For years, Ben Roberts-Smith, Australia’s most decorated soldier, has been celebrated for his service in Afghanistan. But now, the man who was once considered a national hero is at the centre of serious criminal allegations.

He has been charged with five counts of the war crime of murder, and is in custody in New South Wales' Silverwater Correctional Complex after arrest by the Australian Federal Police last week. But Ben Roberts-Smith has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

In this episode, Wayne is joined by veteran court reporter Stephen Gibbs to unpack how we got here, from explosive media investigations and a bruising civil trial, to a complex and unprecedented criminal prosecution that could take years to resolve.

The Trial Australia is part of The Crime Desk. Subscribe today for ad-free listening, early access to new shows, exclusive bonus episodes and complete access to our true-crime podcast collection. Visit thecrimedesk.com for more information.

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Presenter: Wayne Flower

Producer: Sam Morris

Creative Director: Caroline Cheetham

Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini

A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2024, Nikkita Azzopardi was killed by her partner, Joel Micallef, in a horrifying attack.

He was charged with murder, but found not guilty due to mental impairment, after forensic psychiatrists told the court he was suffering acute psychosis at the time of the killing. The verdict devastated Nikita’s family, who felt like they had not had justice. Now, in a shocking turn of events, Micallef has been found dead in custody while awaiting transfer to a secure mental health facility.

Rejoining Wayne on the podcast is Nikkita’s brothers, Sean and Darren Azzopardi. They discuss this unexpected development, their calls for legal reform, and their victim impact statement, which they will now never be able to deliver to Joel Micallef.

The Trial Australia is part of The Crime Desk. Subscribe today for ad-free listening, early access to new shows, exclusive bonus episodes and complete access to our true-crime podcast collection. Visit thecrimedesk.com for more information.

Follow us on Tiktok @DailyMailCrime

Follow us on instagram @TheTrialPod

Subscribe to our YouTube channel @TheCrimeDesk

Click here to sign up to The Crime Desk's weekly newsletter. It's free and packed with exclusive interviews, expert insight, and gripping deep dive investigations from across the world.

Email us thetrial@dailymail.com

Whatsapp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’)

Presenter: Wayne Flower

Producer: Sam Morris

Creative Director: Caroline Cheetham

Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini

A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After more than 200 days on the run, one of Australia’s largest and most intense manhunts has come to an end.

Dezi Freeman had been on the run since he shot and killed two police officers last year. Despite a $1 million reward for information, police had no concrete leads as to his whereabouts. But a crucial tip-off led officers to a secluded property, where a tense three hour standoff unfolded, ending with Freeman being shot dead.

In this episode, Wayne is joined by reporter Caitlin Powell to break down the final moments of the operation, as detectives investigate whether the self-described sovereign citizen had any help evading capture, and how he managed to stay hidden for so long.

The Trial Australia is part of The Crime Desk. Subscribe today for ad-free listening, early access to new shows, exclusive bonus episodes and complete access to our true-crime podcast collection. Visit thecrimedesk.com for more information.

Follow us on Tiktok @DailyMailCrime

Follow us on instagram @TheTrialPod

Subscribe to our YouTube channel @TheCrimeDesk

Click here to sign up to The Crime Desk's weekly newsletter. It's free and packed with exclusive interviews, expert insight, and gripping deep dive investigations from across the world.

Email us thetrial@dailymail.com

Whatsapp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’)

Presenter: Wayne Flower

Producer: Sam Morris

Creative Director: Caroline Cheetham

Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini

A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.