Aged just 13, Thomas Carrick was placed under covert surveillance by the Australian Federal Police and lured into online conversations with them, posing as fake ISIS operatives. Ultimately, he was charged with terrorism offences. The most powerful intelligence agencies in the country knew Thomas had a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, and lived with an intellectual disability. Yet undercover operatives continued to engage with him in what a judge later described as ‘grooming’ for terrorist activities.

But was Thomas ever truly dangerous… or simply a vulnerable boy, lost in a make-believe world crafted by highly trained police?

In this episode, counter-terrorism expert Peta Lowe takes us inside the Thomas Carrick case, and reveals what it tells us about the rising threat of youth radicalisation in Australia.

You can also hear Peta in Secrets We Keep: Lone Actor.

This episode references extremist ideology and violent crime. If you need assistance, contact LifeLine on 13 11 14.

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A woman wakes to a tragic accident on her rural Queensland property. She’s told one of her friends has fallen into a woodchipper. He was clearing trees with two other men at the time, but police soon suspect his death was no mishap and a murder investigation commences. They want to find the people responsible, and after the news goes public, members of the community share some theories with the police. Investigative journalist Tara Cassidy has been covering this case for years, and speaks to those who knew the victim, and potential perpetrators.

All people convicted of murder related to this case have lodged their intentions to appeal the outcomes. At the point of publishing this podcast those appeals have not progressed further.

Go straight to episode two here and binge the rest of the series.

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Triple murderer Sef Gonzales has been granted the right to appeal against his life sentence. Gonzales was just 23 when he murdered his parents and sister over 20 years ago.

Sef has always maintained his innocence.

Today, the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal granted him the right to appeal because Gonzales successfully argued that he had lived with PTSD after being sexually abused as a child.

Former Crime Insiders Forensics host, Kathryn Fox, spoke about Gonzales with forensic child psychiatrist, Dr John Kasinathan.

We’ve put it back in your feed to provide some background and insight into Gonzales and his horrific crimes….

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