Real Crime with Adam Shand

Connie Amaro was a devoted wife, grandmother, and the heart of a close-knit Italian family. Then she vanished.
Four days later, her body was discovered hidden beneath branches in a pine plantation north of Perth. She had been strangled. More than two decades later, nobody has ever been convicted.
Now, in a podcast years in the making, two women from opposite sides of the family break their silence to reveal what they believe really happened.
As award-winning journalist Adam Shand uncovers hidden relationships, family loyalties, allegations kept secret for years, and a suspect many believe escaped justice, one question remains...
How can a murder with so many unanswered questions remain unsolved?
This is La Famiglia—a story of betrayal, silence, and a family forever changed.
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In 1990, Victoria passed an extraordinary law to keep notorious violent offender Gary David (Webb) behind bars after his sentence had expired. Former Victorian MP Neil Cole was one of the few politicians to oppose the legislation, arguing it ignored the reality that David was suffering from severe mental illness. In this fascinating interview, Cole reflects on a decision that reshaped Australian law and asks whether preventive detention has become an increasingly accepted response to managing dangerous offenders.
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Australia's illicit tobacco trade has fuelled a wave of firebombings, extortion and organised crime. But is history about to repeat itself with alcohol?In this episode of From the Desk, Adam Shand examines how rising alcohol excise may be creating new opportunities for criminal syndicates. From illegal distilleries and counterfeit spirits to billion-dollar tax losses and dangerous contaminated alcohol, he explores the unintended consequences of government policy and asks whether Australia has found the right balance between protecting public health and preventing organised crime.
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Janine Haskins tells Adam about her campaign to reform police investigations of suicides and the coronial process in the ACT after the 2020 death of her 23-year-old daughter Bronte. Janine believes that police need to avoid tunnel vision when approaching the suspected suicide of young people where there may be other possibilities. The ACT coroner found that Bronte had taken her own life, but her mother is not convinced and wants other families to avoid the same situation.
This episode contains discussions of suicide, mental health, substance dependency, trauma, and the death of a young person. Some listeners may find this content distressing. Please listen with care.
If this episode raises concerns for you or someone you know, support is available:
Lifeline Australia – 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au
Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467
Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636
In an emergency, or if someone is in immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000).
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Lawyer and former NSW politician Peter Breen argues that two of Australia's most controversial murder convictions deserve fresh scrutiny. He explains why he believes the convictions of Phuong Ngo for the murder of MP John Newman and Steven Wayne "Shorty" Jamieson for the murder of Janine Balding were unsafe, raising questions about indemnified witnesses, disputed police interview techniques and evidence that, he says, points to serious miscarriages of justice.
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