The Controversial "Mr. Big" Police Technique

The Controversial "Mr. Big" Police Technique

On December 14, 2008, 37-year-old Mary Cook was found murdered in a burned down house on Darling Way, Narre Warren.

Victoria Police launched a months-long covert operation, gaining a confession from 35-year-old Glenn Weaven using the controversial "Mr Big" technique.

Weaven was convicted of Mary’s murder and sentenced to 20 years in prison, with a 16-year non-parole period. But the use of the Mr Big method has sparked intense scrutiny.

Our guest today on Australian True Crime, Professor Michele Ruyters, is here to explain what the Mr Big technique is, and how she believes it may have coerced a confession from Glenn Weaven, thus resulting in his wrongful conviction.

Today's conversation is also conducted by our guest host and resident criminologist, Dr. Xanthé Mallett.

Michele Ruyters is the director of the Bridge of Hope Innocence Initiative at RMIT University.

Click here to visit and report information regarding this case to The Bridge of Hope Innocence Initiative.

Season 6 of the ABC's podcast "Unravel" is available wherever you get your podcasts.

Send us a question by recording a voice message here.

Click here to subscribe to ATC Plus on Apple Podcasts and access all ATC episodes early and ad-free, as well as exclusive bonus episodes.

For Support:

Lifeline on 13 11 14

13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)

1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732

CREDITS:

Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram

Guest Host: Dr. Xanthé Mallett

Guest: Professor Michele Ruyters

Executive Producer/Editor: Matthew Tankard

GET IN TOUCH:

https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/

Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook

Send us a question to have played on the show by recording a voice message here.

Email the show at AusTrueCrimePodcast@gmail.com

Avsnitt(672)

Should Sex Offenders Keep Their Super? Re-Issue

Should Sex Offenders Keep Their Super? Re-Issue

Yesterday, (March 25th 2026), the Albanese Government introduced legislation known as the Survivors Law, aimed at preventing convicted child sexual abusers from using superannuation to shield assets f...

25 Mars 45min

Shortcut: The Disappearance of Pauline Sowry

Shortcut: The Disappearance of Pauline Sowry

This is a "Shortcut" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed. Pauline Sowry disappeared from Wollongong’s northern suburbs in D...

23 Mars 16min

The Disappearance of Pauline Sowry

The Disappearance of Pauline Sowry

Pauline Sowry disappeared from Wollongong’s northern suburbs in December 1993 at the age of 49. An inquest in 2008 found she likely died after a reported sighting the following year, yet her body has ...

22 Mars 42min

A victim’s perspective of the mental impairment defence *re-issue*

A victim’s perspective of the mental impairment defence *re-issue*

David Cammarata’s childhood best friend is currently a forensic patient in a secure psychiatric facility. He was found not guilty of the machete murder of his own brother at a suburban shopping centre...

18 Mars 52min

Shortcut: A victim’s perspective of the mental impairment defence *re-issue*

Shortcut: A victim’s perspective of the mental impairment defence *re-issue*

David Cammarata’s childhood best friend is currently a forensic patient in a secure psychiatric facility. He was found not guilty of the machete murder of his own brother at a suburban shopping centre...

18 Mars 17min

The Young Woman a Country Town Didn’t Believe

The Young Woman a Country Town Didn’t Believe

In 2016, a woman reported that she was sexually assaulted at a birthday party in the small western Victorian town of Balmoral. The case divided the close-knit community and led to a complex legal proc...

15 Mars 1h 8min

Shortcut: The Young Woman a Country Town Didn’t Believe

Shortcut: The Young Woman a Country Town Didn’t Believe

This is a "Shortcut" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed. In 2016, a woman reported that she was sexually assaulted at a bi...

15 Mars 17min

The Energetic Healer Who Assisted The Search For Frank McGonigle - ATC International

The Energetic Healer Who Assisted The Search For Frank McGonigle - ATC International

We recommend you listen to our previous episode "Ripple: A Long Strange Search for A Killer - ATC International" before starting this episode. Carol Williams, The energetic healer who was such an inte...

12 Mars 34min

Populärt inom True Crime

rattegangspodden
podme-dokumentar
infor-ratta
podme-crime
svenska-fall
seriemordarpodden
en-mork-historia
krimrummet
fangelsepodden
forhorsrummet
fallen-jag-aldrig-glommer
spoktimmen
svenska-mordhistorier
aftonbladet-krim
p3-krim
mordpodden
rss-valdet-krim
alskade-psykopat
bakom-galler
makabra-mord