Motive

3.1 (14)
TRUE CRIME
WEEKLY SERIES

Welcome to RNZ's latest super feed called Motive. Dedicated to all things true crime, keep following this podcast feed to get episodes from true crime series every Tuesday.

EPISODE 1

Nark 01 | Tony

On 6 January 1985, Tony “Darcy” Te Hira was murdered in Mt Eden Prison. Fellow inmate Ross Appelgren was twice convicted of the killing but maintained his innocence, saying the prosecution case was based on a string of lies from inmates prepared to “nark” in return for money and early release. For decades the case has remained dormant. But now, an unheard appeal is being resurrected and two women who lost the men they love are looking for answers. See images and read more about the series at www.rnz.co.nz/nark Special thanks to everyone who helped bring this podcast to life, especially Julie Appelgren and Suzanne Young. And thanks to Ngā Taonga and Mediaworks for some of the archival audio. AI was used to recreate the voice of Ross Appelgren. The only words used were those he wrote or said during his lifetime. If you have any further information on this case, please email nark@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

42 min
EPISODE 2

Nark 02 | A Kitchen Murder

Darcy Te Hira’s murder in Mt Eden prison is one shrouded in controversy. The only prison guard on duty saw and heard nothing. Initially, Darcy was treated as if he was ill when he had no history of seizures and by the time the alarm was raised, the kitchen had been cleaned. Was there a cover up? See images and read more about the series at www.rnz.co.nz/nark Special thanks to everyone who helped bring this podcast to life, especially Julie Appelgren and Suzanne Young. And thanks to Ngā Taonga and Mediaworks for some of the archival audio. AI was used to recreate the voice of Ross Appelgren. The only words used were those he wrote or said during his lifetime. If you have any further information on this case, please email nark@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

50 min
EPISODE 3

Nark 03 | Rock Life

Sometimes, where a murder happens can be just as important a factor in its investigation as who did it and why. This episode looks at life behind the bars of Mt Eden. The drugs, violence and the code of silence. See images and read more about the series at www.rnz.co.nz/nark Special thanks to everyone who helped bring this podcast to life, especially Julie Appelgren and Suzanne Young. And thanks to Ngā Taonga and Mediaworks for some of the archival audio. AI was used to recreate the voice of Ross Appelgren. The only words used were those he wrote or said during his lifetime. If you have any further information on this case, please email nark@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

48 min
EPISODE 4

Nark 04 | Convict Cluedo

The investigation into the murder of Darcy Te Hira kicks off in earnest, but the police are stymied by the prisoner code of silence and a lack of forensic evidence at the murder scene. That is until a mystery note that leads them to a broken kitchen paddle. See images and read more about the series at www.rnz.co.nz/nark Special thanks to everyone who helped bring this podcast to life, especially Julie Appelgren and Suzanne Young. And thanks to Ngā Taonga and Mediaworks for some of the archival audio. AI was used to recreate the voice of Ross Appelgren. The only words used were those he wrote or said during his lifetime. If you have any further information on this case, please email nark@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

42 min
EPISODE 5

Nark 05 | Ross & Ernie

Let’s properly meet the two main characters in this story. Ross, the accused. A car thief and bank robber who’d spent a third of his life behind bars. And Ernie* the accuser. A fraudster whose arrest culminated in a police chase and with Ernie* dangling off Auckland’s Harbour Bridge. One would end up behind bars while the other became the Crown’s star witness. *Names have been changed as they have name suppression or to protect their identity See images and read more about the series at www.rnz.co.nz/nark Special thanks to everyone who helped bring this podcast to life, especially Julie Appelgren and Suzanne Young. And thanks to Ngā Taonga and Mediaworks for some of the archival audio. AI was used to recreate the voice of Ross Appelgren. The only words used were those he wrote or said during his lifetime. If you have any further information on this case, please email nark@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

49 min
EPISODE 6

Nark 06 | Blurred Lines

Ernie’s* journey from suspect to eye-witness is shrouded in secrecy and controversy. We look at how police came to place their entire case on Ernie’s* shoulders. And for the first time, Ernie* himself describes his role in the case against Ross Appelgren, and the terror of being in prison and labelled a Nark. *Names have been changed as they have name suppression or to protect their identity Read more stories and see images from Nark on the RNZ website Special thanks to everyone who helped bring this podcast to life, especially Julie Appelgren and Suzanne Young. And thanks to Ngā Taonga and Mediaworks for some of the archival audio. AI was used to recreate the voice of Ross Appelgren. The only words used were those he wrote or said during his lifetime. If you have any further information on this case, please email nark@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

38 min
EPISODE 7

Nark 07 | Operation Icing

In return for his testimony Ernie* was moved from a cell to motel room, and promised money, relocation and early release from his sentence. His witness protection would become the most intricate covert police operation of its kind in New Zealand history. *Names have been changed as they have name suppression or to protect their identity Read more stories and see images from Nark on the RNZ website Special thanks to everyone who helped bring this podcast to life, especially Julie Appelgren and Suzanne Young. And thanks to Ngā Taonga and Mediaworks for some of the archival audio. AI was used to recreate the voice of Ross Appelgren. The only words used were those he wrote or said during his lifetime. If you have any further information on this case, please email nark@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

31 min
EPISODE 8

Nark 08 | Honour Among Thieves

Leaks from Mt Eden force police to move on their main suspect for the murder of Darcy Te Hira and Ross Appelgren finds himself in the dock for the crime. This episode you’ll hear what the jury did – and all the bits they didn’t. See images and read more about the series at www.rnz.co.nz/nark Special thanks to everyone who helped bring this podcast to life, especially Julie Appelgren and Suzanne Young. And thanks to Ngā Taonga and Mediaworks for some of the archival audio. AI was used to recreate the voice of Ross Appelgren. The only words used were those he wrote or said during his lifetime. If you have any further information on this case, please email nark@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

1h 2m

See All Season 1 (20)

3.1

out of 5

14 Ratings

Welcome to RNZ's latest super feed called Motive. Dedicated to all things true crime, keep following this podcast feed to get episodes from true crime series every Tuesday.