Never To Be Released?

Never To Be Released?

Author: Bravecasting January 25, 2026 Duration: 50:10

In 1986, Sydney nurse Anita Cobby was abducted and murdered after a sexual assault, followed two years later by the abduction, sexual assault and murder of Janine Balding after she was taken from Sutherland train station.

In the aftermath, the New South Wales government introduced laws that ensured the teenage offenders would spend their lives in prison with no chance of parole.

Criminal lawyer and former NSW MP Peter Breen joins Australian True Crime to argue those laws were deeply flawed and that some of the men convicted may have been innocent.

You can purchase your copy of "Shorty: Mistaken Identity or Stitch Up?" here.

Watch the video version of this episode here.

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Do you have information regarding any of the cases discussed on this podcast? Please report it on the Crime Stoppers website or by calling 1800 333 000.
 
For Support:

Lifeline  on 13 11 14

13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)

1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732

Blue Knot Helpline: 1300 657 380

CREDITS:

Host: Meshel Laurie

Guest: Peter Breen

Executive Producer/Editor: Matthew Tankard

GET IN TOUCH:

https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/

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Email the show at AusTrueCrimePodcast@gmail.com


For those drawn to the shadows that linger just beyond the backyard fence, Australian True Crime offers a compelling and often unsettling exploration. Hosted by Meshel Laurie, whose genuine fascination with the genre drives every conversation, this podcast delves into the stories that unfold in the very streets and suburbs we think we know. It moves beyond the headlines to examine the intricate, human details of cases that have shocked the nation. Laurie’s approach is characterised by thorough research and a commitment to presenting multiple perspectives. Each episode is built around interviews with a range of voices, including journalists who have covered the cases, investigators who worked the scenes, and at times, the victim survivors or even perpetrators themselves. This method provides a multi-faceted view, probing the underbelly of Australian communities to uncover the complex realities behind the crime. Listening to this podcast feels like sitting down for a deep, sometimes difficult, but always engrossing discussion about the darker threads woven into the fabric of Australian life. It’s for anyone who understands that true crime is, at its core, about people and place, and that the most mysterious tales are often those closest to home.
Author: Language: en-au Episodes: 100

Australian True Crime
Podcast Episodes
True Crime Tonight: Full Show (24/05/26) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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This week on True Crime Tonight, Ruby shares her first experience watching The Jinx, we’re joined by Kristi Lee from Canadian True Crime to discuss the case of Connie Pruden Grandinetti, and unpack the latest true crime…
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This is a "Shortcut" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed. Connie Pruden Grandinetti vanished in 1988, leaving her family searching for answers…
The Case of Connie Pruden Grandinetti - ATC International [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:12
Connie Pruden Grandinetti vanished in 1988, leaving her family searching for answers for decades as suspicion continued to surround her husband. What began as a missing persons case would eventually unravel into a story…
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Former police detective, investigative journalist and award-winning true crime author Duncan McNab joins us to unpack the changing face of organised crime in Australia, from the old underworld codes to the rise of modern…
Shortcut: The Old Rules of Organised Crime Are Changing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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This is a "Shortcut" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed. Former police detective, investigative journalist and award-winning true crime author…
True Crime Tonight: Full Show (17/05/26) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:24
This week on True Crime Tonight, we take a closer look at the new 60 Minutes documentary on Michael Jackson, speak with Shannon McGarvey about the Long Island serial killings, and unpack the latest true crime headlines.…
The Long Island Serial Killer - ATC International [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:43
Rex Heuermann was arrested in 2023 after investigators linked him to the Long Island Serial Killer case through DNA evidence, burner phones and a renewed task force investigation. He pleaded guilty in April 2026. The vic…
Shortcut: The Long Island Serial Killer - ATC International [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:09
This is a "Shortcut" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed. Rex Heuermann was arrested in 2023 after investigators linked him to the Long Island…
Shortcut: Why Are There So Many Firebombings in Melbourne? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:38
This is a "Shortcut" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed. Criminologist Dr Xanthe Weston joins us to discuss the current "hospitality wars" ter…
Why Are There So Many Firebombings in Melbourne? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:40
Criminologist Dr Xanthe Weston joins us to discuss the current "hospitality wars" terrorising venues across Melbourne. ATC Plus subscribers can listen to this episode ad free here. You can watch our episodes by visiting…