Casefile Archives 4: Mirna Salihin

Podcast: Casefile True Crime
Host: Casefile Presents
Date: January 31, 2026

Main Theme

This episode of Casefile revisits the infamous 2016 murder of Myrna Salihin in Jakarta, Indonesia—a case that gripped the nation and inspired international attention, including the Netflix documentary Ice Cold: Murder, Coffee and Jessica Wongso. The episode investigates the events leading to Myrna’s sudden death from cyanide poisoning at a café, the arrest and conviction of her friend Jessica Wongso, the media circus around the “trial of the century,” and the complex questions about justice, evidence, and motive that still surround the case today.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Crime: Death at the Café

• Setting the scene: On January 6, 2016, Jessica Wongso, having just returned to Jakarta from Australia, arranged to meet Myrna Salihin and Hani Boon at the upscale Olivier Café in Grand Indonesia Mall.
• Jessica arrived early, bought gifts for her friends, and insisted on paying for their drinks, ordering in advance—including Myrna’s favorite, a Vietnamese iced coffee.
• When Myrna arrived and took her first sip, she immediately reacted, complaining, "This tastes awful." (07:10)
• Within minutes, Myrna began convulsing and collapsed; café staff and friends desperately tried to help.
• Myrna was declared dead at hospital shortly afterwards.

2. Immediate Aftermath and Investigation

• Myrna’s family, shocked by her sudden death at age 27, immediately suspected poisoning, prompting toxicology tests.
• Police interviews with café staff yielded nothing suspicious in the coffee’s preparation; however, post-collapse, staff noted the drink had a foul, glue-like odour.
• Toxicology confirmed the presence of cyanide in Myrna's iced coffee (11:35). However, the family initially refused a full autopsy, creating challenges for investigators.
• CCTV footage led police to focus on Jessica, who had an extended period alone with the drinks, obscured from view by gift bags she had placed on the table.

3. The Case Against Jessica Wongso

• Opportunities: Jessica was the only one with access to the drink for nearly an hour before Myrna’s arrival.
• Motive: Police struggled with motive; nothing in messages or from social circles suggested serious animosity, although Jessica and Myrna had argued over Jessica’s toxic romantic relationship.
• Behavioral Red Flags: Jessica appeared unusually calm after Myrna’s collapse and made comments about the drink’s contents—"What did you put in the coffee?" (12:30)
• Jessica gave inconsistent statements (claimed she only drank mineral water, contrary to the receipt), disposed of her clothes from that day, and asked about lab results soon after the incident (20:10).

4. Media & Public Frenzy

• The case became a true public obsession—the “trial of the century”—with intense TV and press coverage.
• The narrative was fueled by rumors: conspiracy theories alleged possible insurance fraud, affairs, secret relationships, or business rivalries.
• Quotes captured the class dimensions and public fascination:

  "For the average Indonesian, this is a moment of sweet irony. Watching giants grapple at each other's throats...does not happen a lot in a country where the political and economic elites hold the reins." (40:22)

5. Background: Jessica’s Troubled Past

• Revelations from Australian police recast Jessica’s background:
  • Multiple suicide attempts.
  • Stalking and harassment of an ex-boyfriend, Patrick O'Connor, who sought a restraining order.
  • A drunken crash into a nursing home and a pattern of manipulative behaviour were recounted by her former boss, Kristy Carter.
  • Alleged threats:

    "If I wanted to kill someone, I certainly know how to do it. I could get a gun and I know the right dosage." — Kristy Carter, recounting Jessica’s words (34:22)

6. The Trial: Prosecution vs. Defense

• Prosecution’s Theory: Jessica, motivated by jealousy and revenge, slipped cyanide into Myrna’s drink, shielded by the gift bags and her early arrival.

• Defense’s Arguments:

  • No direct evidence or footage of Jessica poisoning the drink.
  • Timing impractical—Jessica had ordered the drinks expecting her friends sooner.
  • WhatsApp messages suggested normal plans.
  • Forensic evidence was contested: only minuscule amounts of cyanide found in Myrna’s body (0.2 mg/L, days later, possibly from embalming), and critical organs weren’t tested due to limited autopsy.
  • No evidence Jessica sourced cyanide.
  • They argued contamination or poisoning after death was plausible.

• Questionable Evidence:

  • Chain of custody for the coffee and water bottle samples was unclear.
  • Allegations (without proof) that staff or police could have tampered post-mortem.
  • Defence expert:

    “If you don’t check all the organs, you can’t determine the cause of death. That’s forensics dogma.” — Dr. Admaja, forensic pathologist (1:13:05)

7. The Verdict and Its Aftermath

• After a five-month trial, Jessica Wongso was found guilty and sentenced to 20 years (1:25:20).
• Myrna’s family expressed relief, while Jessica calmly stated, “Thank you, your honour. I don’t accept the verdict.”
• Defence immediately filed an appeal, alleging unfair trial, lack of direct proof, and procedural issues.
• Appeals were rejected, and a judge afterward remarked:

  “For me, this case was very simple…Just look at it from when Jessica came until she ordered a drink. That’s the extent of it.” (1:28:53)

• Professor Simon Butt, Sydney Law:

  “…her trial was not fair…procedural irregularities and legal mistakes plagued Wongso’s case from the very beginning.” (1:30:08)

8. Impact and Reappraisal

• The Netflix documentary Ice Cold reignited debate and shifted some public opinion in Jessica’s favor.
• Jessica was paroled in 2024, eight years into her sentence, and maintained her innocence in a high-profile interview.
• Quotes from her Channel 7 interview:

  “We weren’t close at all…that was why we kind of like know each other. We weren’t best friends.” (1:34:33) “That's just me being me, you know, being bored.” — Regarding moving the gift bags (1:35:04) “No, of course not. What would I do?” — On whether she had the potential for violence (1:36:22)

• Despite public scrutiny, Jessica is building a new life as an influencer, still under parole until 2032, and seeking exoneration.

9. Lingering Questions & Legacy

• The case remains a Rorschach test for Indonesia, fueling debates about justice, evidence, gender, class, and legality.
• Myrna’s loved ones have never doubted Jessica’s guilt.

  “Deep inside her something is evil.” — Myrna’s father, Eddie Salihin (1:38:10)

• Myrna’s husband, Arif, moved on but recalled:

  “She changed my life so much. She also introduced me to God. She was kind to everyone, she didn’t discriminate…” (1:39:29)

• Simon Butt’s legal assessment:

  “Whether she is guilty or innocent, Wongso should not have been convicted…her trial was unfair, as was her treatment by police.” (1:37:25)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• First Reactions:

  • "This tastes awful." – Myrna's immediate response to her coffee (07:10)
  • “What did you put in the coffee?” – Jessica Wongso, moments after Myrna collapses (12:30)

• Testimonies & Analysis:

  • “If I wanted to kill someone, I certainly know how to do it. I could get a gun and I know the right dosage.” – Kristy Carter recalling Jessica’s words (34:22)
  • “For me, this case was very simple…Just look at it from when Jessica came until she ordered a drink. That’s the extent of it.” – Trial judge (1:28:53)
  • “If you don’t check all the organs, you can’t determine the cause of death. That’s forensics dogma.” – Dr. Admaja, forensic pathologist (1:13:05)
  • "We weren't close at all... We kind of like know each other. We weren't best friends or anything." – Jessica Wongso (1:34:33)
  • "No, of course not. What would I do?” – Jessica on being violent (1:36:22)
  • “Deep inside her something is evil.” – Eddie Salihin (1:38:10)

• Media & Social Impact:

  • “For the average Indonesian, this is a moment of sweet irony. Watching giants grapple at each other's throats…does not happen a lot in a country where the political and economic elites hold the reins.” (40:22)

Timeline & Timestamps for Key Segments

• The Incident in Olivier Café: 01:03 – 15:00
• Early Investigation and Toxicology: 15:00 – 25:00
• CCTV & Jessica’s Behavior: 25:00 – 33:00
• Jessica’s Background from Australia: 33:48 – 40:00
• Public Reaction & Pre-Trial Theories: 40:00 – 55:00
• Trial and Legal Arguments: 57:12 – 1:25:20
• The Verdict & Immediate Aftermath: 1:25:20 – 1:33:00
• Reappraisal, Parole, and Documentary Impact: 1:33:00 – 1:38:00
• Epilogue – Myrna and Jessica’s Lives after the Trial: 1:38:00 – 1:40:00

Tone

The narrator maintains a clinical, meticulously detailed, and grave tone throughout, dissecting both emotional and procedural nuances and introducing cultural and legal context with impartiality. Where direct quotes or testimonies are shared, the tone mirrors the emotional intensity of the speaker—whether in grief, anger, or the sometimes humor-tinged deflection of Jessica’s interview answers.

Conclusion

This archival episode of Casefile orchestrates a thorough, gripping retelling of Indonesia’s most debated murder case—leaving the listener with enduring questions about criminal justice, evidence, and truth in a clouded, sensational case where fact and speculation remain bitterly intertwined.