The Daily Telegraph Has Launched A ‘Serial’-Style Podcast So You Can Help “Trap A Killer”

We’re seven months on from the end of Serial‘s first season and its influence has never been more clear. After the long-form story became the fastest podcast to reach five million hits on iTunes, there’s been a huge resurgence in the popularity of radio plays; thanks to Sarah Koenig’s commendable investigative journalism, Serial became the first podcast to ever win a Peabody Award; and the demand for more is still going strong. Two new seasons are on their way and countless copycats are following suit.

Now The Daily Telegraph has jumped on board. On a mission to “trap the killer” of two Sydney women in the ’80s and ’90s, journalist Yoni Bashan and the paper’s deputy editor Claire Harvey have launched The Alibi: their first investigative podcast series.

On its surface, The Alibi is pretty similar to Serial. It begins with an equally mysterious and brooding original score, it breaks down an old case into a detailed story, and is narrated by the lead investigating journalist. Like Koenig, Bashan is relatively charismatic and has years of experience in crime reporting.

The series’ first episode, which was released yesterday, introduces us to the cases — the unsolved murders of Denise Govendir and Eva Webel — and the connections which have been established between them by NSW Police. The two women had been good friends. Focussing on the former, The Alibi has so far told us about Govendir’s husband, the state of his marriage, his recount of events, and what the police have deduced so far. Though he was at one point investigated as a suspect, he has never been charged with any offence.

This brings us to the important difference between the two shows: Serial had many ethical grey areas but on the whole it was concerned with open-ended questions — about whether Adnan Syed got a fair trial and the problematic events which led to his incarceration — but The Alibi really, really wants answers. Where Serial producers maintained a worried distance from the devotees and detectives of Reddit, Alibi is asking for them to heap on. They legitimately want Daily Tele readers to solve a murder case.

Can Twitter solve a murder? Two Australian mums beaten to death. Nobody in jail. Join our podcast crowd-solve. http://t.co/a4khQ20Ooc

— Claire Harvey (@chmharvey) July 19, 2015

Importantly, this is something at least one of the victim’s families are seemingly keen on. “We would like to see the perpetrators of this brutal crime brought to justice,” said Govendir’s cousin Michael Freedman. “It’s incredibly important for us as a family that some resolution is found.”

And, if they happen to find the closure they need from this, it’s possible this will all be worth it. Violence against women is nothing short of an epidemic in our country and anything that delivers justice to those responsible can only be celebrated. However, the opening scene — in which the narrator accosts the victim’s husband at his house with no prior warning in search of answers — doesn’t inspire much hope:

Reporter: “Aaron, hello, my name’s Yoni Bashan, I’m a reporter with The Sunday Telegraph. How are you?” 

72-year-old widow of a murder victim: “I’m well, thanks.”

Reporter: “Were you expecting me by any chance?”

72-year-old widow of a murder victim: “No.”

Reporter: “I’m writing a story about your wife.”

72-year-old widow of a murder victim: “Please don’t.”

Could this be because he’s suppressing the terrible, hidden truth of his wife’s grisly murder? Well. Considering he’s previously been investigated, is not currently in jail, and this is just one snippet of a sad conversation after being confronted with no warning on his doorstep, it’s absolutely 100 percent not for any of us to say.

–

The Alibi will be released for free via Soundcloud and iTunes each Sunday.

–

If you have any information about these cases, call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000; if you or someone you know is impacted by violence of any kind, please call 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au.