Shadow of Doubt

3.5 (280)
TRUE CRIME
COMPLETE SERIES

A mystery that just keeps twisting and turning. Journalist Richard Guilliatt - the reporter who exposed cancer fraudster Belle Gibson - investigates a confounding case, and a family torn apart.

EPISODE 1

Australia’s Most Evil Dad

An Australian couple are jailed for the shocking rape and torture of their daughter over 13 years. Yet two of their children insist they are innocent, and no-one noticed the violent abuse. Could this be a grave miscarriage of justice? To read more on this podcast, head to shadowofdoubt.com.au Shadow of Doubt is written, researched and presented by Richard Guilliatt. It's produced and edited by multimedia editor, Lia Tsamoglou. Claire Harvey is The Australian's Editorial Director. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

49 min
EPISODE 2

Digging Deep

The case against Martin and Susan Johnson begins in a psychiatric hospital where their daughter Emily undergoes years of counselling. Court records and the testimony of former hospital staff suggest her treatment was deeply flawed. To read more on this podcast, head to shadowofdoubt.com.au Shadow of Doubt is written, researched and presented by Richard Guilliatt. It's produced and edited by multimedia editor, Lia Tsamoglou. Claire Harvey is The Australian's Editorial Director. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

40 min
EPISODE 3

Family Secrets

Martin Johnson is an admired sports coach, but he has a dark secret. When his daughter Emily learns about it, she suddenly begins to remember terrible events from her childhood. To read more on this podcast, head to shadowofdoubt.com.au Shadow of Doubt is written, researched and presented by Richard Guilliatt. It's produced and edited by multimedia editor, Lia Tsamoglou. Claire Harvey is The Australian's Editorial Director. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

45 min
EPISODE 4

Away From Reality

Emily Johnson’s memories of abuse become extraordinarily violent as she suffers “dissociative flashbacks”. Such memories are not always reliable - we hear from other families swept up in allegations of bizarre abuse. To read more on this podcast, head to shadowofdoubt.com.au Shadow of Doubt is written, researched and presented by Richard Guilliatt. It's produced and edited by multimedia editor, Lia Tsamoglou. Claire Harvey is The Australian's Editorial Director. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

56 min
EPISODE 5

Listening In

Police swoop on the Johnson family home after Emily Johnson accuses her mother of sexual abuse. Telephone surveillance tapes record the family’s reaction. To read more on this podcast, head to shadowofdoubt.com.au Shadow of Doubt is written, researched and presented by Richard Guilliatt. It's produced and edited by multimedia editor, Lia Tsamoglou. Claire Harvey is The Australian's Editorial Director. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

53 min
EPISODE 6

They Call It Dissociation

A chance encounter between Susan Johnson and her daughter on a country road leads to a dramatic escalation in the case. The Johnsons run out of money, and lose their lawyers. To read more on this podcast, head to shadowofdoubt.com.au Shadow of Doubt is written, researched and presented by Richard Guilliatt. It's produced and edited by multimedia editor, Lia Tsamoglou. Claire Harvey is The Australian's Editorial Director. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

46 min
EPISODE 7

The Worst Of The Worst

The Johnsons’ new lawyers decide not to pursue the ‘false memory’ defence at their trial. A jury finds the couple guilty, and Martin Johnson is sentenced to a record 48 years’ jail. Susan Johnson gets 16 years. To read more on this podcast, head to shadowofdoubt.com.au Shadow of Doubt is written, researched and presented by Richard Guilliatt. It's produced and edited by multimedia editor, Lia Tsamoglou. Claire Harvey is The Australian's Editorial Director. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1h 2m
EPISODE 8

Truth

Emily's personal involvement with a police officer causes shock, and her grandmother reveals her serious doubts about the case. Medical and legal experts support a judicial review of the case. To read more on this podcast, head to shadowofdoubt.com.au Shadow of Doubt is written, researched and presented by Richard Guilliatt. It's produced and edited by multimedia editor, Lia Tsamoglou. Claire Harvey is The Australian's Editorial Director. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

59 min

See All Season 1 (8)

TRAILER

Introducing Shadow of Doubt

They were branded ‘evil’ – a mother and father convicted of torturing and abusing their daughter as a sex slave. The father is serving 48 years in jail – the longest sentence in Australian history for child abuse. His wife is serving 16 years. Yet the parents insist they are innocent victims of overzealous police and a mental health system gone haywire.Investigative journalist Richard Guilliatt explores a spectacular collision of memory, therapy, trauma and conflicting ‘truths’ in this gripping new podcast from The Australian. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

02/17/2023

•

2 min

Richard Guilliatt

Host

3.5

out of 5

280 Ratings

Is this real?

08/18/2023

nancyccross

So strange and bizarre! Why can’t we find any photos of the real people anywhere? In these days of social media share-all, I find it unbelievable there is nothing available. Additionally, I don’t hear victim blaming. Sounds like statements of facts on record to me. Very interesting.
Disappointing

2d ago

crimeandcomedyjunkie

I was hoping the host would release an update now that the abuser has been publicly named, and the extent of his crimes, and volume of unrelated victims are known. This is a disturbing hit piece on victims, and a flower fluff piece for P’s.
Abhorrent podcast: in intention and in execution

12/16/2025

Shocked89

Wow. This is a disgusting podcast that aims to rectify women’s “insistence on being believed” post-Me Too. What kind of gross intention is that? At points one thinks/hopes that this is presenting a balanced view but the final episode really sums up the host’s perspective: he admits that the father likely was guilty but still thinks it’s wrong for him to be in jail for life - ?! Because 1 of 3 APPEAL judges questioned some aspects of evidence? Sloppy, biased, quite evil approach to a devastating story. Shane on you The Australian.
Biased reporting. Victim Blaming.

10/30/2025

JennR8

This reporter makes a multi episode attempt to cast a shadow of doubt on the victims. He minimizes the main victims stories, claims they could’ve been false memories, and is overall kind of a jerk for blaming a victim for her horrific upbringing by her sadistic and abusive parents. I looked up the case, and there was mountains of evidence against the parents. They weren’t convicted on false memories. They are vile people and should die in prison. Also “disorienTATed” is not a word.

A mystery that just keeps twisting and turning. Journalist Richard Guilliatt - the reporter who exposed cancer fraudster Belle Gibson - investigates a confounding case, and a family torn apart.