66 episodes
Reporter The Times
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- True Crime
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3.8 • 310 Ratings
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A podcast feed with exclusive investigations by journalists from The Times and The Sunday Times.
The latest series: James Beal, Social Affairs Editor at The Times, looks into the suicide of a 22-year-old British student and soon links it to a man in Canada selling a lethal substance.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Poison (Pt 1) - The life of Tom Parfett
Warning, this episode contains discussions about suicide.
In October, 2021 David Parfett’s 22-year-old son, Tom, took his own life.
In the first of a three-part podcast we hear from David about the events that led up to the university student’s death.
If you or someone you know has been affected by suicide or needs to talk to someone, please get in contact with the Samaritans online https://www.samaritans.org/ or call them for free on their 24-hour helpline 116 123.
This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.
Host: James Beal, Social Affairs Editor, The Times.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. -
Poison (Pt 2) - The man who sells death
Warning, this episode contains discussions about suicide.
In the second of this three part series we learn of a man called Kenneth Law who’s based in Canada.
Law appears to be selling a substance to young, vulnerable, adults in the UK, some of whom are using it to take their own lives.
If you or someone you know has been affected by suicide or needs to talk to someone, please get in contact with the Samaritans online https://www.samaritans.org/ or call them for free on their 24-hour helpline 116 123.
This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.
Host: James Beal, Social Affairs Editor, The Times.
james.beal@thetimes.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. -
Poison (Pt 3) - An encounter in Toronto
Warning, this episode contains discussions about suicide.
In the final episode of Poison, James goes to Canada to track down Kenneth Law and confront him over his operation.
If you or someone you know has been affected by suicide or needs to talk to someone, please get in contact with the Samaritans online https://www.samaritans.org/ or call them for free on their 24-hour helpline 116 123.
This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.
Host: James Beal, Social Affairs Editor, The Times.
james.beal@thetimes.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. -
Poison - A conversation on suicide prevention
Warning, this episode contains discussions about suicide.
Why does suicide occur? Why is there still a stigma around it? And how can we work to prevent people from taking their own lives?
If you or someone you know has been affected by suicide or needs to talk to someone, please get in contact with the Samaritans online https://www.samaritans.org/ or call them for free on their 24-hour helpline 116 123.
This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.
Guest: Professor Rory O'Connor, Professor of Health Psychology at the University of Glasgow.
Author of 'When It Is Darkest: Why People Die by Suicide and What We Can Do to Prevent It' - https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/442218/when-it-is-darkest-by-professor-rory-oconnor/9781785043437#
Host: James Beal, Social Affairs Editor, The Times.
james.beal@thetimes.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. -
Poison (Pt 4) - UPDATE: Kenneth Law is arrested
Warning, this episode contains discussions about suicide.
On Tuesday night, police in Canada announced the arrest and charge of a 57-year-old man on two counts of aiding or counselling suicide.
If you or someone you know has been affected by suicide or needs to talk to someone, please get in contact with the Samaritans online https://www.samaritans.org/ or call them for free on their 24-hour helpline 116 123.
This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.
Host: James Beal, Social Affairs Editor, The Times.
james.beal@thetimes.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. -
Poison - Coming soon
Warning, this series contains discussions about suicide.
A new three-part investigation here on Friday 28 April.
James Beal, the Social Affairs Editor at The Times looks into the suicide of a 22-year-old British student and soon links it to a man in Canada selling a lethal substance.
How many more deaths could this man be connected to? What is being done to regulate this? And can he be stopped?
If you or someone you know has been affected by suicide or needs to talk to someone, please get in contact with the Samaritans online https://www.samaritans.org/ or call them for free on their 24-hour helpline 116 123.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Customer Reviews
Last Man Standing ruined by Rhana wittering
Fantastic investigation. But it would have been infinitely better just presented and narrated by Anthony rather than the conversational format. Manveen Rhana’s inane interjections and muttering ruin it - her nasal grunting every minute, her fake reactions, her “ya, ya” responses when she hasn’t a clue what to say, her self-important attempts to sound as though she’s really knowledgeable when Anthony politely keeps correcting her comments, her patronising tone… Wish she could just be cut out!
Terrible: Repetitive and unquestioning
I’ve only listened to the first series which I found pretty poor. There is a huge amount repetition which I’ve noticed is a problem with other Times podcasts too. More worryingly, the podcast journalist is completely unquestioning of her main source, the editor Don. My interest was piqued by Matthew Parris saying he found Don had a vivid imagination — this should have been followed up on. How much of what Don tells us, particularly about filmic attempts on his life, can we believe? Nothing he said was ever questioned and no-one else was ever asked about things he said, either to corroborate or dismiss them. In addition, we are told in a late episode of something which the podcast never looks into, but which, if true, would cast a different light on the character of the convicted man. In short, not every story is suitable for a podcast. This was a tragic murder, but unfortunately there is little to say about it and certainly not enough to stretch across this many, long episodes.
Season 3
Season 3 is by far the best season. Intelligently written and a fascinating story