NOT GUILTY - The Craig McLachlan Case

In Episode 6 of Unfiltered, Michael Cain continues his conversation with Craig McLachlan, delving into the allegations connected to the 2014 production of The Rocky Horror Show, and the cast member referred to as C3.This episode raises three central questions.Vanessa asks: were there double standards at play within the backstage culture? Was behaviour that appeared acceptable for some cast members viewed very differently when attributed to others? Did the idea of “what’s good for the goose is good for the gander” fall away under scrutiny?The episode also invites listeners to consider how specific moments have been characterised. For example—can a brief greeting, described by some as lasting only a second, be interpreted as something more serious? Can a moment such as sitting on a colleague’s lap be understood differently depending on context, perspective, or recollection—particularly when similar behaviour is said to have occurred between individuals at the time?And finally, Vanessa asks listeners to consider how narratives around workplace behaviour can develop and shift over time. Craig McLachlan was at various points associated with allegations of bullying; however, those claims were not ultimately upheld in findings relating to him. In that context, the episode invites reflection on how other accounts of workplace conflict within the same production were understood, including bullying claims made by C3 regarding conduct by another cast member, C1. An episode that doesn’t hold back. Thank you for listening.You can watch the original video version of this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kRunHGz_Lg Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Those doors would open every night revealing Frank N Furter and the audience would gonuts, and I just had to remind myself that the audience is going nuts for Frank N Furterthey’re not going nuts for Craig McLachlan.” — C2In this episode, Michael Cain and Craig McLachlan examine the allegations and chargesbrought against him in relation to his castmate, known as C2. After this cast member waspassed over for a principal role in 2015 and was again unsuccessful in 2017 auditions, shouldher fury over not being cast have been directed at Craig McLachlan, and should that havebeen a major consideration for the press, the police, and the Magistrate?We explore the legal and procedural questions: How and why can the police add multiplecharges after the initial ones? Why is the credibility of the complainant not weighed,especially after three drafts of a statement become increasingly detailed and inflammatory?Why wasn’t archival footage of the show considered or subpoenaed, and how is it that, evenyears later, not even the complainant’s husband could corroborate her story?Join us for this deeply perplexing episode and consider the “brave and honest” label theMagistrate publicly attached to the case.You can watch the original video version of this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLH12d7p8gE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host Michael Cain takes a deep dive into the Craig McLachlan case, cutting through the myths surrounding one of Australia's most high-profile legal battles. This episode explores questions relating to Episode 2 of the NOT GUILTY series, the unique culture of the theatre industry, the shock of charges being laid against McLachlan, court room language and the anxiety he experienced throughout the criminal proceedings.Craig speaks candidly about what it's like performing in a stage show like Rocky Horror — and whether it rivals the intensity of a grand final football match. He also weighs in on the significant outcome of Victorian police paying half a million dollars in costs related to the case.With insights shared for the very first time, this is a must-listen episode straight from the man at the centre of it all.  Not to be missed.You can watch the original video version of this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtRd5c_7Ero Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Having carefully examined the criminal charges in the Craig McLachlan case, Vanessa nowturns her focus to the Magistrate’s rulings — and in particular, two aspects that continue togenerate debate.First, the reference to the “old” versus “new” laws. What do these legislative changes actuallymean in practical terms? How do they alter the way a court assesses conduct, intention, andconsent? And could there possibly have been a different outcome had the newer provisionsapplied?Second, the Magistrate’s description of Craig’s accusers as “brave and honest.” What is therole of judicial commentary following an acquittal? Where is the line between explaining adecision and making observations that may have lasting reputational consequences?In this episode, Vanessa explores not only the legal mechanics, but the broader question ofaccountability. What responsibility rests with judicial officers when their remarks carrysignificant public impact? And what recourse exists when commentary is perceived asthoroughly damaging?Stay tuned for a compelling and thought-provoking discussion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode turns to allegations first aired publicly in the press against Craig McLachlan — allegations that would later become criminal charges, and headlines that shaped a public narrative long before the courtroom was heard.In this instalment, Vanessa examines the final complainant in the matter, known as C1, and brings a central allegation and its surrounding story to a decisive end.Through a forensic and uncompromising analysis, the events surrounding the Rocky Horror bed scene are laid out in full. Evidence, timelines and testimony are examined piece by piece, revealing a version of events that is confronting, unexpected, and at times deeply shocking.But the episode goes further, asking questions that are rarely voiced aloud.When a complainant is not a stranger but a friend — when contact, messages and communication continued right up until the moment allegations were made — does that carry evidentiary weight? If no indication was ever given that anything was wrong, what does continued friendship mean, and how should a court interpret it?Vanessa also revisits commentary from the presiding Magistrate, questioning whether public remarks truly reflected what unfolded inside the courtroom, and whether the tone of those remarks shaped how the case was ultimately understood.Episode 7 is confronting listening. It challenges assumptions, revisits evidence, and asks whether the story told to the public was the same story tested under oath.Watch the accompanying Unfiltered episode in which Craig McLachlan is interviewed by Michael Cain: https://youtu.be/_Na2HPg9dHU?si=mvjKSG5qe62bPRMG Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 5, Vanessa examines the final charge laid against Craig McLachlan, relating to hisRocky Horror Showcolleague known as C2. This episode considers how questions ofreliability and credibility can arise in relation to a key witness, and how such issues areaddressed within the legal process. It explores whether inconsistencies or disputed accountscarry consequences, and reflects on the manner in which evidence was assessed in this case.The episode also examines why certain aspects of the complainant’s evidence receivedlimited scrutiny in public reporting, despite their relevance to the Magistrate’s ultimatefinding. Episode 5 offers a careful and detailed examination of allegations and charges that,upon closer inspection, may not be as straightforward as they first appeared.Watch the accompanying Unfiltered episode in which Craig McLachlan is interviewed by Michael Cain: https://youtu.be/J5_6X-dLDH4?si=ukeIfIviMSVa9sNA Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this compelling episode of Not Guilty - The Craig McLachlan case Vanessa examines the details of the criminal charges laid against Craig McLachlan for the first time. The discussion focuses on the evidence provided by the first understudy, including a charge referenced in court as the “ankle tickle,” and considers how such a charge could have been laid in the first place. The episode also closely examines key Magistrates’ rulings and asks how certain decisions could have been presented and sustained within the courtroom process. Watch the accompanying Unfiltered episode in which Craig McLachlan is interviewed by Michael Cain: https://youtu.be/GHjLmXbrNlY?si=_TuzrSN6RjM-UtFW Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Watch the Unfiltered companion interview in which Craig McLachlan sits down with journalist Michael Cain to go beyond the headlines and unpack the story behind Not Guilty: The Craig McLachlan Case Podcast.https://youtu.be/Ap-wyeksXJo?si=pqPYByBJb7ZN91VXNOT GUILTY – The Craig McLachlan Case is a factual true-crime podcast hosted by Vanessa Scammell, examining the criminal case heard in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court and the events that unfolded around it. Through interviews, a detailed discussion of public court records, and a close examination of evidence, the series explores aspects of the story that were obscured, neglected or misunderstood in much of the original press coverage. With a calm and considered approach, the podcast invites listeners to engage openly with the full complexity of the case, and to reflect on the consequences of “page one guilt” — when public judgement is formed before a matter is tested in court, and when allegations reach the media before the police. Eight years on, the case continues to exact a heavy personal cost, raising difficult questions about justice, truth, rehabilitation and the enduring impact of accusation beyond a verdict of Not Guilty. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.