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The Man in the Balaclava cover art

The Man in the Balaclava

By: Tara Moss, Mark Whittaker
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$16.45/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

  • Summary

  • Please note: contains strong language and adult content.

    Ashley Coulston is a convicted triple murderer, but was he responsible for far more carnage? Wherever Coulston went, a pattern of unsolved crimes followed, including those of Australia’s infamous ‘balaclava killer’ who has never been unmasked.

    In this gripping podcast, best-selling novelist and private investigator Tara Moss examines why Coulston has never been charged with the balaclava killer’s atrocities and whether any other unsolved murders can be traced to him. She also asks why the justice system lets down victims of sexual assault time and time again.

    ©2021 Audible Australia Pty Ltd. (P)2021 Audible Australia Pty Ltd.
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Episodes
  • Ep 1: Cold Case on the Gold Coast
    Apr 11 2021

    A series of brutal rapes 40 years ago on Australia’s Gold Coast was never solved but as one of the victims recalls a vital clue Tara and Mark investigate.

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    31 mins
  • Ep 2: A Quiet Suburb
    Apr 11 2021

    Are the unsolved Gold Coast attacks connected to a violent attack and shocking triple murder which took place years later in Melbourne? 

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    27 mins
  • Ep 3: Lovers Lane
    Apr 11 2021

    The Balaclava killer's MO escalates. Could convicted triple murderer Ashley Coulston be the perpetrator?

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    24 mins

What listeners say about The Man in the Balaclava

Average Customer Ratings
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A good job

you did a good job Tara thank you ❤️ I thought il just listen to one or two but no I had to keep going when you talked about the movie it was like a light come on to this day I have never seen the hitcher the Dirty Harry was another favourite

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Re-open these cases!

How awful that so many victims have not had justice. Given so many "coincidences" the QLD/VIC/NSW police force need to work together to solve these crimes. Great work Tara & team.

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4 people found this helpful

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freedom

enjoyed going to sleep with this have never sleeper better knowing he's in jail

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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interesting case

the story was really interesting and I hadn't heard much about it previously. could have done without Tara Moss' moralising and constant use of "actually"

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2 people found this helpful

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so good.

Thankyou Tara and everyone concerned.
I can only hope the police follow up and investigate as thoroughly as you have.
Riveting.

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Again Police laziness is brought into question ❓

Good podcast 👍 the police have a lot to answer for AGAIN !!! . Doesn't matter if it's Queensland or NSW police back then they were a bunch of Muppets . Tara rocks as she tells this story one we've all heard before of laziness and ineptness on the behalf of the detectives that aren't meant to be like that narrow-minded and corruption reins supreme.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Ineffectiveness of police

This was a well researched report of crimes and how police seemed not interested which lead to years of rapes and killings by a serial offender. How the justice system believed everyone but the victims themselves and how people so easily ignore the warning signs of what's to come. Tara Moss is talented, kind and compassionate while she endeavours to find the truth. Loved her narration.

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3 people found this helpful

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Question of justice

It's disturbing to hear that so much evidence put forward has not been heard and considered. but, on the other hand, sadly not surprising. From personal knowledge, unless one has experienced such atrocities, there will always be those who either won't believe or take the matter as 'ho hum', or 'get over it'.
I applaude Tara Moss for her investigations. Keep it up Tara. Justice MUST be done for ALL offences undertaken by this person - for all the people & families affected.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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guilty or not?

hard to think this scumbag is not guilty and how the cops have royally f#$credit things up

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Tragic, harrowing, compelling

The story of Ashley Coulston (and the Balaclava Rapist, who may or may not be the same person) was brilliantly and sensitively told by Tara Moss and Mark Whittaker. While solidly focused on the known facts and evidence of each crime, they never lose sight of the need to bring empathy into the way they present the narrative, and of the need for closure for victims and their families. Every bit as heartbreaking as the story of California's East Area Rapist/Golden State Killer - probably even more so for Australian listeners who are familiar with the places where the attacks took place. Compelling but confronting listening.

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.