Hedley Thomas drops new episode of hit podcast Shandee’s Story
A new episode of Shandee’s Story will be released today to mark major new developments in The Australian’s investigation.
A new episode of Shandee’s Story will be released this afternoon to mark major new developments in The Australian’s investigation.
Episode 19 will feature more than an hour of new material and interviews, including audio recorded during the behind-the-scenes quest of forensic biologist Dr Kirsty Wright to trigger a public inquiry into Queensland’s controversial DNA laboratory.
Investigative journalist and podcaster Hedley Thomas said it would also take listeners back to Mackay, the sugar and mining town on the Central Queensland coast where Shandee Blackburn was murdered in a frenzied knife attack in February 2013.
Thomas and the retired Queensland Homicide Unit detective sergeant Scott Furlong spent time in Mackay interviewing witnesses and visiting the crime scene while filming a Sky News documentary Shandee’s Story – The Search for Justice.
The documentary is available now on Sky’s streaming service Flash.
Thomas also spoke to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Health Minister Yvette D’Ath on Monday when they announced a Commission of Inquiry into the DNA laboratory, and then met Shandee’s mother Vicki Blackburn and sister, Shannah.
Vicki Blackburn said she had confidence that the royal commission-style inquiry, to be run by retired Supreme Court of Appeal justice Walter Sofronoff QC, would uncover the truth.
“And regardless of what happens with Shandee’s case, this means that she didn’t die for nothing. This gives her death meaning,’’ she said.
The premier told Ms Blackburn: “I just want to assure you that your voices have been listened to. And the voices of other people as well.”
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To hear the new episode, go to Podcasts in the app or visit shandee.com.au
Hedley Thomas’ documentary Shandee’s Story: The Search for Justice is available now on Sky’s on-demand service Flash. Details at flashnews.com.au
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