Inside The Mind Of Australia's Youngest Killer

Inside The Mind Of Australia's Youngest Killer

Author: Mamamia Podcasts September 24, 2025 Duration: 35:02

What drives a teenager to become a killer?

In 2001, three-year-old Courtney Morley-Clarke was put to bed on a hot summer night on the NSW Central Coast. By morning, her bed was empty, the screen door wide open, and her nightie lay on the ground.

Police soon discovered Courtney hadn’t wandered off, she was abducted and murdered by her 13-year-old neighbour, Australia’s youngest convicted killer. He confessed it was practice for more killings.

After serving 22 years in prison, he’s now back in the community. 

So, how can someone so young commit such a horrific act? Criminal psychologist Tim Watson-Munro joins us to explain.

Listen to the Motive & Method podcast here

If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.

Make sure to leave us a rating and review on Apple & Spotify to let us know how you're liking the episodes. 

CREDITS 

Guest: Tim Watson-Munro

Host: Claire Murphy

Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman

Audio Producer: Jacob Round

GET IN TOUCH

We finally have an Instagram! Follow us @truecrimeconversations

Follow us on TikTok @truecrimeconversations

Want us to cover a case on the podcast? Email us at truecrime@mamamia.com.au or send us a voice note.

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


Gemma Bath hosts True Crime Conversations, a podcast from Mamamia Podcasts that delves into infamous criminal cases from Australia and around the world. Rather than just recounting facts, each episode is built around a direct conversation with someone who has a unique, often personal connection to the story. You might hear from a detective who worked the case, a journalist who covered the trial, a family member seeking answers, or a forensic expert who examined the evidence. This approach brings a tangible, human dimension to stories that can sometimes feel distant or sensationalised. The tone is engaging and thoughtful, focusing on the nuances and the people affected, rather than just the shock value. It’s for anyone who appreciates a deeper, more conversational entry into the true crime genre, where the emphasis is on understanding the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ from those who were actually there. Listening to this podcast feels like being part of a serious, yet accessible, discussion about some of the most compelling and complex crimes in recent history.
Author: Language: en-au Episodes: 100

True Crime Conversations
Podcast Episodes
The Gonzales Family Murders [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:15
At just 20 years old, Sef Gonzales murdered his entire family, his father Teodoro, mother Mary Loiva, and 18-year-old sister Clodine, in their Sydney home in 2001. Struggling with an identity crisis, failing his medical…
The Former Miss Australia Who Was Convicted Of Drug Dealing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:57
Felicia Djamirze has lived many lives—counsellor, women’s justice advocate, three-time Miss Australia titleholder, and convicted drug dealer. Raised in a tough Sydney neighbourhood where crime and addiction were part of…
Karen Read Found Not Guilty In Viral Murder Trial [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:30
Ever since the mysterious death of Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe on a snowy night in 2022, the town where he died has been deeply divided. Was he killed in a house full of law enforcement and the crime covered up, o…
Lauren Had No Idea She Married A Monster, Until She Learned the Truth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:06
In 2015, Lauren Trevan’s husband was interviewed by police about messages he had sent to a teenage girl. He claimed they were harmless. They weren’t. As the investigation unfolded, Lauren learned the full extent of his a…
The Woman Who Tricked 50 Doulas Into Believing She Was Pregnant [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:49
Kaitlyn Braun spun an elaborate web of lies, convincing over 50 doulas she was pregnant after a traumatic assault. Her deception confused and shattered trust in the doula community, leaving many unsure if they could cont…
How A Broken Law Sent Kathleen Folbigg To Prison [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:25
After 20 years in prison, Kathleen Folbig, once labelled Australia’s worst female serial killer, was released in just 56 minutes. New genetic evidence cleared her of killing her four children, flipping one of the country…
Hundreds Were Forced To Witness The Death Of Agnes Magnúsdóttir [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:25
She was young, poor, and alone in a harsh, unforgiving Icelandic landscape — and then she was sentenced to die. In 1830, Agnes Magnúsdóttir became the last person executed in Iceland, beheaded by axe for the murder of a…
William Tyrrell: Is This The Breakthrough We've Been Waiting For? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:56
He was three years old, dressed in a Spider-Man suit, playing in his foster grandmother’s yard — and then he was gone. Nearly a decade later, the disappearance of William Tyrrell remains one of Australia’s most haunting…
Kat Torres: The Influencer Convicted Of Human Trafficking [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:55
Kat Torres had it all—famous friends, a jet-setting modelling career and a social media feed that painted the picture of a woman who had truly made it. But behind the flawless photos and inspirational captions lurked a f…