Motive: Conviction

Shannel Yorke struggles to remember her mother, Judith, who disappeared in 1992, and retired cop Alan Collin talks of his determination to find peace for the family.This series was first released on 10 November 2017Watch a video segment from the episode hereAt least one of about 30 people is believed to hold the key to the disappearance of mother-of-two Judith Yorke 25 years ago.The 25-year-old, known as Judy, was last seen at an orchard shed, where she was partying with about 30 others in Matapihi on October 21, 1992. Police believe she was killed. All the party-goers were interviewed. One of them became the main suspect. For the first time, that person is revealed in the RNZ podcast The Lost as Aaron Komene.But police have never gone back to the party-goers despite believing some never completely told the truth - and Judy has yet to be found. Judy's daughter Shannel Yorke told RNZ's The Lost it was time the police re-interview witnesses to find out what happened to her mother.Shannel was just shy of her fourth birthday when Judy went missing, so remembers very little about her."Certain perfumes I smell remind me of her, but no real memories," she says. "I do hope that one day we do find her. I'm still hopeful. I know it's a long shot, but I guess there is still hope."Alan Collin was the lead investigator when Judy went missing in 1992. He has since retired from the police, but says solving her disappearance is still important to him.He was called in 14 days after Judy was last seen at Matapihi and immediately launched a homicide investigation.Judy had dropped off Shannel with her parents in Te Puke and gone out to a hotel in Mount Maunganui. She went out with her former partner's brother, Aaron Komene. Mr Collin says the pair were sleeping together.About 11pm, Judy, Aaron and four others headed to Matapihi in her car. They had planned to go to a marae, but it was closed so headed to the orchard shed known to have music and booze.Judy was last seen there between 1am and 2.30am. When the group she'd arrived with didn't find her, they left in her car without her. Her muddied shoes were found a day later.The police interviewed the party-goes about Judy's last whereabouts. Mr Collin doesn't believe everyone told the truth. There were so many inconsistencies, the police went back and interviewed them again. He says the people in the Judy's car before and after the party, including Aaron Komene, were looked at closely.When asked why Aaron was a suspect, Mr Collin says the police look for motive and opportunity, and jealousy is a strong motive…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The true stories of New Zealand's missing people. Paloma Migone digs into the cold cases of those who never came home.Watch a video version of the trailer hereThis series first published in May 2017.Every year, thousands of New Zealanders go missing. On average about one every hour.Most are found quickly. But some are never seen again. They are the lost.RNZ's new five-part podcast, The Lost, digs into some of those missing persons cases and talks to the families about their quest for answers and the hole left by those who have disappeared.Where are they? And will they ever be found? "There are more questions than answers. And there continues to be more questions than answers."The first episode is on Kirsa Jensen, a 14-year-old girl who went missing while riding her horse along a Napier beach in 1983.Her story gripped the country for weeks as New Zealanders wrestled with how a young girl could go missing in broad daylight. Kirsa and her horse Commodore became household names, but the police are still searching. Despite the years, her mother, Robyn, is still desperate to find her.She says with time, it's become harder to cope with her loss. "One day I may be dead and she may not be found," she says."To be able to locate her and put her in a decent place, to rest forever, is vitally important to me."And next week, The Lost explores the case of Judy Yorke, a mother-of-two who was last seen at an orchard party in Matapihi in 1992.Someone must know where they are. Is that someone you?Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Who was Peter Ellis, the childcare worker at the centre of the accusations and how did he come to work there? Meet people with many different connections to what was to become New Zealand's most notorious child sexual abuse case. This series was first released on 29 September 2023.To see more images and details about Peter Ellis and the series, vist the website here.Who was Peter Ellis, the childcare worker at the centre of the accusations and how did he come to work there?To set the scene, we meet people with many different connections to what was to become the most notorious child sexual abuse case in this country's history. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

While it's the end of Nark, it's not the end of RNZ's true crime podcasts - welcome to RNZ's latest super feed called Motive. Dedicated to all things true crime, keep following this podcast feed to get episodes every Tuesday from RNZ's true crime back catalogue, as well as brand new shows as they get released. Listen out for award winning series like Conviction, Gone Fishing, Mr Lyttle Meets Mr Big and more right here in this podcast feed.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

For years after the trials of Ross Appelgren, Ernie* had lived a quiet and crime-free life in Australia. But his domestic bliss didn’t last and the fallout resulted in a trans-Tasman diplomatic row. In this episode, Ernie* answers some of Mike’s lingering questions.*Names have been changed as they have name suppression or to protect their identityRead more stories and see images from Nark on the RNZ websiteSpecial 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.nzGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Mike Wesley-Smith puts Ross Appelgren’s claims of innocence under the microscope in this episode. While much of what Mike’s uncovered so far puts question marks over Ross’ guilt, there are bits of the story that point to him being the killer.Read more stories and see images from Nark on the RNZ websiteSpecial 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.nzGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Ross Appelgren’s conviction is quashed, he begins rebuilding his life cementing a new future with his love – Julie. But his trials are not over – literally. In this episode we return to court for Ross’ retrial and hear the gobsmacking story of the inmate who flipped.Read more stories and see images from Nark on the RNZ websiteSpecial 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.nzGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Ross Appelgren takes drastic measures to clear his name. In a nail-biting episode we relive his unsanctioned bid for freedom and his attempt to bring national attention to his case by going live on talkback radio.Read more stories and see images from Nark on the RNZ websiteSpecial 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.If you have any further information on this case, please email nark@rnz.co.nzGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details