Episodes

  • NZ's most brutal killer? The story of RSA triple murderer William Bell
    Jul 16 2025

    In December 2001, William Bell stormed into the Mt Wellington-Panmure Returned Services Association premises and brutally attacked four innocent people.

    Club president Bill Absolum, club member Wayne Johnson and cleaner Mary Hobson died.

    Susan Couch survived - just.

    Bell left the mother-of-one for dead with broken arms and severe head injuries that caused a stroke.

    She lost about 80 per cent of her blood and ambulance officers later said she came as close to dying as she could get.

    Bell was on parole at the time of the murders and already had 102 convictions.

    He was convicted of attempted murder, aggravated robbery and three counts of murder and sentenced to life in prison with a minimum non-parole period of 30 years. He is not eligible for parole December 2031.

    His getaway driver was a Darnell Tupe. He was convicted of manslaughter and aggravated robbery and sntenced to 12 years' with a seven-year minimum non-parole period. He is currently at large in the community after being released on parole.

    In this month’s episode of Herald podcast A Moment In Crime senior journalist Anna Leask revisists the triple murder - explaining what led to Bell’s violent and callous offending and how the tragedy would never have happened if authorities had not missed a crucial opportunity to recall him to prison. chance to recall him to prison

    Leask also tells the stories of the victims and surivor - why they were at the RSA that awful day and what they meant to their family and friends.

    A Moment in Crime is available on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes are released monthly.

    The series is written and hosted by senior crime and justice reporter Anna Leask. Leask has been with NZME since 2005 and has worked as a specialist journalist focussing on family and gender-based violence, child abuse, sexual violence, homicides, mental health and youth crime.

    If you have a crime or case you would like to hear more about, email anna.leask@nzme.co.nz.

    Since 2019, A Moment in Crime has produced almost 70 episodes, and has been downloaded over 2 million times, with listeners in over 180 countries. Past cases covered include the Bain Family murders, Lauren Dickason, James Wallace, the Heavenly Creatures case, and Grace Millane.

    It was nominated for Best True Crime Podcast at the 2024 Radio and Podcast Awards.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    56 mins
  • NZH Presents - Rainbow Warrior: A Forgotten History
    Jul 9 2025

    40 years ago, two bombs went off in Auckland's harbour when French agents targeted a Greenpeace ship. It was meant to be a warning against anti-nuclear protests, but the death of a photographer on board sparked a major police and political response.

    From the NZ Herald and Bird of Paradise Productions, this six-part series re-examines the bombing, the events leading up to it, the investigation that followed, and the ongoing fallout from this case and the French nuclear testing.

    Search for 'A Forgotten History' on your preferred podcast app.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    2 mins
  • Depraved, brutal and callous: The murder of Yanfei Bao
    Jun 27 2025

    On June 13, Chinese national Tingjun Cao was jailed for life for the murder of Christchurch real estate agent and mother Yanfei Bao.

    Bao, 44, was stabbed to death in July 2023 and buried in a shallow grave on a farm outside Christchurch.

    She was not found for more than a year.

    The crime shocked New Zealand and this month on Herald podcast A Moment In Crime senior journalist and host Anna Leask tells the story of Yanfei and her killer.

    In this episode Leask goes inside the courtroom to Cao’s sentencing and you will hear from the detective who led the investigation into his awful offending.

    It is graphic in parts and may be upsetting. This podcast explores crime not for shock value, but for clarity — to understand what happened, why, and what it means. True crime is not entertainment — it's a responsibility. I tell crime stories with one goal in mind: to centre the victims, uncover the full story, and examine how justice is pursued — or denied.

    This episode was produced by Leask, NZME audio engineer Alastair Boyes and Ethan Sills.

    READ MORE:

    Yanfei Bao murder: Capturing a killer and the 375-day hunt for missing Christchurch real estate agent

    Christchurch real estate agent Yanfei Bao’s murderer sentenced after disruptive, angry court outbursts

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    1 hr and 25 mins
  • The Peter Ellis case: Inside the Christchurch Civic Creche scandal
    May 14 2025

    Warning: this episode refers to child sex abuse and is intended for a mature audience only.

    The Christchurch Civic Creche child sex abuse scandal rocked the South Island city in the early 90s - and went on to become one of the most significant legal battles in New Zealand's history.

    Childcare worker Peter Ellis was accused of bizarre and horrifying offences of satanic rituals, torture and sacrifice against preschoolers while he worked at the creche.

    He was eventually convicted on 16 charges of sexually abusing pre-schoolers and jailed for 10 years.

    In 2022 - after numerous failed appeals - the Supreme Court quashed Ellis' convictions, saying the police investigation and his trial were significantly flawed.

    Sadly, Ellis died before the landmark decision.

    In this episode of A Moment In Crime host Anna Leask goes back to 1991 when Ellis was first accused of child abuse - and tells his story from there.

    You will also one of the last interviews Ellis ever gave before he died, as well as one of the child complainants who maintains she was abused by her former creche teacher.

    A Moment In Crime is written and hosted by Anna Leask, senior journalist at the New Zealand Herald. To find out more about her work as a specialist crime and justice reporter click here.

    To read more:

    The twists and turns of Peter Ellis' Christchurch Civic Creche sex abuse case

    Peter Ellis: Convictions posthumously quashed in landmark Supreme Court decision

    To hear more:

    The Front Page

    The Mike Hosking Breakfast, NewstalkZB

    SEXUAL HARM - Where to get help

    If you've ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone, contact Safe to Talk confidentially, any time 24/7:

    Call 0800 044 334
    Text 4334
    Email support@safetotalk.nz

    For more info or to web chat visit www.safetotalk.nz

    Alternatively contact your local police station.

    If you have been sexually assaulted, remember it's not your fault.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    39 mins
  • NZ's worst youth offender? The life and many crimes of Paddy the 'baddy'
    Apr 16 2025

    Youth crime is a constant issue in New Zealand – and in the last few years, stories of ram raids, violent attacks and spree offending have dominated the headlines.

    Successive governments have tried to tackle the problem – introducing various policies, programs and plans and even changing legislation.

    There has been some success, but for some youth offenders, it seems there is nothing anyone can say or do to stop their often terrifying and relentless behaviour.

    In this episode of A Moment In Crime host Anna Leask examines the life of one of hte country's worst youth offenders - Paddy.

    She also speaks with Principal Youth Court Judge Ida Malosi about the issues around young offenders, how they can be stopped and who is responsible.

    To read more about Paddy click here.

    The series is written and hosted by Leask – who specialises in crime and justice. She joined the Herald in 2008 and has worked as a journalist for 19 years with a particular focus on family and gender-based violence, child abuse, sexual violence, homicides, mental health and youth crime.

    If you have a crime or case you would like to hear more about, email anna.leask@nzme.co.nz.

    A Moment in Crime is available on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes are released monthly.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • My father, the sex offender: Sisters speak about years of abuse
    Mar 12 2025

    In 2015 a 43-year-old man was jailed for more than 15 years for the premeditated, prolonged and persistent sexual abuse of his two young daughters - filming much of the abuse of the youngest and uploading it to vile websites.

    He was also convicted of sexual offending against another two little girls he met through his job at a community centre and secretly filming an adult friend having sex.

    Recently he was refused parole and his daughters spoke to senior journalist Anna Leask, host of the Herald podcast A Moment In Crime about their ordeal.

    SEXUAL HARM - Where to get help

    If you've ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone, contact Safe to Talk confidentially, any time 24/7:

    Call 0800 044 334
    Text 4334
    Email support@safetotalk.nz

    For more info or to web chat visit www.safetotalk.nzAlternatively contact your local police station.

    If you have been sexually assaulted, remember it's not your fault.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    41 mins
  • Sick or twisted? The story of violent offender Anthony Wheble
    Feb 12 2025

    Anthony John Wheble is not as well-known as many of the criminals previously covered by A Moment in Crime - but he is considered of New Zealand’s most violent criminals.

    He has been in prison for more than a decade and he is serving as sentence with no end date, due to the severity and nature of his crimes.

    Wheble has tried to kill two fellow inmates with shanks - one who was confined to a wheelchair at the time with both legs in casts.

    The impression you get from the news stories and from the court decisions published about his years of offending is tha Anthony Wheble is a menace, someone who needs to be locked up for as long as possible.

    But there are people who will tell you that is not the case, that prison is the worst environment for Wheble, that he is unwell and needs a significant level of help.

    In this episode, Anna Leask explores the story of Anthony Wheble - who he is, what he has done and why he may never be released from prison, and speaks to his mum and another of his supporters about their mission to save him.

    The series is written and hosted by Leask – who specialises in crime and justice. She joined the Herald in 2008 and has worked as a journalist for 19 years with a particular focus on family and gender-based violence, child abuse, sexual violence, homicides, mental health and youth crime.

    If you have a crime or case you would like to hear more about, email anna.leask@nzme.co.nz.

    A Moment in Crime is available on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes are released monthly.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    1 hr
  • Bad cops: New Zealand's deviant, murderous and offending police officers
    Jan 8 2025

    From the start of 2021 to November 2023 a total of 333 police staff - constabulary and non-sworn - were investigated for alleged criminal offending.

    The constabulary includes all of those from recruits right up to senior inspectors and top cops. Non sworn staff are in admin or support roles within the organisation.

    Of those investigated, 89 were charged.

    In some cases, employees faced multiple charges.

    They have murdered and raped people. They have stolen and lied. They’ve bought and sold drugs. They have abused children. They’ve assaulted their partners. They have been violent. They have tried to pervert the course of justice.

    Instead of upholding the law as their job requires - these men and women were breaking it.

    Here, A Moment In Crime host Anna Leask looks at memorable examples of crooked cop staff brought to justice by their workmates since the early 2010s.

    A Moment in Crime is available on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes are released monthly.

    The series is written and hosted by Leask – who specialises in crime and justice. She joined the Herald in 2008 and has worked as a journalist for 19 years with a particular focus on family and gender-based violence, child abuse, sexual violence, homicides, mental health and youth crime.

    If you have a crime or case you would like to hear more about, email anna.leask@nzme.co.nz.

    A Moment in Crime is available on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes are released monthly.

    READ MORE:

    'Sex predator' police officer sentenced for indecent relationship with 13yo girl

    Bad cops: Tax evasion, murder, fraud and assaults on list of convictions for NZ police

    FIND JARED SAVAGE'S BOOKS HERE.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    59 mins