12 episodes
The Trial Stuff
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- True Crime
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4.8 • 194 Ratings
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In May 2017, 49-year-old builder Michael McGrath disappeared, almost without trace.
No crime scene was ever found.
No weapon was ever found.
No body was ever found.
So how could his longtime friend be arrested and charged with murder?
In February 2023, the trial of David Charles Benbow finally began.
Benbow stood accused of murdering McGrath because he’d started a relationship with Benbow’s former partner, Joanna Green.
The prosecution said that, while based entirely on circumstantial evidence, its case was so comprehensive there could be no doubt Benbow was guilty.
The defence said detectives were biased, working hard to build a case against Benbow after he was identified as a prime suspect - by Green.
Stuff, New Zealand’s award-winning leader in true crime podcasts (Black Hands, The Commune, Gone Fishing) presents The Trial.
Journalists from The Press newsroom in Christchurch spent weeks at the High Court and pored over hundreds of hours of recordings to create a compelling and in-depth insight into New Zealand’s criminal justice system.
Hear the evidence. Follow the twists and turns. Wait - for the verdict.
WARNING: This series contains some strong language and content that may upset some people.
For full written coverage of the trial by The Press, visit stuff.co.nz.
Need more great true crime podcasts? Check out Stuff's full catalogue here.
CREDITS
Scripted, hosted and produced by Michael Wright
Sound design, audio editing and mixing by Connor Scott
Visual design: Kathryn George
Legal checks: Genevieve O'Halloran and Courtney Grenfell
Associate producer: Jen Black
Consulting producer: Adam Dudding
Executive producer: Chris Reed
Special thanks: Kamala Hayman, Martin van Beynen and Jake Kenny from The Press; John Cooper, Tyson Jemmett, Laura Heathcote, Amanda Montgomerie, Philippa Tolley and Candice Robertson.
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Episode 1: The disappearance of Michael McGrath
When Michael McGrath started looking less scruffy, his friends started talking.
When he failed to show for his weekly dinner with his mum, his new partner, Joanna Green, called the police, kickstarting an investigation that took six years to reach court.
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Episode 2: The love triangle
One relationship faltered and another blossomed.
Police argued that was a motive for murder.
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Episode 3: Monday, 9am
Did Michael McGrath keep an appointment to shift some wood at David Benbow’s place? The prosecution says that’s where - and when - he was murdered. But the defence has doubts about Crown evidence involving the finer points of power consumption and CCTV footage.
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Episode 4: The burden of proof
After playing parts of David Benbow's police interviews to the court, the prosecution makes much of his inability to fully account for his movements on the day - and day after - he allegedly murdered Michael McGrath. But the defence underlines one key fact: there is no physical evidence Benbow did anything wrong.
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Episode 5: 'Did you do it?'
As the investigation intensified, David Benbow's behaviour prompted questions from close friends, and police exploited his interest in the media coverage with a cunning press release. With the jury asked to consider the importance of Benbow's missing rifle - the alleged murder weapon - the defence dismisses the Crown case as hollow, "like a cheap Easter egg".
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Episode 6: Not quite the end
After listening intently to more than 100 witnesses over two months, the jury left the courtroom to begin its deliberations. Those left behind waited. And waited. But even when the wait was over, the Benbow trial still held a twist or two.
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Customer Reviews
Simon Drought
Very well craft. Top stuff.
Coverage of the retrial?
The series is beautifully crafted and a compelling listen. I have not seen any media coverage of the retrial, other than the start. Will that feature in a seconds series of the podcast?
Excellent reporting
A relatively prosaic case made fascinating by excellent reporting: sober and measured but a compelling story. A great reminder of how important good reporting is to our justice system.