The Targeted Violence Podcast

The Path to Murder - The Targeted Violence Podcast - Episode 17 with Tim Marsh

In the latest episode of the Targeted Violence Podcast, I sit down with criminal defence barrister Tim Marsh, whose career has seen him represent some of Australia's most high-profile homicide offenders.As defence counsel, Tim occupies a unique position within the criminal justice system. His role extends far beyond arguing points of law. To effectively represent his clients, he must understand the person behind the offence—their history, relationships, vulnerabilities, and the factors that shaped their pathway to offending. In this conversation, Tim reflects on his experiences representing Codey Herrmann, Jaymes Todd, and Luay Sako. Through these cases, we explore the complex interplay of childhood adversity, mental health, violent ideation, social disconnection, personality, and life circumstances that can converge in acts of lethal violence.We discuss what it is like to build a relationship with clients accused of murder, how Tim approaches understanding their stories, and what these cases have taught him about human behaviour, responsibility, and the pathways that can lead individuals towards serious violence. We also explore how Tim manages the psychological impacts of working high profile criminal defence cases. This is a thoughtful and deeply insightful conversation that moves beyond headlines and the formalities of court proceedings to examine the factors behind some of Victoria’s most serious crimes. Whether you work in policing, psychology, law, threat assessment, or simply have an interest in understanding violence, this episode offers a rare perspective from someone who has spent decades at the coalface of the criminal justice system.

Surviving Stalking - The Targeted Violence Podcast - Episode 16 with Nicole Madigan

In the latest episode of the Targeted Violence Podcast, I’m joined by journalist, author, and stalking survivor Nicole Madigan. For three years, Nicole was subjected to a relentless stalking campaign that impacted nearly every aspect of her life. In this candid and powerful conversation, she shares her experience of being stalked by another woman, the challenges she faced in having her concerns taken seriously, the constant stream of messages and online harassment, and the long journey towards justice as her stalker was eventually charged and prosecuted. Throughout the episode, Nicole reflects on the emotional and practical realities of living with stalking, the importance of believing and supporting victims, the power of sharing personal stories, and the gaps that continue to exist in both support services and responses to stalking. We also discuss the difficulties that remain in preventing stalking and improving outcomes for those affected. Nicole’s experience ultimately led her to write her first book, Obsession: A Journalist and Victim-survivor's Investigation Into Stalking, a compelling exploration of stalking, victimisation, and the realities faced by those targeted by persistent unwanted attention. For practitioners, investigators, mental health professionals, and anyone seeking to better understand stalking, this episode provides valuable insights into the victim experience and the challenges that continue to confront those working in this field. For those wanting to further develop their knowledge and professional practice, the upcoming Stalking Symposium hosted by the Ground Proof Forensic Institute on 10 July offers an opportunity to learn from leading international experts and explore contemporary approaches to stalking assessment, intervention, and victim support.

The Landscape of Terrorism in Australia - The Targeted Violence Podcast - Episode 15 with Peter Moroney

In Part Two of my conversation with former New South Wales Police Detective Sergeant Peter Moroney, we shift from the historical lens of Operation Pendennis to the modern-day realities of terrorism and targeted violence in Australia. This episode explores how the threat landscape has evolved—particularly since around 2014, where we’ve seen a notable rise in lone actor attacks occurring with increasing frequency compared to previous decades. We unpack what’s driving this shift, and how it challenges traditional policing and intelligence models that were largely built around organised networks. A key focus of the discussion is the recent Bondi Beach attack, and the broader implications it carries for how Australia understands and responds to acts of mass violence. We examine the direction of the Royal Commission, alongside recent legislative changes to hate laws, and the growing emphasis on social cohesion as a preventative strategy. But an important question sits at the centre of this conversation—do these approaches genuinely reduce risk, or do they risk missing the complexity of individual pathways to violence? We also discuss two recent charges relating to separate alleged plots to carry out attacks on Australia Day, highlighting the persistence of intent and the ongoing challenge of early detection and disruption. Throughout the episode, Peter reflects on the continued importance of multi-agency collaboration—bringing together law enforcement, intelligence, mental health, and community-based approaches. We explore whether the future of prevention lies in reframing targeted violence not solely as a criminal justice issue, but as a broader public health concern—one that requires earlier intervention, better information sharing, and a more nuanced understanding of risk. This is a forward-looking conversation about where we are now, where the gaps remain, and what it will take to prevent the next act of targeted violence.

Australia's Largest Terrorist Plot - The Targeted Violence Podcast - Epsiode 14 with Peter Moroney

In this episode of the Targeted Violence Podcast, we sit down with former New South Wales Police Detective Sergeant Peter Moroney to explore one of Australia’s most significant counterterrorism investigations—Operation Pendennis. Spanning several years and involving an unprecedented level of coordination between agencies, Operation Pendennis was a joint counterterrorism effort between the New South Wales Police, Victoria Police, Australian Federal Police, and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation. The investigation ultimately led to a series of coordinated raids across Victoria and New South Wales in November 2005, targeting networks believed to be planning mass-casualty terrorist attacks. The scale and seriousness of the threat reached the highest levels of government. Then Prime Minister John Howard was briefed, and Parliament was recalled to pass urgent counterterrorism legislation in anticipation of the operation and the arrests that would follow. On the ground, the operation was both complex and dangerous. More than 20 warrants were executed across two states, resulting in multiple arrests. In one instance, a suspect engaged in a shootout with police during the raids. The investigation uncovered a range of concerning behaviours consistent with attack planning, including coded phone communications, firearms training at a rural property, surveillance of potential targets, and the stockpiling of materials—thousands of litres of chemicals, along with significant quantities of batteries and clocks—suggestive of explosive device preparation. A central figure in the investigation was Abdul Nacer Benbrika, who was identified as the ideological leader of the Melbourne-based group. In New South Wales, police arrested nine individuals—each of whom was ultimately convicted for their role in the conspiracy to commit a terrorist act. Peter played a key role in this operation, and over the course of six years, he was deeply embedded in the investigation, working to identify, disrupt, and ultimately help convict those involved. Peter spent 17 years with New South Wales Police, retiring as a Detective Sergeant. In this conversation, he provides a rare, firsthand account of the operational realities behind a major counterterrorism investigation—offering insight into the investigative strategies, the pressures of working high-risk operations, and what it takes to prevent acts of targeted violence before they occur. Since leaving the police, Peter has published a book, Terrorism in Australia: The Story of Operation Pendennis. He is also the Director at Nemesis Consultancy Group.

Insider Threats & Dark Personalities - The Targeted Violence Podcast - Episode 13 with Dr Belinda Board & Professor Katarina Fritzon

In the latest episode of the Targeted Violence Podcast, I’m joined by Dr Belinda Board and Professor Katarina Fritzon to explore insider threats, dark personalities, and the individuals who derail organisations. More than 20 years ago, Belinda and Kate published their groundbreaking paper, Disordered Personalities at Work. Their research revealed a striking finding: business managers displayed higher levels of narcissistic, histrionic, and obsessive personality traits than psychiatric patients or criminal offenders. In this fascinating episode, we unpack some of the major challenges organisations face when it comes to personality risk in the workplace, including: ▶ Why organisations continue to make bad hiring decisions and often fail to properly examine the personality traits of candidates ▶ The organisational gaps that allow harmful behaviours to emerge and thrive ▶ The role of context and organisational culture in either promoting or preventing problematic behaviours ▶ How tools such as the Derailer Profiler can help identify personality risks in the workplace ▶ What organisations can do to reduce risk and better manage problematic personalities ▶ The lessons learned from the case of Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos We also explore why the conversation around psychopaths and problematic personalities at work needs to shift—from sensational labels to a more practical discussion about risk and threat management. Intriguingly, we also examine how a public health approach to mitigating these risks may be a solution that workplaces need to adopt. Alongside this, Belinda discusses her ongoing work with organisations as the Founding CEO of Peoplewise and Group Chief Psychologist at the LCap Group, while Kate continues her research into dark personality traits in the workplace through the Australian College of Applied Psychologists. If you would like to learn more about the Derailer Profiler, Belinda can be contacted at belinda.board@peoplewise.co.uk. For those interested in researching personality traits in the workplace, Kate can be reached at Kate.Fritzon@acap.edu.au