In 1963, a 19-year-old Perth man became the face of one of Australia’s most devastating miscarriages of justice.

In this episode of Real Crime with Adam Shand, Adam speaks directly with John Button, now in his 80s, about the night that changed his life, the brutality of a forced confession, and the system that chose expediency over justice. Button recounts living under the shadow of a wrongful conviction for nearly 40 years, the toll it took on his mental health and family and the bitter reality of being exonerated but never truly compensated.

In 1963, a 19-year-old Perth man became the face of one of Australia&rsquo;s most devastating miscarriages of justice.
In this episode of Real Crime with Adam Shand, Adam speaks directly with John Button, now in his 80s, about the night that changed his life, the brutality of a forced confession, and the system that chose expediency over justice. Button recounts living under the shadow of a wrongful conviction for nearly 40 years, the toll it took on his mental health and family and the bitter reality of being exonerated but never truly compensated.

Join investigative journalist Adam Shand each week as he takes you into his world of real crime, honed from forty years of covering Australia's biggest law and order stories. These are the firsthand stories of the cops, robbers, and victims who lived them.

Join investigative journalist Adam Shand each week as he takes you into his world of real crime, honed from forty years of covering Australia's biggest law and order stories. These are the firsthand stories of the cops, robbers, and victims who lived them.

Real Crime with Adam Shand

Join investigative journalist Adam Shand each week as he takes you into his world of real crime, honed from forty years of covering Australia's biggest law and order stories. These are the firsthand stories of the cops, robbers, and victims who lived them. 

Join investigative journalist Adam Shand each week as he takes you into his world of real crime, honed from forty years of covering Australia's biggest law and order stories. These are the firsthand stories of the cops, robbers, and victims who lived them.&nbsp;

Five Years for a Crime He Didn’t Commit | John Button

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/5f1e9a86-9660-46d8-a829-b3da0181d3fe/transcript

In the 1970s and ’80s, Victoria was in the grip of an armed robbery epidemic. Banks, newsagents and small businesses were hit daily. Gunmen didn’t hesitate. Police were targets. And the Armed Robbery Squad was on the front line.

In this episode ofReal Crime, Adam Shand sits down with former Victoria Police detective Rod Porter, a proud member of the Armed Robbery Squad during its most violent era.

Rod takes us inside a time when policing was raw, relentless and often deadly. He recounts the 1987 fatal shooting of prolific heroin-fuelled robber Mark Milano — a split-second decision that would haunt him for decades. He describes the surreal seconds after shots are fired, the trauma of facing a coroner’s inquest and the personal toll that high-stakes policing took on his marriage and family life.

He also speaks candidly about handling one of Australia’s most infamous criminals — Mark “Chopper” Read — who became his informer before the notorious Bojangles nightclub murder. The relationship would drag Rod into controversy and scrutiny, adding yet another layer of pressure to an already dangerous career.

 

In the 1970s and &rsquo;80s, Victoria was in the grip of an armed robbery epidemic. Banks, newsagents and small businesses were hit daily. Gunmen didn&rsquo;t hesitate. Police were targets. And the Armed Robbery Squad was on the front line.
In this episode of Real Crime, Adam Shand sits down with former Victoria Police detective Rod Porter, a proud member of the Armed Robbery Squad during its most violent era.
Rod takes us inside a time when policing was raw, relentless and often deadly. He recounts the 1987 fatal shooting of prolific heroin-fuelled robber Mark Milano &mdash; a split-second decision that would haunt him for decades. He describes the surreal seconds after shots are fired, the trauma of facing a coroner&rsquo;s inquest and the personal toll that high-stakes policing took on his marriage and family life.
He also speaks candidly about handling one of Australia&rsquo;s most infamous criminals &mdash; Mark &ldquo;Chopper&rdquo; Read &mdash; who became his informer before the notorious Bojangles nightclub murder. The relationship would drag Rod into controversy and scrutiny, adding yet another layer of pressure to an already dangerous career.
&nbsp;

War in the Suburbs: Inside Victoria’s Armed Robbery Squad | Rod Porter

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/26791272-4acc-4ab8-b78b-b3f40019217f/transcript

The disappearance of three-year-old Cheryl Grimmer from Fairy Meadow Beach in 1970 has haunted Australia for more than five decades. But the impact of that crime didn’t stop on the sand dunes that day — it rippled through generations of one family.

In this episode of Real Crime, Adam Shand speaks with Melanie Grimmer, Cheryl’s niece and the daughter of Cheryl’s brother, Ricky. Melanie shares what it’s like to grow up in the long shadow of an unresolved crime — carrying inherited guilt, fear, anger and grief for an aunt she never knew.

The disappearance of three-year-old Cheryl Grimmer from Fairy Meadow Beach in 1970 has haunted Australia for more than five decades. But the impact of that crime didn&rsquo;t stop on the sand dunes that day &mdash; it rippled through generations of one family.
In this episode of&nbsp;Real Crime, Adam Shand speaks with Melanie Grimmer, Cheryl&rsquo;s niece and the daughter of Cheryl&rsquo;s brother, Ricky. Melanie shares what it&rsquo;s like to grow up in the long shadow of an unresolved crime &mdash; carrying inherited guilt, fear, anger and grief for an aunt she never knew.

The Girl Taken, The Family Left Behind | Melanie Grimmer

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/d01789ed-00d7-480b-86de-b3ef00665714/transcript

On July 28, 1992, a meticulously planned armed robbery at Melbourne Airport ended in bloodshed.
More than a million dollars was stolen from an Ansett Freight terminal — but the gang never made their escape.

In this episode of Real Crime with Adam Shand, Adam speaks exclusively withSteve Barci, the third member of the crew — a seasoned armed robber who has never spoken publicly about the crime until now. But this conversation goes far deeper than the robbery itself. Barci breaks his silence todefend Normie Lee’s legacy, responding to recent media claims linking Lee to the infamous Mr Cruel child abductions. 

On July 28, 1992, a meticulously planned armed robbery at Melbourne Airport ended in bloodshed. More than a million dollars was stolen from an Ansett Freight terminal &mdash; but the gang never made their escape.
In this episode of Real Crime with Adam Shand, Adam speaks exclusively with Steve Barci, the third member of the crew &mdash; a seasoned armed robber who has never spoken publicly about the crime until now.&nbsp;But this conversation goes far deeper than the robbery itself. Barci breaks his silence to defend Normie Lee&rsquo;s legacy, responding to recent media claims linking Lee to the infamous Mr Cruel child abductions.&nbsp;

Inside Australia’s Most Dramatic Airport Robbery | Stephen Barci

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/b5b96a1e-a9c7-449a-9e8d-b3ed0004055b/transcript

Five Years for a Crime He Didn’t Commit | John Button

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