicle for clues. The vehicle and its unique features are examined by a retired photogrammetrist. And as the ninth anniversary of Shandee’s murder passes, coroner O’Connell formally reopens the coronial investigation into Shandee’s death, giving the Blackburn family renewed hope for justice.
Renewed Hope
EPISODE 14
Listen to the episode and explore related stories ›
Episode 15 is available now exclusively to subscribers to
The Australian via the podcast player in The Australian app.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe to The Australian here.
• DNA debacle: killers ‘getting free pass’ ›
• Shandee's Story: Key people from the podcast ›
• ‘Blood-soaked’ T-shirt not fully tested ›
• Truck driver: I saw Shandee’s missing bag ›
• New clue could link chief suspect’s car to murder ›
• ‘Give my ute back,’ murder suspect demands of coroner ›
STORIES FROM THIS EPISODE
Queensland’s government-run forensics lab has been using a testing threshold that is preventing it from detecting DNA in many samples, says Dr Kirsty Wright, with potentially catastrophic consequences for victims of violent crime. A t-shirt described as 'blood-soaked' is found at a Mackay business near the murder scene – but the lab reports “No DNA detected”. A truck driver who is sure he saw Shandee’s handbag at a Mackay rubbish dump just days after the murder says his information wasn't followed up by detectives for two months. In 2019 the inquest examines new persons of interest.
EPISODE 15
Spin Cycles
Episode 15 is available now exclusively to subscribers to
The Australian via the podcast player in The Australian app.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe to The Australian here.
• ‘Give my ute back,’ murder suspect demands of coroner ›
• Truck driver: I saw Shandee’s missing bag ›
• New clue could link chief suspect’s car to murder ›
• ‘Blood-soaked’ T-shirt not fully tested ›
• Shandee's Story: Key people from the podcast ›
• DNA debacle: killers ‘getting free pass’ ›
STORIES FROM THIS EPISODE
Queensland’s government-run forensics lab has been using a testing threshold that is preventing it from detecting DNA in many samples, says Dr Kirsty Wright, with potentially catastrophic consequences for victims of violent crime. A t-shirt described as 'blood-soaked' is found at a Mackay business near the murder scene – but the lab reports “No DNA detected”. A truck driver who is sure he saw Shandee’s handbag at a Mackay rubbish dump just days after the murder says his information wasn't followed up by detectives for two months. In 2019 the inquest examines new persons of interest.
Spin Cycles
EPISODE 15
Explore related stories ›
Episode 15 is available now exclusively to subscribers to
The Australian via the podcast player in The Australian app.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe to The Australian here.
• ‘Give my ute back,’ murder suspect demands of coroner ›
• New clue could link chief suspect’s car to murder ›
• Truck driver: I saw Shandee’s missing bag ›
• ‘Blood-soaked’ T-shirt not fully tested ›
• Shandee's Story: Key people from the podcast ›
• DNA debacle: killers ‘getting free pass’ ›
STORIES FROM THIS EPISODE
Queensland’s government-run forensics lab has been using a testing threshold that is preventing it from detecting DNA in many samples, says Dr Kirsty Wright, with potentially catastrophic consequences for victims of violent crime. A t-shirt described as 'blood-soaked' is found at a Mackay business near the murder scene – but the lab reports “No DNA detected”. A truck driver who is sure he saw Shandee’s handbag at a Mackay rubbish dump just days after the murder says his information wasn't followed up by detectives for two months. In 2019 the inquest examines new persons of interest.
Spin Cycles
EPISODE 15
Listen to the episode and explore related stories ›