A Shadow of Doubt – Episode 1: The Crime

The first episode reconstructs the murder of Cabramatta MP John Newman and the volatile environment in which it occurred. Set in a suburb where drugs, gang violence and anti-Asian sentiment are on the rise, this episode presents Newman as both a crime-fighting politician and a deeply divisive figure with many enemies.

Suspicions then quickly turn to local council member Phuong Ngo. Despite limited evidence, media narratives and public fear begin to shape the case against him. The episode establishes the central tension of the series: a complex murder boiled down to a simple story and a suspect based more on perception than evidence.

This series draws on publicly available court records and archival reports. The primary source is “A Marked Man: The Questionable Conviction of Phuong Ngo” by Carlotta McIntosh.

Coming soon: Part 2 – The Case and Evidence

Creator and Narrator:
Paul Searles
Producer:
Will Halliday
Voice actors:
Adam Andrews
Phan Win
Original score:
Paul Searles