Territory Famous

Ben Hoffmann Part 2: The Trial, Courtroom Chaos & Life Sentence

In Part 2 of the Ben Hoffmann case, Territory Famous follows the long and chaotic court process that unfolded after the 2019 Darwin shootings. What began as a murder trial quickly became one of the most bizarre and difficult Supreme Court proceedings the Northern Territory had seen in years. This episode covers: • Hoffmann’s behavior inside the courtroom • His repeated clashes with lawyers and the judge • The dramatic sacking and rehiring of legal teams • Psychiatric evidence and claims of paranoia and delusions • The prosecution’s argument that some symptoms were exaggerated or faked • Guilty pleas entered after six weeks of trial • Justice John Burns’ sentencing remarks • The lasting impact on survivors, victims’ families, and the Darwin community The episode also looks at the way the victims were remembered by loved ones, and the emotional aftermath that continued long after the shootings ended. This episode contains discussions of murder, gun violence, trauma, drug use, mental illness, and court evidence that some listeners may find distressing. Listener discretion is advised. Researched and written by: Kellie Arrowsmith Audio editor: Bar Brawl Records https://www.facebook.com/BarBrawlRecords Cover art: http://www.joshbauer.com/ [http://www.joshbauer.com/] "Skimpy' - a Territory memoir: Kellie Arrowsmith Books - Hachette Australia [https://www.hachette.com.au/kellie-arrowsmith/] Follow Territory Famous: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561090053520 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561090053520] Instagram: https://www.intagram.com/territoryfamous/ [https://www.instagram.com/territoryfamous/] Tik Tok: Territory Famous (@territoryfamous) | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@territoryfamous]

Ben Hoffman (Part One: The Shootings)

In 2019, Ben Hoffman was involved in a drug-fueled shooting rampage that resulted in a serious violent incident and multiple shots being fired. This episode focuses on the events of the shooting itself, including how the situation unfolded and escalated, the actions taken during the incident, and the immediate response from those involved and emergency services. It covers the timeline of the day and the circumstances surrounding the violent behavior that led to criminal charges. Part Two of this series covers: The impact of the shootings on the victims’ families, the court proceedings and trial evidence, and Hoffman’s behavior while in custody, including additional charges related to his conduct while incarcerated. Researched and written by: Kellie Arrowsmith Audio editor: Bar Brawl Records https://www.facebook.com/BarBrawlRecords Cover art: http://www.joshbauer.com/ [http://www.joshbauer.com/] "Skimpy' - a Territory memoir: Kellie Arrowsmith Books - Hachette Australia [https://www.hachette.com.au/kellie-arrowsmith/] Follow Territory Famous: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561090053520 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561090053520] Instagram: https://www.intagram.com/territoryfamous/ [https://www.instagram.com/territoryfamous/] Tik Tok: Territory Famous (@territoryfamous) | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@territoryfamous]

Six Men, Two Brothers: The Airport Hotel Bashing

In this episode, I’m covering a pretty full-on pub bashing that happened at the Airport Hotel in Darwin back in 2007. This one stood out to me straight away because I actually used to work there as what they call a toppy (topless barmaid), and later did bookings for the pub — so I know the pub pretty well I couldn't believe I hadn't heard about this episode though, because it got pretty wild. After one bloke made a joke about another man's weight, a fight broke out and the bloke who was upset about the joke was knocked out. So, he went home, rounded up a group, and came back to the pub. From there, CCTV footage and witness accounts show what the court later described as a coordinated attack involving six men and two victims. The fight itself only lasted a couple of minutes, but it was chaotic, violent, and involved punches, kicks, bar stools, and even a hammer being brought into the bar. I go through exactly what happened, step by step, based on court documents — then break down what happened at trial, the arguments raised on appeal, and why the convictions ultimately stood. I’ll also be covering another case involving one of the men from this story in a future episode. Apologies for the short episode today, I will be back next week with part 1 of 2 episodes on Darwin mass murderer, Benjamin Hoffman. Researched and written by: Kellie Arrowsmith Audio editor: Bar Brawl Records https://www.facebook.com/BarBrawlRecords Cover art: http://www.joshbauer.com/ [http://www.joshbauer.com/] "Skimpy' - a Territory memoir: Kellie Arrowsmith Books - Hachette Australia [https://www.hachette.com.au/kellie-arrowsmith/] Follow Territory Famous: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561090053520 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561090053520] Instagram: https://www.intagram.com/territoryfamous/ [https://www.instagram.com/territoryfamous/] Tik Tok: Territory Famous (@territoryfamous) | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@territoryfamous]

Zak Grieve Part 3: Christopher Malyschko — Prison, Kronic, and a Death in Custody

This is the third and final episode in the Zak Grieve series. In this episode, we focus on Christopher Malyschko — the man who carried out the killing of Ray Niceforo — and what happened after the trial. We go through Christopher’s sentencing, including why he received a non-parole period of 18 years instead of the standard 20. The court considered his background, his lack of prior serious offending, and the ongoing abuse and threats within the home that contributed to the situation. From there, we look at his time in prison. Christopher was described as a model prisoner — working, completing courses, and keeping out of trouble. But like many inmates, he was also dealing with long periods of boredom and limited options, particularly after being transferred from Berrimah Correctional Centre to Darwin Correctional Centre at Holtze. After the move, prisoners lost access to many of their personal belongings, including books and music, with a promised digital system meant to replace them. That system failed for years, leaving many inmates with very little to occupy their time. This environment contributed to the widespread use of Kronic — a synthetic cannabis product — inside the prison. In this episode, we examine how that played a role in Christopher’s death in custody, and the findings of the coronial inquest that followed. This episode also touches on broader issues within the prison system, including supervision, substance use, and whether more could have been done to prevent what happened. This is a confronting case, and it impacts multiple families — including those of Ray Niceforo, Christopher Malyschko, Zak Grieve, and Darren Halfpenny. Listener discretion is advised. Researched and written by: Kellie Arrowsmith Audio editor: Bar Brawl Records https://www.facebook.com/BarBrawlRecords Cover art: http://www.joshbauer.com/ [http://www.joshbauer.com/] "Skimpy' - a Territory memoir: Kellie Arrowsmith Books - Hachette Australia [https://www.hachette.com.au/kellie-arrowsmith/] Follow Territory Famous: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561090053520 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561090053520] Instagram: https://www.intagram.com/territoryfamous/ [https://www.instagram.com/territoryfamous/] Tik Tok: Territory Famous (@territoryfamous) | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@territoryfamous]

The Story of Zak Grieve Part 2 - Justice and injustice

In Part 2 of Zak Grieve’s story, we move beyond the events of that night and into the courtroom, where the real complexities of this case begin to unfold. This episode focuses on what happened after the murder of Ray Niceforo, and how the legal system responded to the roles each person played. While the facts of the case were laid out in court, what followed raised serious questions about justice, responsibility, and the limits of the law. You’ll hear how Zak’s involvement — despite not being present at the time of the killing — still led to a life sentence under Northern Territory law. We break down how mandatory sentencing played a critical role, and why even the judge acknowledged that the outcome may not have reflected Zak’s true level of involvement. This episode also explores the broader context, the environment these young men were in, the influence of others, and the ripple effects of decisions made in a moment that would change multiple lives forever. As the case continues, we look at the growing concerns around fairness in the justice system, and how this story became part of a much larger conversation about law, accountability, and mercy. This is not just a story about what happened — it’s about what happened after, and whether the outcome truly reflected justice. Researched and written by: Kellie Arrowsmith Audio editor: Bar Brawl Records https://www.facebook.com/BarBrawlRecords Cover art: http://www.joshbauer.com/ [http://www.joshbauer.com/] "Skimpy' - a Territory memoir: Kellie Arrowsmith Books - Hachette Australia [https://www.hachette.com.au/kellie-arrowsmith/] Follow Territory Famous: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561090053520 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561090053520] Instagram: https://www.intagram.com/territoryfamous/ [https://www.instagram.com/territoryfamous/] Tik Tok: Territory Famous (@territoryfamous) | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@territoryfamous]