10 episodes
Murder Archives Nearly
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- True Crime
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5.0 • 1 Rating
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We’ve started this podcast to create a dialogue with you, that may help solve a 1929 murder in Toorak.
If you want to know more, or help in the amateur sleuthing, we’ve uploaded documents and images to our website www.murderarchives.com.au to complement the podcast.
About the case.
On 9 September 1929, Norma McLeod, an unmarried 29-year-old teacher was found unconscious in her parent’s home in the prestigious suburb of Toorak.
A pair of men’s underpants lay across her forehead. By 5pm that day she was dead.
An autopsy revealed a seven-inch crack in the back of her skull caused by violent trauma from a blunt object.
The case attracted huge press and public attention; accusations were plentiful, but an inquest returned an open verdict.
Almost 90 years after this mysterious death, an extensive three-year investigation involving a re-examination of the police files, combined with an in-depth look at Norma’s family, raises questions about the rigour of the original investigation.
With the aid of the victim’s descendants and a group of renowned experts we’ve discovered long-held secrets, connections in high places and people who weren’t who they seemed to be.
Experts who provide input: forensic pathologist, Byron Collins; ex-homicide detective, Charlie Bezzina; criminal barrister, Alan Hands; psycho-physiologist, Elizabeth Martin; forensic psychologist, Dr Karen Scally and graphologist, Andrea Scarfe
Some of Norma’s descendants, who are also actors, ‘voice’ various parts throughout the podcast.
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1: Norma’s last day
The first glimpse into Norma’s life in prestigious Mandeville Crescent, Toorak and an overview of her last day alive.
We begin to question some of the events of that day and the actions of those involved.
Expert consulting Forensic Pathologist, Byron Collins, is introduced, providing his interpretation of the 1929 pathology report. Accidental death was ruled out then, as it is now.
More information - www.murderarchives.com.au
Contact Emma - emma@murderarchives.com.au
Thanks to all those who added their voices to this podcast (in alphabetical order):
Daniel Alfieri
Courtney Carthy
Simon Curtin
Alan Hands
Cassidy Krygger
Ben Mitchell
Elaine Mitchell
Gill Neale
And our experts:
Charlie Bezzina
Dr Byron Collins
Dr Karen Scally
Andrea Scarf
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. -
2: Initial theories
This episode examines the initial theories about how Norma died and the theories that were dismissed.
A number of letters were sent from the public to police with a variety of hypotheses about the ‘who’, ‘how’ and ‘why’.
Forensic Pathologist, Byron Collins, once again brings his expertise, this time discussing the likely weapon used to cause the violent trauma to Norma’s head and the nature of the attack.
We also introduce retired Homicide Detective Charlie Bezzina to provide some insight into public input into well-publicised crimes.
Murder Archives is written and presented by Emma Curtin.
www.muderarchives.com.au
Editing and sound by Courtney Carthy
Produced in partnership with Nearly
Thanks to all those who added their voices to this podcast (in alphabetical order):
Daniel Alfieri
Courtney Carthy
Simon Curtin
Alan Hands
Cassidy Krygger
Ben Mitchell
Elaine Mitchell
Gill Neale
And our experts:
Charlie Bezzina
Dr Byron Collins
Dr Karen Scally
Andrea Scarf
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. -
3: The prime suspect
The police focus on their prime suspect – Norma’s mother, Edith McLeod.
Importantly, it introduces an anonymous letter written to police by someone using the pseudonym ‘Asmodeus’.
This letter was central to the police focus on Edith.
We examine its contents and explore who the writer may have been. We also provide a glimpse into the inquest, looking at the approach taken by police and the evidence provided by several witnesses.
Once again, Byron Collins and Charlie Bezzina bring their expertise to respond to various aspects of the inquest.
The case begins to unravel as we question whether Edith was really guilty.
Murder Archives is written and presented by Emma Curtin.
www.muderarchives.com.au
Editing and sound by Courtney Carthy
Produced in partnership with Nearly
Thanks to all those who added their voices to this podcast (in alphabetical order):
Daniel Alfieri
Courtney Carthy
Simon Curtin
Alan Hands
Cassidy Krygger
Ben Mitchell
Elaine Mitchell
Gill Neale
And our experts:
Charlie Bezzina
Dr Byron Collins
Dr Karen Scally
Andrea Scarf
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. -
4: Who was Norma?
This episode goes beyond the police and newspaper records and focuses on the lives of Norma and Edith through the eyes of those who knew them.
We meet some of Norma’s relatives and examine information passed down the family line.
We learn about Norma’s growing independence and a secret that remained hidden until 20 years after her death.
And we began to develop a picture of the relationship between mother and daughter, which once again raises questions about Edith’s guilt.
Murder Archives is written and presented by Emma Curtin.
www.muderarchives.com.au
Editing and sound by Courtney Carthy
Produced in partnership with Nearly
Thanks to all those who added their voices to this podcast (in alphabetical order):
Daniel Alfieri
Courtney Carthy
Simon Curtin
Alan Hands
Cassidy Krygger
Ben Mitchell
Elaine Mitchell
Gill Neale
And our experts:
Charlie Bezzina
Dr Byron Collins
Dr Karen Scally
Andrea Scarf
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. -
5: The men in Norma’s life
What kind of men were Norma’s father and brother (Norman and Rhys McLeod)?
And what clues their stories might provide about her death?
Once again, we hear from family members to help us develop a picture of the McLeods.
We look at the reasons why Norman apparently didn’t want the police involved, question why Rhys seemed almost missing from the police investigation and examine more letters from the public, this time pointing the finger at Rhys.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. -
6: Watching the detectives
This episode focuses on the police themselves and the kind of environment they were working in in 1929 – a world of social distinctions and only six years after a major police strike that rocked public confidence in the constabulary.
Retired detective Charlie Bezzina provides some more insights into the nature of murder investigations and his opinion on the thoroughness of the McLeod investigation.
We also examine accusations at the time that Norman McLeod had ‘friends in high places’ and how this may have had an impact on the case.
Murder Archives is written and presented by Emma Curtin.
www.muderarchives.com.au
Editing and sound by Courtney Carthy
Produced in partnership with Nearly
Thanks to all those who added their voices to this podcast (in alphabetical order):
Daniel Alfieri
Courtney Carthy
Simon Curtin
Alan Hands
Cassidy Krygger
Ben Mitchell
Elaine Mitchell
Gill Neale
And our experts:
Charlie Bezzina
Dr Byron Collins
Dr Karen Scally
Andrea Scarf
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.