Podcast Summary: Australian True Crime

Episode: "Charlie Bezzina - The First Man on the Scene"

Date: February 11, 2026
Host: Meshel Laurie
Guest: Charlie Bezzina, Former Homicide Detective

Overview

This special episode celebrates both the podcast’s growth and a return visit from legendary homicide detective Charlie Bezzina, the first-ever guest on Australian True Crime. Meshel Laurie and Charlie delve deep into the realities of working homicide in suburban Australia, the evolution of police culture and investigative methods, the emotional toll of violent crime, and the critical importance of community involvement. The episode is replete with real case anecdotes, memorable wisdom from Charlie’s decades in the force, and reflections on law, justice, and the thin line separating criminal and civilian lives.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Realities of Homicide Investigation

• Approach to Crime Scenes

  • "You've got to let the crime scene tell you the story. I'd walk into a crime scene, you're in defence barrister mode." (Charlie, 00:57)
  • Detectives look for connections: starting with the body, then family, social, and work circles, as most victims know their offender.

• Working with Grieving Families

  • The journey with victims’ families can span years, requiring continual updates and empathy.
  • Honesty is critical: “If you don't be honest with them from the get go, they're going to find out at the trial and your whole credibility is down the chute.” (Charlie, 02:20)

• Caseloads and Emotional Resilience

  • Homicide detectives can juggle over a dozen cases a year, plus trials. Each case carries a personal responsibility.
  • Even after acquittals, detectives “go and have a beer [with the family] after court,” knowing they gave their all. (Charlie, 02:20-03:30)

2. Evolution in Policing and Crime

• Shift from Confessions to Evidence-Based Cases

  • In the 1970s, confessions were common; now, suspects almost always offer “no comment” and know their rights. (Charlie, 04:23)
  • Advances like DNA have enabled the solving of cold cases but have also raised the evidentiary bar.

• Changing Public Perceptions and Police Culture

  • Police were once feared, often resorting to violence and fabrications—now, everything must be “done by the book.”
  • “Anyone who's going to take that, that attitude... you're going to look at jail.” (Charlie, 05:28)
  • Corruption is now rare and internal investigators are quick to root it out.
  • “No one wants to be working next to a thief or someone who bashes someone.” (Charlie, 08:24)

3. The Challenge & Responsibility of Accusation

• “The two most significant things a person has is their life and their liberty. We investigate one and we take the other one away.” (Charlie, 07:54)

  • Police must be certain before charging; mistakes can have lifelong consequences for both detective and accused.

• Limits of Surveillance and Prevention

  • Police rarely have resources to watch suspects 24/7. At best, known offenders are monitored during “relevant periods”—e.g., arsonists in summer. (Charlie, 10:23)

4. Disturbing Incidents and Notorious Cases

• Nicole Patterson & Peter Dupas

  • Meshel recounts meeting Nicole Patterson, later murdered by Dupas, emphasizing how random serial violence can touch ordinary lives. (12:00)

• Mr. Cruel, Jill Meagher, and the Claremont Murders

  • High-profile cases highlight both policing frustrations and the persistence of unknown offenders.
  • On Mr. Cruel: “He’s either in jail, some other offenses, he’s deceased, or he’s overseas. But not just going to stop.” (Charlie, 28:48)

• Family Murders and Domestic Violence

  • Many homicides happen within families—a trend now more openly recognized. (Charlie, 35:16)

• Random Violence, Public Vigilance

  • Cases like Sarah McDermott ("walking in a dark car park... never seen or heard of again") underscore the unpredictability of some crimes and the perennial need for public vigilance. (31:09)

5. Police Frustrations and Justice System Realities

• When You “Know” But Can’t Prove

  • Sometimes detectives are certain of a perpetrator yet lack the evidence. "There’s a couple of unsolved cases there and I'm 100% know who the offender is, but I just haven't got the evidence.” (Charlie, 08:24)

• On Plea Bargains and Sentencing

  • Strong police cases often lead to guilty pleas—but this can frustrate victims’ families, who want their voices heard:
    • “A lot of witnesses and family and victims want to give evidence. They never get that opportunity.” (Charlie, 15:10)

• Witness Fear & Community Reluctance

  • Witnesses often face risks—especially in organized crime cases (“when Jason Moran gets shot... at Oz Kick Saturday morning…”).
  • The judicial system doesn’t always allow for witness protection (e.g., testifying behind a curtain). (Charlie, 23:06)

• Community Responsibility

  • Crime Stoppers and public tips are crucial, yet many citizens remain disengaged unless personally affected.
  • “There’s more good people out there than bad people. And strength in numbers.” (Charlie, 22:22)

6. Charlie’s Work After Homicide

• Greyhound Victoria & Animal Cruelty
  • Charlie now leads investigations into animal cruelty and doping in greyhound racing, extending his detective skills to a new field.
  • “We're not mugging around...I’ll be just saying, okay, you've done your license, my friend, you no longer be a greyhound race owner because you've breached it five, four or five times.” (Charlie, 19:27–21:33)

7. The Nature of Murderers

• Anyone Is Capable?
  • “We've all got the urge that we could kill. Every person has got the ability to kill someone. But, but the reasoning in your mind...” (Charlie, 30:14)
  • Murders can occur “in a snap”—not just among career criminals.

8. The Unbearable Weight of Unsolved Cases

• Impact on Detectives & Families

  • What hurts most is denying families closure—finding the body for a grieving family can matter even more than catching the killer. (Charlie, 31:41–32:10)

• On Contact with Families

  • “If anything happens you're not going to read about in the newspaper, Mary, I'll be ringing you.” (Charlie, 32:54)

• Balancing Care for Victims and Offenders’ Families

  • Detectives support both victims’ and offenders’ families after an arrest. (Charlie, 33:58)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You've got to let the crime scene tell you the story.” – Charlie (00:57)
• “Police were feared in those days.” – Charlie (05:21)
• “The two most significant things a person has is their life and their liberty. We investigate one and we take the other one away.” – Charlie (07:54)
• “There’s more good people out there than bad people. And strength in numbers.” – Charlie (22:22)
• "If anything happens, you’re not going to read about it in the newspaper... I’ll be ringing you.” – Charlie (32:54)
• "You investigate one [life], and you take the other one away [liberty].” – Charlie (07:54)
• "We're only as good as our witnesses and only good as our evidence." – Charlie (16:17)
• “You can't rehabilitate career criminals.” – Charlie (18:14)
• "Finding the offender is secondary to finding remains. That's number one… so they've got somewhere to lay them at rest." – Charlie (31:49)
• "We've all got the urge that we could kill. Every person has got the ability to kill someone." – Charlie (30:14)

Important Timestamps

• 00:57: Charlie describes his investigative approach and initial steps at a crime scene.
• 02:20: Charlie on building relationships with deceased families and the realities of multiple case workloads.
• 04:23: How policing has transitioned from reliance on confessions to evidence-based cases.
• 07:54: Philosophizing on the gravity of removing someone’s liberty.
• 10:23: Realities and resource limits of policing known suspects.
• 14:36: Handling emotional and psychological challenges when dealing with pedophiles and serial killers.
• 19:27: Charlie’s work in animal welfare investigations post-homicide.
• 22:22: The need for public, community involvement in solving and preventing crime.
• 23:06: The fear faced by witnesses and challenges in protecting their identities.
• 27:44: Paul Onions, Ivan Milat, and how public tips have cracked major cases.
• 30:14: Reflections on who is capable of murder and the unpredictable circumstances triggering violence.
• 31:41: The pain of unsolved cases for families and detectives; the priority of recovering remains.
• 35:16: Changing awareness and prevalence of domestic-violence-related murder.
• 38:42: Coppers retelling war stories—the communal memory of true crime in Melbourne.

Tone & Style

The conversation flows candidly, with Meshel’s curiosity and empathy drawing out both harrowing stories and darkly humorous asides from Charlie, who remains grounded, matter-of-fact, and compassionate throughout. The dialogue oscillates between gritty realism, professional pride, and moments of potent vulnerability.

For Listeners:

This episode offers a rich, inside perspective on the realities of major crime investigation in Australia, including both technical and emotional dimensions. It highlights the toll on families, the evolution of justice processes, and the enduring importance of witness courage and public engagement. Charlie’s insights are at once sobering and motivating—a must-listen for anyone who wants to understand the human side of Australian law enforcement and the complicated journey toward justice.