A Moment In Crime

In March 1990, two mothers walked out of Timaru Hospital believing they were taking home their newborn daughters. But somewhere inside the hospital, the babies had been switched. The mistake went undiscovered for five years, leaving two families to grapple with an extraordinary situation and questions about identity, motherhood, and the lives their daughters might otherwise have lived. The girls were raised by the wrong families, with the truth eventually coming to light years after their births. For the mothers at the centre of the drama, the discovery would have life-changing consequences. What followed was not simply a matter of correcting a hospital mistake, but navigating the complicated relationships, emotions and realities created by years of believing one child was their own. The story attracted significant public attention, bringing intense scrutiny to the families as they tried to make sense of what had happened. For Sandra, one of the mothers involved, the consequences have endured long after the initial discovery. The public attention made an already difficult situation harder, and relationships within the families changed in ways that could not simply be undone. The case remains one of New Zealand’s most extraordinary stories, raising questions about how such a mistake could happen and the lasting impact on those involved. It was not a crime, but it left a profound mark on the lives of two families. In the latest episode of A Moment In Crime, host Anna Leask looks back at the Timaru baby swap, exploring the circumstances surrounding the mix-up and speaking to Sandra about her recollections of the events and their aftermath. The episode revisits a story that continues to challenge any easy understanding of family, identity and the meaning of being a mother. A Moment In Crime is written and hosted by Leask, who specialises in crime and justice reporting. She joined the Herald in 2008 and has worked as a journalist for more than 20 years. This episode was produced by Leask and NZME audio engineer Alastair Boyes. Episodes of A Moment In Crime are usually released monthly. Leask has covered more than 70 cases, including the murders of Grace Millane, Scott Guy, Austin Hemmings, Carmen Thomas, Karen Aim; the deaths of the Kahui twins; the Christchurch mosque attack and the historical Heavenly Creatures murder; the case of Lauren Dickason, who was jailed for murdering her three young daughters soon after emigrating to New Zealand, and the massacres at Raurimu and Aramoana. This year, Leask also revealed the full story of Nicola Flint, the Christchurch woman accused of faking cancer for years and ripping off a rugby club and her former employer to the tune of more than $180,000. The two-part special is available now. Since 2019, A Moment in Crime has been downloaded more than 2 million times by listeners in more than 170 countries. It was nominated for Best True Crime Podcast at the 2024 Radio and Podcast Awards. A Moment In Crime is available on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes are released monthly. If you have a crime or case you would like to hear more about, email [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On June 13, Chinese national Tingjun Cao was jailed for life for the murder of Christchurch real estate agent and mother Yanfei Bao. Bao, 44, was stabbed to death in July 2023 and buried in a shallow grave on a farm outside Christchurch. She was not found for more than a year. The crime shocked New Zealand and this month on Herald podcast A Moment In Crime senior journalist and host Anna Leask tells the story of Yanfei and her killer. In this episode Leask goes inside the courtroom to Cao’s sentencing and you will hear from the detective who led the investigation into his awful offending. It is graphic in parts and may be upsetting. This podcast explores crime not for shock value, but for clarity — to understand what happened, why, and what it means. True crime is not entertainment — it's a responsibility. I tell crime stories with one goal in mind: to centre the victims, uncover the full story, and examine how justice is pursued — or denied. This episode was produced by Leask, NZME audio engineer Alastair Boyes and Ethan Sills. READ MORE: Yanfei Bao murder: Capturing a killer and the 375-day hunt for missing Christchurch real estate agent Christchurch real estate agent Yanfei Bao’s murderer sentenced after disruptive, angry court outbursts  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Youth crime is a constant issue in New Zealand – and in the last few years, stories of ram raids, violent attacks and spree offending have dominated the headlines. Successive governments have tried to tackle the problem – introducing various policies, programs and plans and even changing legislation. There has been some success, but for some youth offenders, it seems there is nothing anyone can say or do to stop their often terrifying and relentless behaviour. In this episode of A Moment In Crime host Anna Leask examines the life of one of hte country's worst youth offenders - Paddy. She also speaks with Principal Youth Court Judge Ida Malosi about the issues around young offenders, how they can be stopped and who is responsible.  To read more about Paddy click here. The series is written and hosted by Leask – who specialises in crime and justice. She joined the Herald in 2008 and has worked as a journalist for 19 years with a particular focus on family and gender-based violence, child abuse, sexual violence, homicides, mental health and youth crime. If you have a crime or case you would like to hear more about, email [email protected]. A Moment in Crime is available on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes are released monthly.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anthony John Wheble is not as well-known as many of the criminals previously covered by A Moment in Crime - but he is considered of New Zealand’s most violent criminals. He has been in prison for more than a decade and he is serving as sentence with no end date, due to the severity and nature of his crimes.  Wheble has tried to kill two fellow inmates with shanks - one who was confined to a wheelchair at the time with both legs in casts.   The impression you get from the news stories and from the court decisions published about his years of offending is tha Anthony Wheble is a menace, someone who needs to be locked up for as long as possible.   But there are people who will tell you that is not the case, that prison is the worst environment for Wheble, that he is unwell and needs a significant level of help.   In this episode, Anna Leask explores the story of Anthony Wheble - who he is, what he has done and why he may never be released from prison, and speaks to his mum and another of his supporters about their mission to save him. The series is written and hosted by Leask – who specialises in crime and justice. She joined the Herald in 2008 and has worked as a journalist for 19 years with a particular focus on family and gender-based violence, child abuse, sexual violence, homicides, mental health and youth crime. If you have a crime or case you would like to hear more about, email [email protected]. A Moment in Crime is available on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes are released monthly.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the 19 years I have been a crime and justice reporter I have told countless stories about offending in New Zealand - who is behind it, who is hurt by it and the lasting impact.  I’ve covered a lot of the really high-profile cases during that time - including more than 130 murders, and dozens upon dozens of prosecutions and trials for manslaughter, sexual assaults and abuse, domestic violence and child abuse.  I’ve also written a lot about our country's most enduring cold cases and best-known historic crimes. In today’s episode of A Moment In Crime I wanted to take you back through some of the other cases I have written about. These cases may not have dominated the headlines for as long or as widely as others - but they are cases I think about often and they are all important cases on New Zealand’s crime timeline.  Some of the stories I will tell you in this episode are graphic, and others refer to sexual violence and or child abuse. This episode is intended for a mature audience.  If there is a case you would like to hear more about in a future episode, email [email protected] READ MORE ABOUT THE CASES IN THIS EPISODE: No parole for recidivist sex offender Johnathon Smallbon HIV positive child sex offender paroled, takes on new identity Exclusive: West Auckland children lived 'like caged animals' in 'despicable and sickening' neglect case Revealed: Xi Wang brutally stabbed to death by ex as she held her 2yo son in her arms DO YOU NEED HELP? FAMILY VIOLENCEWomen's Refuge: Crisis line - 0800 REFUGE or 0800 733 843 (available 24/7) Shine: Helpline - 0508 744 633 (available 24/7)Shakti: Specialist services for African, Asian and Middle Eastern women and children: Crisis line - 0800 742 584 (available 24/7) MENTAL HEALTH Lifeline: Call 0800 543 354 or text 4357 (HELP) (available 24/7) Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) (available 24/7) Youthline: Call 0800 376 633 or text 234 Depression helpline: Call 0800 111 757 or text 4202 (available 24/7) Aoake te Rā (Bereaved by Suicide Service): Call or text 1737 SEXUAL HARM If you've ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone, contact Safe to Talk confidentially, any time 24/7 - call 0800 044 334 text 4334 or email [email protected], contact your local police station.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It is not a rare occurrence for teachers to be investigated or charged with sexual offending against the children and young people they are supposed to be educating, guiding and nurturing. But some cases are significantly worse than other and in this episode of A Moment In Crime host Anna Leask recalls the three sex offending teachers who have caused New Zealand kids the most harm. The cases of Jaime Cooney, Paul Herrick and James Robertson are among the wrost offenders - in terms of how the abuse played out, the number of victims and how long the offending was taking place. And in all three cases, these predators could have been stopped much earlier. There were glaring red flags and concerns were raised both formally and informally with police and other authorities. But for various reasons these offenders remained free and able to continue violating and abusing innocent children. In today’s episode of A Moment In Crime Leask outlines how the sexual predators were caught, how they were dealt with by the justice system and where they are now. You will also hear from Parker - what he told the Parole Board in 2024 about his disgusting offending. This episode of A Moment In Crime tells the story of significant sexual offending and abuse and is intended for a mature audience. See below information on where to get help or advice. READ MORE: Blenheim sex abuse teacher: Anatomy of a scandal Predator principal's career of sex crimes and silencing Kaitāia’s paedophile teacher James Parker refused parole DO YOU NEED HELP?If you've ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone, contact Safe to Talk confidentially, any time 24/7: Call 0800 044 334Text 4334Email [email protected] more information visit safetotalk.nz If you have been sexually assaulted, remember it's not your fault.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2023 South African doctor Lauren Anne Dickason was found guilty of murdering her daughters Liane, 6, and 2-year-old twins Maya and Karla at their Timaru home. She and her husband Graham - an ortopaedic surgeon - had emigrated to New Zealand just weeks earlier seeking a better, safer life for their young children. Dickason killed the little girls 20 minutes after her husband left for a work function. He found the siblings dead in their beds when he arrived home. Dickason admitted smothering the children but claimed she was so mentally unwell she could not be held criminally responsible for their deaths. After an exhaustive five-week trial last year, a jury rejected her defence of insanity or infanticide and convicted the woman of murder. In this episode of A Moment In Crime senior journalist Anna Leask looks back at the murders and the aftermath. Leask covered the story from the day the girls died, attending every day of Dickasons high profile trial and her later sentencing. The Dickason Family Tragedy is told in two parts. In part one Leask goes into the family's background and what brought them to New Zealand, as well as what happened that awful day in 2021. Part two will focus on Dickason's trial, sentencing and what it was like inside the courtroom at pivotal moments. It will be release a week after part one. The double episode contains descriptions of the Dickason children's deaths and also refer to mental health, self harm, pregnancy loss and fertility issues. Both parts of A Moment In Crime - The Dickason Family Tragedy are intended for mature audiences. To read Leask's full coverage of the case click here. DO YOU NEED HELP OR ADVICE? • Lifeline: Call 0800 543 354 or text 4357 (HELP) (available 24/7)• Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) (available 24/7)• Depression helpline: Call 0800 111 757 or text 4202 (available 24/7)• Helpline: Need to talk? Call or text 1737 If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To mark the 30 year anniversary of the mass killing A Moment In Crime presents The House of Bain, a two-part telling of the case. On June 20 1994 Margaret and Robin Bain, their teenage daughters Arawa and Laniet and son Stephen were all shot dead in the family home at 65 Every Street, Dunedin. Just after 7am David Bain - Margaret and Robin's oldest child - called emergency services to report the ghastly scene. He said he had come home from his morning paper run and found them all dead. Days later Bain was charged with five counts of murder and after a high-profile trial a jury found him guilty. He maintained his innocence and fought for decades for a retrial, which finally went ahead in 2007. A second jury acquitted Bain, finding him not guilty of the five murders. The case is arguably New Zealand's most talked about massacre and over the years has become morbidly iconic. In the second part of House of Bain, you will hear more from Bain in his own words on his legal battle. The lawyer who represented him most recently also speaks about the case and its aftermath. Host Anna Leask speaks to people involved in the case and those with expert opinions on why Bain and the grisly event have become embedded in New Zealand culture. CLICK HERE for further New Zealand Herald coverage of this case A Moment In Crime is an NZME podcast written and hosted by Anna Leask, senior crime and justice reporter for the New Zealand Herald. The podcast is written and hosted by Leask. It is produced by Leask, NZME audio engineer James Irwin and podcast production manager Ethan Sills. A number of key players in the case had their words voiced by actors - Glenn Dwight as David Bain and Tory McArthur as the juror from the second trial. NZME audio engineer Tash Chittock assisted with recording. In this episode television news reports that featured on various iterations of 6pm news bulletins on TVNZ and NewsHub have been referenced..These are mostly taken from court coverage, which can still be found on YouTube. If you have a crime or case you’d like to hear more about, email [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.