True Criminals

One man was tortured at Guantánamo Bay. The other was an American investigator who fought to stop it. Today, they're friends. In this extraordinary episode of True Criminals, Helen Fospero and Martin Brunt speak to Mohamedou Ould Slahi, who spent nearly 15 years imprisoned without charge, and Mark Fallon, the senior US counterterrorism investigator who challenged the government's brutal interrogation programme from within. Mohamedou reveals the horrifying torture he endured, the threats against his mother and the false confession he was driven to make. Mark exposes what was happening behind closed doors, why he challenged his own government, and how torture undermined the pursuit of justice. Their remarkable friendship is explored in the documentary Leaving Hotel California. Two men. Opposite sides of Guantánamo. One extraordinary story of courage, survival and friendship. Content warning: This episode contains discussions of torture, physical and sexual abuse. Official Trailer:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oK64eofOxD4 Instagram: @leavinghotelcaliforniahttps://www.instagram.com/leavinghotelcalifornia/ TikTok: @leavinghotelcaliforniahttps://www.tiktok.com/@leavinghotelcalifornia Director Chimène de Jonge – Film Information:https://www.chimenedejonge.com/film Official Website:https://www.markfallon.us/ Unjustifiable Means – Amazon US:https://www.amazon.com/Unjustifiable-Means-Pentagon-Government-Conspired-ebook/dp/B01EG7A6VK Unjustifiable Means – Amazon UK:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Unjustifiable-Means-Mark-Fallon/dp/1942872798 Instagram: @clubfedhttps://www.instagram.com/clubfed/ Facebook: @unjustifiablemeanshttps://www.facebook.com/UnjustifiableMeans/ X: @glynco Official Website:https://mohamedououldslahi.com/ Guantánamo Diary – Amazon US:https://www.amazon.com/dp/0316328685 Guantánamo Diary – Amazon UK:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Guant%C3%A1namo-Diary-Mohamedou-Ould-Slahi/dp/1782112855 Instagram: @mohamedououldsalahihttps://www.instagram.com/mohamedououldsalahi/ Facebook: @mohamedououldsalahihttps://www.facebook.com/p/Mohamedou-Ould-Salahi-100013967859228/ X: @MohamedouOuldhttps://x.com/MohamedouOuld Listen ad free and access our full catalogue, including a True Criminals coffee mug, on Patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/truecriminals As an independent podcast, we rely on listener support. You can also donate via PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=YQVFJR5766BJE Instagram: @true.criminals TikTok: @truecriminalspodcast Follow Martin on Twitter at @skymartinbrunt. Discover more about his career and the cases he's covered by reading his book, No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter, available here: https://amzn.eu/d/g1WisSY Follow Helen on Instagram at @helenfospero and check out her podcast, The Convex Conversation, here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-convex-conversation/id1510209575 True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global. Visit https://www.audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals for more information. Executive Producer: Lee MannProducer: Russell BarnesAudio Production: BLEACHEDMusic Composition: BLEACHEDArtwork: BLEACHED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After more than five decades behind bars, Charles Bronson is once again fighting for his freedom. With another crucial parole hearing approaching, True Criminals hosts Martin Brunt and Helen Fospero discuss the latest developments in the extraordinary case of one of Britain's most notorious prisoners. In this episode, Martin reveals details of a personal letter he has received directly from Bronson, offering a rare insight into the man behind the headlines. Together, Martin and Helen examine Bronson's troubled history, his ongoing battle for release, and the difficult questions facing the Parole Board as it considers whether he can safely return to society. Has Charles Bronson genuinely changed, and could Britain's most notorious prisoner finally walk free? As an independent podcast, we rely on listener support. You can also donate via PayPal: Donate here. Instagram: @true.criminals TikTok: @truecriminalspodcast Follow Martin on Twitter at @skymartinbrunt. Discover more about his career and the cases he's covered by reading his book, No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter, available here. Follow Helen on Instagram at @helenfospero and check out her podcast, The Convex Conversation, here. True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global. Visit www.audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals for more information. Executive Producer: Lee Mann Producer: Russell Barnes Audio Production: BLEACHED Music Composition: BLEACHED Artwork: BLEACHED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In February 1990, seven-year-old Rachel Watts went out on her roller skates to buy sweets near her home in Brighton. On her way back, she encountered Russell Bishop — the man acquitted three years earlier of murdering Karen Hadaway and Nicola Fellows. Bishop abducted Rachel, drove her to Devil's Dyke, sexually assaulted and strangled her, and left her for dead. Miraculously, Rachel survived. Her extraordinary courage and detailed evidence helped put Bishop behind bars. But for Karen and Nicola's families, the fight for justice was far from over. In Part 2 of this two-part True Criminals special, Martin Brunt and Helen Fospero are joined once again by journalist and author Jean Ritchie, co-author of My Girl: The Babes in the Woods Murders — A Mother's Fight for Justice with Karen's mother, Michelle Hadaway. We examine Rachel Watts' remarkable survival, the conviction that followed, and the decades-long campaign to overturn the legal barriers preventing Bishop from being tried again. We explore the historic changes to the double jeopardy law, the breakthrough DNA evidence recovered from exhibits preserved since 1986, and the crucial role of the blue Pinto sweatshirt in securing Bishop's conviction at the Old Bailey in 2018 — exactly 31 years after his original acquittal. Jean reveals the deeply personal story behind the families' fight for justice: Michelle's determination never to give up, the emotional ordeal of the second trial, the devastating impact on Barry Fellows, and the extraordinary moment when the guilty verdict was finally delivered. We also investigate the subsequent perjury conviction of Bishop's former girlfriend Jennifer Johnson, Bishop's death in 2022, and the unresolved controversy surrounding Karen's missing clothes, handed to BBC journalist Martin Bashir in 1991 and never returned. After more than three decades, the families of Karen and Nicola finally had the justice they had fought so hard to achieve. This is the story of a remarkable survivor, a mother's relentless determination, and the forensic breakthroughs that finally brought one of Britain's most notorious child killers to justice. SPECIAL GUEST: JEAN RITCHIE READ THE BOOK My Girl: The Babes in the Woods Murders — A Mother's Fight for Justice by Michelle Hadaway with Jean Ritchie. https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/454786/my-girl-by-hadaway-michelle/9781804943526 SUPPORT TRUE CRIMINALS Listen ad free and access bonus content and our full catalogue on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/truecriminals As an independent podcast, we rely on listener support. You can also donate via PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=YQVFJR5766BJE FOLLOW TRUE CRIMINALS Instagram: @true.criminals TikTok: @truecriminalspodcast FOLLOW MARTIN BRUNT Twitter/X: @skymartinbrunt Discover more about Martin's career and the cases he has covered in his book, No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter. Buy Martin's book: https://amzn.eu/d/g1WisSY FOLLOW HELEN FOSPERO Instagram: @helenfospero Listen to Helen's podcast, The Convex Conversation: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-convex-conversation/id1510209575 PRODUCTION CREDITS True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global. Website: https://www.audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals Executive Producer: Lee Mann  Producer: Russell Barnes  Audio Production: BLEACHED  Music Composition: BLEACHED  Artwork: BLEACHED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Did you know True Criminals is on Patreon? You can listen ad free and enjoy exclusive bonus content, just like the episode you’re listening to right now. Please enjoy this exclusive Patreon bonus teaser of True Criminals. If you would like to listen to the full episode and access our complete catalogue of exclusive content, head over to: https://www.patreon.com/truecriminals In the early hours of September 14, 2003, seven year old Toni Ann Byfield was shot in the back in a cramped North London bedsit. An innocent child caught in the middle of a violent drug war, Toni Ann had witnessed the murder of the man she called her father, Bertram “Blacker” Byfield. In this exclusive two part investigation, True Criminals is joined by Neil Basu, the former Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police and the Senior Investigating Officer who led Operation Trident’s investigation into the murder of Toni Ann Byfield. In Part 1, Neil Basu takes us inside the investigation and reveals the extraordinary pressure surrounding a Category A murder, the importance of the broken cigarette lead, the devastating reality of dealing with grieving families while managing multiple homicide investigations, and the moment a national television appeal helped change the course of the case. Neil Basu is one of Britain's most distinguished former senior police officers. During his career he served as Head of UK Counter Terrorism and became one of the UK's leading specialists in organised crime, gang violence, counter terrorism and national security. This is a rare and deeply personal insight into the Toni Ann Byfield murder investigation, told by the senior detective who led the hunt for her killer. If you are interested in true crime, British true crime, UK murder cases, police investigations, criminal investigations, Scotland Yard, the Metropolitan Police, Operation Trident, gang violence, organised crime and the stories behind some of Britain's most notorious cases, this is an episode you will not want to miss. SUPPORT TRUE CRIMINALS Listen ad free and access our full catalogue of exclusive content, including a True Criminals coffee mug, on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/truecriminals As an independent podcast, True Criminals relies on the support of its listeners. You can also support the show via PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=YQVFJR5766BJE FOLLOW TRUE CRIMINALS Follow us on Instagram @true.criminals Subscribe to True Criminals on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@True-Criminals CONNECT WITH MARTIN BRUNT Follow Martin on Twitter @skymartinbrunt Discover more about Martin's career and the cases he has covered in his book, No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter: https://amzn.eu/d/g1WisSY CONNECT WITH HELEN FOSPERO Follow Helen on Instagram @helenfospero Listen to Helen's podcast, The Convex Conversation: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-convex-conversation/id1510209575 CREDITS True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global. Visit www.audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals for more information. Executive Producer: Lee Mann Producer: Russell Barnes Audio Production: BLEACHED Music Composition: BLEACHED Artwork: BLEACHED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In October 1986, nine-year-old best friends Karen Hadaway and Nicola Fellows disappeared after going out to play near their homes on the Moulsecoomb estate in Brighton. The following afternoon, their bodies were discovered in Wild Park. The case became known across Britain as the Babes in the Wood murders — one of the most notorious and heartbreaking cases in British true crime history. In Part 1 of this two-part True Criminals special, Martin Brunt and Helen Fospero are joined by journalist and author Jean Ritchie, co-author of My Girl: The Babes in the Woods Murders — A Mother's Fight for Justice with Karen's mother, Michelle Hadaway. We examine the disappearance and murders of Karen Hadaway and Nicola Fellows, the original police investigation, the search of Wild Park and why suspicion fell on Russell Bishop. We also explore the crucial evidence surrounding the blue Pinto sweatshirt, the weaknesses in the prosecution case and Bishop's 1987 acquittal at Lewes Crown Court. Jean reveals the devastating human story behind the headlines: Michelle's desperate search for her daughter while seven months pregnant, the impact of Bishop's acquittal, the false suspicions that later surrounded Nicola's father Barry Fellows, and the extraordinary emotional toll the case took on both families. For more than three decades, Karen and Nicola's families waited for justice. This is the story of two little girls, two grieving families and a murder case that would haunt Brighton for 31 years. SPECIAL GUEST: JEAN RITCHIE READ THE BOOK My Girl: The Babes in the Woods Murders — A Mother's Fight for Justice by Michelle Hadaway with Jean Ritchie. https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/454786/my-girl-by-hadaway-michelle/9781804943526 SUPPORT TRUE CRIMINALS Listen ad free and access bonus content and our full catalogue on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/truecriminals As an independent podcast, we rely on listener support. You can also donate via PayPal:https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=YQVFJR5766BJE FOLLOW TRUE CRIMINALS Instagram: @true.criminalsTikTok: @truecriminalspodcast FOLLOW MARTIN BRUNT Twitter/X: @skymartinbrunt Discover more about Martin's career and the cases he has covered in his book, No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter. Buy Martin's book:https://amzn.eu/d/g1WisSY FOLLOW HELEN FOSPERO Instagram: @helenfospero Listen to Helen's podcast, The Convex Conversation:https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-convex-conversation/id1510209575 PRODUCTION CREDITS True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global. Website:https://www.audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals Executive Producer: Lee MannProducer: Russell BarnesAudio Production: BLEACHEDMusic Composition: BLEACHEDArtwork: BLEACHED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Did you know True Criminals is on Patreon? You can listen ad free and enjoy exclusive bonus content, just like the episode you’re listening to right now. Please enjoy, and if you’d like to become a Patreon member, head over to:https://www.patreon.com/truecriminals We welcome Kerry Daynes back to True Criminals for the second of two conversations with one of Britain’s leading consultant forensic psychologists. Last time, we explored Kerry’s encounters with serial killer Dennis Nilsen. This time, the focus is Kerry herself and her extraordinary career spent sitting opposite some of the most dangerous and complex people in the criminal justice system. Kerry takes us back to Wakefield Prison in 1996, when, aged just 21, she entered an intimidating and deeply misogynistic environment to begin her career in forensic psychology. She recalls interviewing men convicted of rape and murder, being deliberately locked in a cell with a killer, and learning how to manage fear, authority and control. There are darker stories and some unexpectedly funny ones, including the convicted double murderer who repeatedly dropped his prosthetic eye into Kerry’s tomato soup. Learning not to react became a lesson in psychology she still uses today. Kerry explains what forensic psychologists actually do, how she builds rapport with dangerous offenders without becoming their audience, and why understanding someone’s behaviour is very different from excusing it. She also discusses her approach of “rational compassion” and the importance of remaining authentic when dealing with people capable of extreme violence. We hear about offenders who successfully deceived her, cases that got under her skin, and the day a man she was assessing stabbed her in the stomach with a kebab skewer, an incident she describes as a bad day, but not the worst of her career. The conversation also turns to two criminals previously examined on True Criminals: conman Mark Acklom and Charles Bronson, now Charles Salvador. Kerry has worked professionally with Salvador and gave evidence at his public parole hearing. She offers her perspective on the man behind the mythology and considers how decades of imprisonment have shaped him. Finally, Kerry talks candidly about losing her hearing, why it led her to step away from expert witness work, and why forensic psychology remains not simply a career, but a vocation. SUPPORT TRUE CRIMINALS Listen ad free and access bonus content and our full catalogue on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/truecriminals As an independent podcast, we rely on listener support. You can also donate via PayPal:https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=YQVFJR5766BJE FOLLOW TRUE CRIMINALS Instagram: @true.criminalsTikTok: @truecriminalspodcast FOLLOW MARTIN BRUNT Twitter/X: @skymartinbrunt Discover more about Martin’s career and the cases he has covered in his book, No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter. Buy Martin’s book:https://amzn.eu/d/g1WisSY FOLLOW HELEN FOSPERO Instagram: @helenfospero Listen to Helen’s podcast, The Convex Conversation:https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-convex-conversation/id1510209575 PRODUCTION CREDITS True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global. Website:https://www.audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals Executive Producer: Lee MannProducer: Russell BarnesAudio Production: BLEACHEDMusic Composition: BLEACHEDArtwork: BLEACHED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this second of two special episodes of True Criminals, journalists Helen Fospero and Martin Brunt are joined once again by investigative journalist Clare Rewcastle Brown, whose reporting helped expose Malaysia’s extraordinary 1MDB scandal and the disappearance of billions of dollars from a state investment fund. With former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak behind bars, the investigation turns to the mysterious financier Jho Low, the fugitive businessman at the centre of the scandal, whose extravagant spending brought him into the orbit of some of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Rewcastle Brown reveals how money stolen from 1MDB helped finance The Wolf of Wall Street, and how Low showered celebrities with extraordinary gifts, including a Picasso painting for Leonardo DiCaprio and millions of dollars’ worth of jewellery for supermodel Miranda Kerr. From champagne-fuelled parties in Las Vegas to private jets, priceless artwork and a quarter-of-a-billion-dollar superyacht, she describes a world of almost unimaginable excess – and the public money that helped pay for it. But Low’s disappearance following the first major 1MDB exposé in February 2015 would lead Rewcastle Brown towards an even more extraordinary story. In her latest investigation, detailed in her new book, The China Contract, she uncovers evidence of an alleged international cover-up involving Chinese state-linked companies, inflated infrastructure contracts and billions of dollars in secret financial transactions, designed, she alleges, to plug the enormous financial hole left by the 1MDB scandal. She explains how a mysterious leaked document first alerted her to an alleged $8bn scheme involving China's Belt and Road Initiative, and how a whistleblower who escaped from Kuwait with crucial documents helped her piece together the money trail. Rewcastle Brown also discusses her belief that Jho Low is hiding in China, the reported attempts to secure pardons in Malaysia and the United States, and her continuing efforts to trace billions she believes remain hidden within the international banking system. From Hollywood and Macau to China, Kuwait and London's financial institutions, this is a remarkable account of how corruption can cross borders, implicate powerful institutions and evade justice long after the original crime has been exposed. And at the heart of it all is a devastating question: what could those billions have done for the ordinary people of Malaysia, particularly the indigenous communities of Borneo, whose struggle first inspired Rewcastle Brown’s investigation? As she tells Helen and Martin, the story is far from over. There is still missing money to trace, powerful institutions to scrutinise and new evidence to uncover. Clare Rewcastle Brown’s latest book, The China Contract: The Inside Story of the World's Biggest Financial Scandal … and How It Was Covered Up, continues her investigation into the 1MDB affair. Find The China Contract here: https://saqibooks.com/books/the-westbourne-press/the-china-contract/?utm_source=truecrime&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=truecrimepodcast  SUPPORT THE SHOW Listen ad-free and access our full catalogue, including a True Criminals coffee mug, on Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/truecriminals⁠  As an independent podcast, we rely on listener support. You can also donate via PayPal: ⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=YQVFJR5766BJE⁠  FOLLOW TRUE CRIMINALS Instagram: @true.criminals TikTok: @truecriminalspodcast CONNECT WITH MARTIN BRUNT Follow Martin on Twitter at @skymartinbrunt. Discover more about his career and the cases he’s covered by reading his book, No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter, available here: ⁠https://amzn.eu/d/g1WisSY⁠  CONNECT WITH HELEN FOSPERO Follow Helen on Instagram at @helenfospero and check out her podcast, The Convex Conversation, here: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-convex-conversation/id1510209575⁠  CREDITS True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global. Visit: ⁠https://www.audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals⁠  Executive Producer: Lee Mann  Producer: Russell Barnes  Audio Production: BLEACHED  Music Composition:BLEACHED Artwork: BLEACHED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On September 11, 2001, Helen Fospero stood on the fire escape of her New York apartment and watched the unthinkable unfold. Living just blocks from the World Trade Center and working as a British television correspondent in New York, Helen witnessed the second plane strike the Twin Towers. Then, as she tried to contact her cameraman and understand what was happening, she watched the South Tower collapse before her eyes. Twenty five years later, Helen shares her deeply personal memories of 9/11 with her True Criminals co host, veteran crime reporter Martin Brunt. For this special episode, their usual roles are reversed. Martin asks the questions as Helen recounts the confusion of those first moments, the fear on the streets below her apartment, the collapse of both towers, and the instinct that took over as she went from witness to reporter on one of the darkest days in modern history. Helen remembers arriving at Ground Zero in the hours after the attacks and seeing firefighters searching desperately through the rubble for survivors. She recalls the families searching for missing loved ones, the stories of extraordinary courage she encountered in the days and weeks that followed, and the remarkable humanity of a city experiencing unimaginable grief. She also reflects on the people whose stories have remained with her ever since, including survivors, bereaved families and firefighters who entered the towers as thousands of others were trying to escape. And she remembers one haunting moment after finishing her first broadcast from Ground Zero. Walking home through the silent streets of Manhattan, Helen looked back at the empty space in the skyline where the Twin Towers had stood and realised that nothing would ever be quite the same again. This is not simply the story of a journalist covering 9/11. It is the story of a woman who witnessed history from her own home, reported from Ground Zero in its immediate aftermath, and has carried the memories of the people she met there for a quarter of a century. In this deeply personal episode of True Criminals, Helen and Martin reflect on September 11, the investigation that followed, the courage of passengers and crew aboard the hijacked aircraft, the bravery of first responders, the survivors who escaped the World Trade Center, and the lasting impact of the attacks on New York and the wider world. We remember the 2,977 victims of the September 11 attacks, and all those whose lives were forever changed by that day. SUPPORT THE SHOW Listen ad free and access our full catalogue, including a True Criminals coffee mug, on Patreon: Support True Criminals on Patreon As an independent podcast, we rely on listener support. You can also donate via PayPal: Support True Criminals via PayPal Instagram: @true.criminalsTikTok: @truecriminalspodcast Follow Martin on Twitter at @skymartinbrunt. Discover more about his career and the cases he has covered in his book, No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter: Buy Martin Brunt’s book Follow Helen on Instagram at @helenfospero and listen to her podcast, The Convex Conversation: Listen to The Convex Conversation True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global. Visit True Criminals at Audio Bleach Global Executive Producer: Lee MannProducer: Russell BarnesAudio Production: BLEACHEDMusic Composition: BLEACHEDArtwork: BLEACHED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this first of two special episodes of True Criminals, journalists Helen Fospero and Martin Brunt are joined by investigative journalist Clare Rewcastle Brown, whose reporting helped expose the extraordinary corruption at the heart of Malaysia’s 1MDB scandal. Rewcastle Brown’s investigation began in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, where the destruction of tropical rainforest and the loss of indigenous land led her to investigate political corruption. Following the money would eventually take her to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), the Malaysian state investment fund established under former prime minister Najib Razak. US prosecutors later alleged that more than $4.5bn was misappropriated from 1MDB, with money funnelled through shell companies and offshore accounts and spent on luxury property, jewellery, priceless art, a superyacht and assets connected to the financing of The Wolf of Wall Street. Rewcastle Brown reveals how leaked documents and whistleblower Xavier Justo helped her uncover a money trail involving PetroSaudi International and Malaysian financier Jho Low, the fugitive businessman alleged by US authorities to have played a central role in the scheme. Working from her kitchen table in London, she found herself taking on some of the most powerful people and institutions in international finance and politics. She describes legal threats, surveillance and intimidation, being targeted by Malaysian authorities – and the extraordinary moment she took her evidence to the FBI, helping to trigger a major US investigation into international kleptocracy and money laundering. From Goldman Sachs and offshore banking to Hollywood celebrities, Beverly Hills mansions and billions in missing money, this is the remarkable inside story of how determined investigative journalism helped expose a scandal that shook Malaysia, contributed to the downfall of a government and reverberated through financial institutions around the world. And this is only Part One. In Part Two, the investigation turns to Jho Low’s extraordinary Hollywood connections, his life as an international fugitive and Rewcastle Brown’s latest investigation into the alleged efforts to cover up the 1MDB financial hole – a trail that leads to China. Clare Rewcastle Brown’s latest book, The China Contract: The Inside Story of the World's Biggest Financial Scandal … and How It Was Covered Up, continues her investigation into the 1MDB affair. Find The China Contract here: https://saqibooks.com/books/the-westbourne-press/the-china-contract/?utm_source=truecrime&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=truecrimepodcast SUPPORT THE SHOW Listen ad-free and access our full catalogue, including a True Criminals coffee mug, on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/truecriminals As an independent podcast, we rely on listener support. You can also donate via PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=YQVFJR5766BJE FOLLOW TRUE CRIMINALS Instagram: @true.criminalsTikTok: @truecriminalspodcast CONNECT WITH MARTIN BRUNT Follow Martin on Twitter at @skymartinbrunt. Discover more about his career and the cases he’s covered by reading his book, No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter, available here: https://amzn.eu/d/g1WisSY CONNECT WITH HELEN FOSPERO Follow Helen on Instagram at @helenfospero and check out her podcast, The Convex Conversation, here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-convex-conversation/id1510209575 CREDITS True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global. Visit: https://www.audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals Executive Producer: Lee MannProducer: Russell BarnesAudio Production: BLEACHEDMusic Composition: BLEACHEDArtwork: BLEACHED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Please enjoy this complimentary extended episode! If you’d like more episodes like this, you can become a Patreon Insider Member, where you’ll get access to extended and bonus episodes, listen completely ad-free, and unlock our full back catalogue. Membership also includes a True Criminals coffee mug. Join us on Patreon and get even more from True Criminals: Become a True Criminals Patreon Insider ........................................... In Part One, Bill Clegg KC revealed how the case against Colin Stagg collapsed, leaving Rachel Nickell’s real killer free. In Part Two, the story turns to the man who actually murdered her: Robert Napper. Helen Fospero and Martin Brunt are once again joined by Bill, who found himself in an extraordinary position. Having defended Colin Stagg, he later represented Napper after he was charged with the brutal murders of Samantha Bissett and her four-year-old daughter Jasmine. Within an hour of reading the case papers, Bill became convinced Napper was also the man who had killed Rachel. He explains the striking similarities between the crimes, the warning signs and missed opportunities surrounding Napper, and why police tunnel vision may have allowed the real killer to remain free. Years later, advances in forensic science finally linked Napper to Rachel’s murder. Sixteen years after her death, he admitted killing her on the grounds of diminished responsibility. Bill also reflects on the wider lessons of the case: the pressure on police to find a suspect in high-profile investigations, the danger of assumptions taking the place of evidence, and the devastating human cost when an investigation goes wrong. Bill Clegg KC's book, Under the Wig: A Lawyer's Stories of Murder, Guilt and Innocence: ⁠https://www.quercusbooks.co.uk/titles/william-clegg/under-the-wig/9781529401240/⁠ SUPPORT THE SHOW As an independent podcast, we rely on listener support. You can also donate via PayPal: ⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=YQVFJR5766BJE⁠ FOLLOW TRUE CRIMINALS Instagram: @true.criminalsTikTok: @truecriminalspodcast CONNECT WITH MARTIN BRUNT Follow Martin on Twitter at @skymartinbrunt. Discover more about his career and the cases he’s covered by reading his book, No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter, available here: ⁠https://amzn.eu/d/g1WisSY⁠ CONNECT WITH HELEN FOSPERO Follow Helen on Instagram at @helenfospero and check out her podcast, The Convex Conversation, here: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-convex-conversation/id1510209575⁠ CREDITS True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global. Visit: ⁠https://www.audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals⁠ Executive Producer: Lee MannProducer: Russell BarnesAudio Production: BLEACHEDMusic Composition: BLEACHEDArtwork: BLEACHED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In Part One, Bill Clegg KC revealed how the case against Colin Stagg collapsed, leaving Rachel Nickell’s real killer free. In Part Two, the story turns to the man who actually murdered her: Robert Napper. Helen Fospero and Martin Brunt are once again joined by Bill, who found himself in an extraordinary position. Having defended Colin Stagg, he later represented Napper after he was charged with the brutal murders of Samantha Bissett and her four-year-old daughter Jasmine. Within an hour of reading the case papers, Bill became convinced Napper was also the man who had killed Rachel. He explains the striking similarities between the crimes, the warning signs and missed opportunities surrounding Napper, and why police tunnel vision may have allowed the real killer to remain free. Years later, advances in forensic science finally linked Napper to Rachel’s murder. Sixteen years after her death, he admitted killing her on the grounds of diminished responsibility. Bill also reflects on the wider lessons of the case: the pressure on police to find a suspect in high-profile investigations, the danger of assumptions taking the place of evidence, and the devastating human cost when an investigation goes wrong. Bill Clegg KC's book, Under the Wig: A Lawyer's Stories of Murder, Guilt and Innocence: https://www.quercusbooks.co.uk/titles/william-clegg/under-the-wig/9781529401240/ SUPPORT THE SHOW Listen ad-free and access our full catalogue, including a True Criminals coffee mug, on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/truecriminals As an independent podcast, we rely on listener support. You can also donate via PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=YQVFJR5766BJE FOLLOW TRUE CRIMINALS Instagram: @true.criminalsTikTok: @truecriminalspodcast CONNECT WITH MARTIN BRUNT Follow Martin on Twitter at @skymartinbrunt. Discover more about his career and the cases he’s covered by reading his book, No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter, available here: https://amzn.eu/d/g1WisSY CONNECT WITH HELEN FOSPERO Follow Helen on Instagram at @helenfospero and check out her podcast, The Convex Conversation, here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-convex-conversation/id1510209575 CREDITS True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global. Visit: https://www.audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals Executive Producer: Lee MannProducer: Russell BarnesAudio Production: BLEACHEDMusic Composition: BLEACHEDArtwork: BLEACHED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In July 1992, Rachel Nickell was murdered in broad daylight on Wimbledon Common, with her two year old son nearby. The killing shocked Britain and triggered one of the most controversial murder investigations in modern British history. Helen Fospero and Martin Brunt are joined by Bill Clegg KC, the barrister who defended Colin Stagg, the innocent man police accused of Rachel's murder. With no forensic evidence or confession linking Stagg to the crime, investigators launched an extraordinary undercover "honey trap", using a female police officer to try to persuade him to confess. The confession never came. Bill reveals what went wrong inside the investigation, how he dismantled the prosecution at the Old Bailey, and what happened when the case against Stagg spectacularly collapsed. Meanwhile, Rachel Nickell's real killer was still free. Bill Clegg KC's book, Under the Wig: A Lawyer's Stories of Murder, Guilt and Innocence:https://www.quercusbooks.co.uk/titles/william-clegg/under-the-wig/9781529401240/ ......... Support the Show Listen ad free and access our full catalogue, including a True Criminals coffee mug, on Patreon at ⁠⁠www.patreon.com/truecriminals⁠⁠. As an independent podcast, we rely on listener support. You can also donate via PayPal ⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=YQVFJR5766BJE⁠ Follow True Criminals Instagram: ⁠⁠@true.criminals⁠⁠ TikTok: @truecriminalspodcast Connect with Martin Brunt Follow Martin on Twitter at ⁠⁠@skymartinbrunt⁠⁠. Discover more about his career and the cases he’s covered by reading his book, No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter, available here: ⁠⁠https://amzn.eu/d/g1WisSY⁠⁠. Connect with Helen Fospero Follow Helen on Instagram at ⁠⁠@helenfospero⁠⁠ and check out her podcast, The Convex Conversation, here: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-convex-conversation/id1510209575⁠⁠. Credits True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global. Visit ⁠⁠www.audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals⁠⁠ for more information. Executive Producer: Lee Mann. Producer: Russell Barnes. Audio Production: BLEACHED Music Composition: BLEACHED Artwork: BLEACHED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We welcome Kerry Daynes back to True Criminals for the second of two conversations with one of Britain’s leading consultant forensic psychologists. Last time, we explored Kerry’s encounters with serial killer Dennis Nilsen. This time, the story is Kerry herself and an extraordinary career spent sitting opposite some of the most dangerous and complex people in the criminal justice system. Kerry takes us back to Wakefield Prison in 1996, when, aged just 21, she entered a deeply intimidating and misogynistic environment to begin her career in forensic psychology. She recalls interviewing men convicted of rape and murder, being deliberately locked in a cell with a killer, and the lessons she learned about fear, authority and maintaining control. There are darker stories and some unexpectedly funny ones. Kerry tells us why a convicted double murderer repeatedly dropped his prosthetic eye into her tomato soup, and how learning not to react became a lesson in psychology she still uses today. We explore what forensic psychologists actually do, how Kerry builds rapport with dangerous offenders without becoming their audience, and why understanding someone’s behaviour is very different from excusing it. She explains her approach of “rational compassion” and the importance of remaining authentic when interviewing and assessing people capable of extreme violence. Kerry also discusses occasions when offenders have successfully deceived her, the cases that have got under her skin, and the day a man she was assessing stabbed her in the stomach with a kebab skewer, an incident she remarkably describes as a bad day, but not the worst of her career. We also turn to two criminals previously examined on True Criminals: conman Mark Acklom, and one of Britain’s most notorious prisoners, Charles Bronson, now Charles Salvador. Kerry, who has worked professionally with Salvador and gave evidence at his public parole hearing, offers a fascinating psychological perspective on the man behind the mythology and asks how decades of imprisonment have shaped the person he became. Finally, Kerry talks candidly about losing her hearing, why it led her to step away from expert witness work, and why forensic psychology remains not simply a career but a vocation. It’s a conversation about violence and vulnerability, nature and nurture, punishment and rehabilitation, but above all, about the human beings behind some of the darkest acts imaginable. Find more from Kerry Daynes The Profiler with Kerry DaynesKerry examines British murder cases and the psychology behind them.Listen to The Profiler The Dark Side of the MindKerry’s Sunday Times bestselling account of life and work as a forensic psychologist.The Dark Side of the Mind What Lies BuriedKerry goes deeper into the psychology behind extreme and disturbing behaviour and the question of what makes someone dangerous.What Lies Buried ................................................... Follow True Criminals Follow us on Instagram at ⁠⁠⁠⁠@true.criminals⁠⁠⁠⁠ and subscribe to our YouTube channel at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@True-Criminals⁠⁠⁠⁠. Connect with Martin Brunt Follow Martin on Twitter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠@skymartinbrunt⁠⁠⁠⁠. Discover more about his career and the cases he’s covered by reading his book, No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter, available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.eu/d/g1WisSY⁠⁠⁠⁠. Connect with Helen Fospero Follow Helen on Instagram at ⁠⁠⁠⁠@helenfospero⁠⁠⁠⁠ and check out her podcast, The Convex Conversation, here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-convex-conversation/id1510209575⁠⁠⁠⁠. Credits True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global.  Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information.  Executive Producer: Lee Mann.  Producer: Russell Barnes.  Audio Production: BLEACHED Music Composition: BLEACHED  Artwork: BLEACHED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Simon Bailey returns to the studio for the second part of our conversation examining the Jimmy Savile case and its lasting impact on safeguarding and policing in Britain. For decades, Savile was able to exploit children and vulnerable people while enjoying extraordinary access to respected institutions and widespread public admiration. How did his offending remain unchecked for so long, and why were so many opportunities to intervene lost? In this episode of True Criminals, Martin Brunt and Helen Fospero continue their discussion with Simon Bailey, former Chief Constable of Norfolk Constabulary and former National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Child Protection. Simon led Operation Hydrant following the exposure of Savile’s crimes and is now Chair of Trustees at Embrace Child Survivors of Crime. Drawing on his extensive experience investigating child sexual abuse, Simon explores what the Savile revelations exposed about institutional safeguarding, how they changed the way allegations of abuse are investigated, and why survivors may take many years before feeling able to disclose what happened to them. The conversation also considers what policing, healthcare and other institutions have learned since the scandal, and the difficult balance investigators must maintain: listening to and supporting survivors while conducting investigations that are impartial, evidence-led and committed to achieving justice. Support Information This podcast contains discussions of child sexual abuse and exploitation, which some listeners may find upsetting or distressing. If anything discussed in this episode resonates with you, your child, or someone you know, please remember that free, specialist support is available. Embrace Child Survivors of Crime, proud partners of True Criminals, are a national children's charity providing free specialist support to children, young people and families affected by serious crime, including child sexual abuse. Embrace offers remote emotional support and counselling for children and young people aged 11 and over, helping them process trauma, understand their feelings, rebuild confidence and begin their recovery. For parents and carers, Embrace delivers You Are Enough™, a free, therapist-facilitated peer support programme for adults supporting a child who has experienced sexual abuse. Delivered remotely over ten sessions, the programme provides a safe, supportive space to connect with others who understand, process the impact of trauma, and access practical guidance to help families move forward. To learn more about the support available, or to make a referral for yourself or your family, please visit Embrace Child Survivors of Crime. https://www.embracecsoc.org.uk .................................. Support the Show Listen ad free and access our full catalogue, including a True Criminals coffee mug, on Patreon at ⁠⁠www.patreon.com/truecriminals⁠⁠. As an independent podcast, we rely on listener support. You can also donate via PayPal ⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted... Follow True Criminals Instagram: ⁠⁠@true.criminals⁠⁠ TikTok: @truecriminalspodcast Connect with Martin Brunt Follow Martin on Twitter at ⁠⁠@skymartinbrunt⁠⁠. Discover more about his career and the cases he’s covered by reading his book, No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter, available here: ⁠⁠https://amzn.eu/d/g1WisSY⁠⁠. Connect with Helen Fospero Follow Helen on Instagram at ⁠⁠@helenfospero⁠⁠ and check out her podcast, The Convex Conversation, here: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast.... Credits True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global. Visit ⁠⁠www.audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals⁠⁠ for more information. Executive Producer: Lee Mann. Producer: Russell Barnes. Audio Production: BLEACHED Music Composition: BLEACHED Artwork: BLEACHED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Few people spent time talking to Dennis Nilsen after his conviction. Consultant forensic psychologist, Sunday Times bestselling author and host of The Profiler with Kerry Daynes, Kerry Daynes, did. In this episode of True Criminals, Kerry reflects on her conversations and correspondence with one of Britain's most infamous serial killers, offering rare insight into the psychology behind his crimes while refusing to accept the myths and self-serving narratives he spent years constructing. Joined by journalist Helen Fospero and crime reporter Martin Brunt, she explores the making of a murderer, the danger of allowing killers to control their own legacy, and why understanding is not the same as excusing. This episode examines the murders committed by Dennis Nilsen between 1978 and 1983, his calculated targeting of vulnerable young men, the investigation that exposed his crimes, and the psychological themes of narcissism, fantasy, coercive control and necrophilia that shaped his offending. If you're interested in Dennis Nilsen, Kerry Daynes, true crime, criminal psychology, forensic psychology, serial killers, British crime history, or the real stories behind Britain's most notorious murder cases, this is an essential listen. Kerry is also the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Dark Side of the Mind and What Lies Buried, and hosts the acclaimed podcast The Profiler with Kerry Daynes. Listen to the podcast here: The Profiler with Kerry Daynes. Explore Kerry's books on her Amazon author page here: Kerry Daynes Amazon author page. Victims: Stephen Holmes, Kenneth Ockenden, Martin Duffy, William Sutherland, Malcolm Barlow, John Howlett, Graham Allen and Stephen Sinclair. Dennis Nilsen also admitted killing additional men whose identities have never been confirmed. Survivors: Carl Stotter and another unidentified survivor escaped Nilsen's murder attempts, providing important evidence about his methods. .................................... Follow True Criminals Follow us on Instagram at ⁠⁠⁠@true.criminals⁠⁠⁠ and subscribe to our YouTube channel at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@True-Criminals⁠⁠⁠. Connect with Martin Brunt Follow Martin on Twitter at ⁠⁠⁠@skymartinbrunt⁠⁠⁠. Discover more about his career and the cases he’s covered by reading his book, No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter, available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.eu/d/g1WisSY⁠⁠⁠. Connect with Helen Fospero Follow Helen on Instagram at ⁠⁠⁠@helenfospero⁠⁠⁠ and check out her podcast, The Convex Conversation, here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-convex-conversation/id1510209575⁠⁠⁠. Credits True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global.  Visit ⁠⁠⁠www.audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals⁠⁠⁠ for more information.  Executive Producer: Lee Mann.  Producer: Russell Barnes.  Audio Production: BLEACHED Music Composition: BLEACHED  Artwork: BLEACHED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Forty years after the disappearance of Suzy Lamplugh, former Metropolitan Police Detective Chief Inspector Michael Barley returns to True Criminals to revisit one of Britain's most haunting unsolved cases. As the officer who established the original incident room on the night Suzy vanished and remained involved in the investigation for more than a decade, Mike offers an extraordinary insider's account of the decisions, frustrations and missed opportunities that shaped one of the UK's most notorious missing person investigations. In this exclusive interview, Mike reflects on the original inquiry, the emergence of prime suspect John Cannan, and reveals why he still believes a search of Norton Barracks could have changed the course of the case forever. He also discusses the realities of policing in 1986, long before CCTV, mobile phones and modern forensic techniques transformed major investigations, and explains why, after four decades, he felt it was finally time to tell the full story. Mike also talks about the emotional process of writing his new book with True Criminals producer Russell Barnes, sharing never-before-told insights into the investigation, the challenges faced by detectives, and the lasting impact Suzy's disappearance had on policing, personal safety and the families left searching for answers. 📖 Susie Lamplugh: The Inside Story of Britain's Most Notorious Missing Person Investigation by Michael Barley and Russell Barnes is out now. You can buy your copy here: Amazon UK. ......... Support the Show Listen ad free and access our full catalogue, including a True Criminals coffee mug, on Patreon at ⁠⁠www.patreon.com/truecriminals⁠⁠. As an independent podcast, we rely on listener support. You can also donate via PayPal ⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=YQVFJR5766BJE⁠ Follow True Criminals Instagram: ⁠⁠@true.criminals⁠⁠ TikTok: @truecriminalspodcast Connect with Martin Brunt Follow Martin on Twitter at ⁠⁠@skymartinbrunt⁠⁠. Discover more about his career and the cases he’s covered by reading his book, No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter, available here: ⁠⁠https://amzn.eu/d/g1WisSY⁠⁠. Connect with Helen Fospero Follow Helen on Instagram at ⁠⁠@helenfospero⁠⁠ and check out her podcast, The Convex Conversation, here: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-convex-conversation/id1510209575⁠⁠. Credits True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global. Visit ⁠⁠www.audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals⁠⁠ for more information. Executive Producer: Lee Mann. Producer: Russell Barnes. Audio Production: BLEACHED Music Composition: BLEACHED Artwork: BLEACHED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How was Jimmy Savile able to abuse children and vulnerable people for decades while surrounded by powerful institutions, public admiration and extraordinary access? In this powerful episode of True Criminals, Martin Brunt and Helen Fospero examine one of the most significant safeguarding failures in modern British history, exploring how opportunities to stop a prolific offender were repeatedly missed and what those failures continue to teach us today. Joining us is Simon Bailey, former Chief Constable of Norfolk Constabulary, former National Police Chiefs' Council Lead for Child Protection, who led Operation Hydrant following the exposure of Savile's crimes, and now Chair of Trustees of Embrace Child Survivors of Crime. Drawing on decades of policing experience, Simon explains how the revelations surrounding Savile transformed the investigation of child sexual abuse, why survivors often remain silent for years, and how policing, healthcare and public institutions have changed in response. Together, we discuss the importance of believing and supporting survivors while ensuring investigations remain fair, evidence-led and focused on justice. Support Information This podcast contains discussions of child sexual abuse and exploitation, which some listeners may find upsetting or distressing. If anything discussed in this episode resonates with you, your child, or someone you know, please remember that free, specialist support is available. Embrace Child Survivors of Crime, proud partners of True Criminals, are a national children's charity providing free specialist support to children, young people and families affected by serious crime, including child sexual abuse. Embrace offers remote emotional support and counselling for children and young people aged 11 and over, helping them process trauma, understand their feelings, rebuild confidence and begin their recovery. For parents and carers, Embrace delivers You Are Enough™, a free, therapist-facilitated peer support programme for adults supporting a child who has experienced sexual abuse. Delivered remotely over ten sessions, the programme provides a safe, supportive space to connect with others who understand, process the impact of trauma, and access practical guidance to help families move forward. To learn more about the support available, or to make a referral for yourself or your family, please visit Embrace Child Survivors of Crime. https://www.embracecsoc.org.uk ................................. Support the Show Listen ad free and access our full catalogue, including a True Criminals coffee mug, on Patreon at ⁠⁠www.patreon.com/truecriminals⁠⁠. As an independent podcast, we rely on listener support. You can also donate via PayPal ⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=YQVFJR5766BJE⁠ Follow True Criminals Instagram: ⁠⁠@true.criminals⁠⁠ TikTok: @truecriminalspodcast Connect with Martin Brunt Follow Martin on Twitter at ⁠⁠@skymartinbrunt⁠⁠. Discover more about his career and the cases he’s covered by reading his book, No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter, available here: ⁠⁠https://amzn.eu/d/g1WisSY⁠⁠. Connect with Helen Fospero Follow Helen on Instagram at ⁠⁠@helenfospero⁠⁠ and check out her podcast, The Convex Conversation, here: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-convex-conversation/id1510209575⁠⁠. Credits True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global. Visit ⁠⁠www.audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals⁠⁠ for more information. Executive Producer: Lee Mann. Producer: Russell Barnes. Audio Production: BLEACHED Music Composition: BLEACHED Artwork: BLEACHED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're still pinching ourselves... 🎉 In this short bonus episode, Martin Brunt and Helen Fospero reflect on an unforgettable evening at the True Crime Awards, where we were honoured to win Most Captivating Hosts. A huge thank you to everyone at the True Crime Awards, the judging panel, and everyone involved in recognising the work that goes into bringing these stories to you each week. Most importantly, thank you for listening, supporting the podcast, and being part of our incredible community. If you've enjoyed the show, we'd love it if you could take a moment to leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts, give us a thumbs up wherever you listen, or follow the show so you never miss an episode. Every review, rating and recommendation really helps more people discover the podcast. From Martin and Helen, thank you once again for your support—we couldn't have done it without you. ........................... Follow True Criminals Instagram: ⁠⁠@true.criminals⁠⁠ TikTok: @truecriminalspodcast Connect with Martin Brunt Follow Martin on Twitter at ⁠⁠@skymartinbrunt⁠⁠. Discover more about his career and the cases he’s covered by reading his book, No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter, available here: ⁠⁠https://amzn.eu/d/g1WisSY⁠⁠. Connect with Helen Fospero Follow Helen on Instagram at ⁠⁠@helenfospero⁠⁠ and check out her podcast, The Convex Conversation, here: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-convex-conversation/id1510209575⁠⁠. Credits True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global. Visit ⁠⁠www.truecriminals.co.uk⁠⁠ for more information. Executive Producer: Lee Mann. Producer: Russell Barnes. Audio Production: BLEACHED Music Composition: BLEACHED Artwork: BLEACHED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on True Criminals, Martin Brunt and Helen Fospero revisit one of the most infamous murder cases in British history, the story of Dr Hawley Harvey Crippen. Joined by bestselling historian and author Hallie Rubenhold, they explore the murder of Belle Elmore and the extraordinary investigation that gripped the Edwardian world, from the first international manhunt to the pioneering use of wireless telegraphy. Drawing on Hallie's acclaimed book Story of a Murder, the conversation moves beyond the familiar legend of Crippen to uncover the lives of the women at the heart of the case, offering a compelling new perspective on a crime that has shaped true crime history for more than a century. Find Hallie Rubenhold's Story of a Murder here: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/441693/story-of-a-murder-by-rubenhold-hallie/9781804992920 .......... Support the Show Listen ad free and access our full catalogue, including a True Criminals coffee mug, on Patreon at ⁠⁠www.patreon.com/truecriminals⁠⁠. As an independent podcast, we rely on listener support. You can also donate via PayPal ⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=YQVFJR5766BJE⁠ Follow True Criminals Instagram: ⁠⁠@true.criminals⁠⁠ TikTok: @truecriminalspodcast Connect with Martin Brunt Follow Martin on Twitter at ⁠⁠@skymartinbrunt⁠⁠. Discover more about his career and the cases he’s covered by reading his book, No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter, available here: ⁠⁠https://amzn.eu/d/g1WisSY⁠⁠. Connect with Helen Fospero Follow Helen on Instagram at ⁠⁠@helenfospero⁠⁠ and check out her podcast, The Convex Conversation, here: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-convex-conversation/id1510209575⁠⁠. Credits True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global. Visit ⁠⁠www.truecriminals.co.uk⁠⁠ for more information. Executive Producer: Lee Mann. Producer: Russell Barnes. Audio Production: BLEACHED Music Composition: BLEACHED Artwork: BLEACHED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of True Criminals, Martin Brunt and Helen Fospero take a closer look at ITV’s powerful drama Believe Me, which tells the story of convicted black cab rapist John Worboys through the experiences of his victims. Having both followed and covered the case, Martin and Helen discuss how the four-part drama brings one of Britain’s most shocking criminal cases back into focus — not by centring Worboys, but by telling the story of the women who survived his attacks and the fight to be believed. They explore the performances, the difficult realities behind the drama, the police failings that allowed Worboys’ offending to continue, and why the battle for justice did not end with his conviction. Martin shares his memories of seeing Worboys in court, the evidence that ultimately exposed the scale of his crimes, and the disturbing details that revealed the man behind the headlines. They also discuss Carrie Johnson’s extraordinary role in helping keep Worboys behind bars and why her story became such an important part of the fight for victims’ voices to be heard. A powerful discussion about true crime, dramatisation, accountability and the women at the heart of one of the UK’s most infamous cases. ......... Support the Show Listen ad free and access our full catalogue, including a True Criminals coffee mug, on Patreon at ⁠⁠www.patreon.com/truecriminals⁠⁠. As an independent podcast, we rely on listener support. You can also donate via PayPal ⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=YQVFJR5766BJE⁠ Follow True Criminals Instagram: ⁠⁠@true.criminals⁠⁠ TikTok: @truecriminalspodcast Connect with Martin Brunt Follow Martin on Twitter at ⁠⁠@skymartinbrunt⁠⁠. Discover more about his career and the cases he’s covered by reading his book, No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter, available here: ⁠⁠https://amzn.eu/d/g1WisSY⁠⁠. Connect with Helen Fospero Follow Helen on Instagram at ⁠⁠@helenfospero⁠⁠ and check out her podcast, The Convex Conversation, here: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-convex-conversation/id1510209575⁠⁠. Credits True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global. Visit ⁠⁠www.audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals⁠⁠ for more information. Executive Producer: Lee Mann. Producer: Russell Barnes. Audio Production: BLEACHED Music Composition: BLEACHED Artwork: BLEACHED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices