Show Notes
Three police investigations and two coronial inquests have failed to find out what happened to Leslie Ball, who vanished more than 30 years ago. Investigative reporters Jo Townsend and Callum Denness have spent two years trying to unravel what happened to the war veteran and grandfather as part of news.com.au's six-part true-crime podcast series Perfect Alibi. They’ve tracked down family members and former police investigators, uncovered evidence of fraud, and found links to the Melbourne underworld. They have also uncovered proof they say identifies who killed Mr Ball. The podcast launches on August 10, with new episodes dropping every Monday and Wednesday. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
More from Witness: Perfect Alibi
The grave of the prime suspect in the 1993 murder of WWII veteran Les Ball is empty, after his body was surreptitiously dug up and cremated. The bizarre revelation forms the centrepiece of this final episode, throwing a dramatic final twist into a thirty-year cold case that has frustrated Queensland detectives for decades. Read more and watch exclusive video content here Follow us on socials: Instagram: @newscomauhq Facebook: News.com.au TikTok: @news.com.au See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Brian "The Skull" Murphy claims David Phillips confessed to Les Ball’s murder. As we investigate the Skull’s testimony, we uncover the ultimate deception: David wasn't the decorated hero he claimed to be, but a master forger hiding a history of violence in plain sight. Read more and watch exclusive video content here Follow us on socials: Instagram: @newscomauhq Facebook: News.com.au TikTok: @news.com.au See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A breakthrough shatters years of silence as cold-case detective Liz McNaughton uncovers an alleged confession made by former police officer David Phillips regarding the murder of his father-in-law, Les Ball. We re-examine the contradictory timelines shared with police and Coroners over the years, unpack these shocking claims, and trace how one detective’s deep dive turned a cold case on its head. Note: This episode has been updated; we explain in episode 5. Read more and watch exclusive video content here Follow us on socials: Instagram: @newscomauhq Facebook: News.com.au TikTok: @news.com.au See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Les Ball’s final days were fraught with financial tension and an unhappy living arrangement centred around tens of thousands of dollars allegedly owed to him by his son-in-law, a former Victorian police detective. In this episode, we trace the convoluted money trail, examine conflicting accounts of these loans, and follow a tenacious Irish cold-case detective as she uncovers a reality that changes everything we thought we knew. Read more and watch exclusive video content here Follow us on socials: Instagram: @newscomauhq Facebook: News.com.au TikTok: @news.com.au See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The disappearance of Les Ball is a cold case spanning decades, but a single, forged train ticket has emerged as a pivotal piece of evidence. This crucial detail, alongside conflicting accounts and a meticulously constructed deception, is casting a stark new light on what happened to the 71-year-old just before he vanished. In this episode, we scrutinise a heavily debated hospital visit, unpack a trail of suspicious financial behaviour, and follow police as they race to identify whether a burned-out trailer holds the dark secret to Les’s final days. Read more and watch exclusive video content here Follow us on socials: Instagram: @newscomauhq Facebook: News.com.au TikTok: @news.com.au See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.