Crimes NZ

A suitcase was found floating in the Waitematā Harbour in 1966. Its contents kicked off an international manhunt and one of Aotearoa's biggest fraudsters. Joseph Sheehan BEM was a detective on the case.In 1966, the captain of the Salvation Army barge was heading up the Waitematā Harbour when he spotted a mysterious suitcase floating in the water.He fished it out and discovered documents from the cosmetics company Leidrum and Hartnell.A company which turned out to be a sham. The man behind it, Robert Gardner, had already left the country. Sending Joseph Sheehan, a detective sergeant at the time, on an international man.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Michael Blowers was a police officer, family man and pillar of the community. He was also stealing drugs from the police exhibit room and giving them to his mistress to sell. RNZ's Charlie Dreaver describes Blowers downfall.In 2014, former police detective Michael Blowers was sent to prison for five years on a raft of drug-related offences.For years he had been stealing drugs from the Whangarei police exhibits room and giving them to his mistress to sell.RNZ reporter Charlie Dreaver was in the courtroom for his trial and describes how his downfall shocked the Northland community.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

True crime writer Scott Bainbridge takes us through the unsolved murder of pharmacist Arthur Blomfield, who was bludgeoned to death in his Auckland store, Mackay's Dispensary, in 1931.In 1931, just before closing time, pharmacist Arthur Blomfield was bludgeoned to death at the back of Mackay's dispensary on Wellesley Street in central Auckland.His killer has never been found.True crime author Scott Bainbridge talks us through the details of this case and shares who the prime suspect might be.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Alan Hall spent nearly two decades in jail for the 1985 murder of Arthur Easton. In 2022 his convictions were quashed. Stuff journalist Mike White explains the flaws in the case against Hall and Geoff Hall talks about his brother's life after prison.In 1985, Arthur Easton was murdered by a bayonet wielding intruder, in his Papakura home.His two sons were also injured trying to fight off the attacker.In 1986, Alan Hall was convicted of the crime and spent 19 years in jail. But he has always protested his innocence and 37 years after Easton's death, Hall's convictions were quashed. Stuff senior investigative reporter Mike White and Alan's brother Geoff share details of the case and Hall's fight for justice.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details