Lady Justice Podcast reveals lives of powerful Australian women fighting crime

These are Australia’s female trailblazers in our courts, prisons and police stations who have met notorious killers, rapists and more evil crims. HEAR OUR NEW LADY JUSTICE PODCAST.

Criminal defence lawyer Zali Burrows has a police chopper hovering at her CBD office window. Inside she’s meeting a client, whose mouth drops open.

“This is some Hollywood shit” he stammers. He’s not wrong.

The extraordinary stories divulged by Ms Burrows and the female trailblazers interviewed in News Corp’s new eight-part podcast Lady Justice do – at times – sound preposterous.

But here’s the kicker: every one is real, and collected from the frontiers of the justice system.

Take veteran prisoner officer Jane Lohse, who had a lunch “date” with serial killer Ivan Milat, and was perplexed by the polite nature of serial rapist Daryl Suckling, who killed Melbourne woman Jodie Larcombe.

Criminal defence lawyer Zali Burrows. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Veteran prison officer Jane Lohse. Picture: Ryan Osland

“He had a lot of respect for women, except for the ones he killed,” Mrs Lohse said.

Then there’s Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll, who went undercover to collect evidence on a suspected murderer — and even posed as a street walker.

“What I saw as a 23-year-old till about 27 most people would never see in their lifetime,” Ms Carroll said.

If you think that’s outlandish, meet real-life CSI professional, Dr Jodie Ward.

Dr Ward helps identify murder victims, unidentified human remains, and missing persons at a death storage facility known colloquially as “the Body Farm”.

She helped crack the puzzling 10-year cold case of Sydney man Matthew Leveson, and has stories of bodies moving after death (which doesn’t quite happen as the Zombie horror flicks would lead you to believe).

NSW SES Commissioner Carlene York. Picture: Ryan Osland

Carlene York has had her own brush with death.

These days she’s heading up the flood recovery as Commissioner of the NSW SES, but not long ago she was capturing one of Australia’s most wanted fugitive’s, Malcolm Naden, and went into hiding when a drug dealer wanted her family dead.

“You’re always looking over your shoulder, wondering what could happen. Worried about your children. So yeah, there’s some downsides of being in the police,” Ms York said.

South Australian Human Rights barrister Claire O’Connor SC. Picture Matt Turner

Former prison officer Katrina Schyndel. Picture: David Swift

Human rights barrister Claire O’Connor SC has also felt the sting of working in the justice system but in her case it was backlash for lifting the lid on the sexual harassment and bullying that remains rife within the legal profession.

“I have had three women talk to me about attempted rapes and rapes that have happened with senior people in their worksite,” Ms O’Connor said.

Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll. Picture: Brad Fleet

Of course, sex offenders were just part of the daily grind for correctional officer Katrina Schyndel, who was even tasked with managing one of the gang raping Skaf brothers during a delusional episode.

“He was speaking to the devil under the floor,” Schyndel said.

Home Affairs chief operating officer Justine Saunders. Picture: Gary Ramage

Forensic DNA specialist Professor Jodie Ward. Picture: Brett Costello

Justine Saunders, the chief operating officer for Home Affairs, has had the safety of the nation on her shoulders running the Australian Federal Police’s joint counter-terrorism teams with the states, as well keeping our borders safe while Deputy Commissioner of Border Force.

“ … what was always in the back of my mind was if we get this wrong, the implications are huge. It changes the very fabric of society,” she said.

The first episode of Lady Justice launches Monday March 28. To listen, go to ladyjusticepodcast.com.au

Originally published as Lady Justice Podcast reveals lives of powerful Australian women fighting crime