Case 329
Roseanne Beckett
*** Content warnings: Domestic violence, child sexual abuse, sexual assault, animal cruelty ***
In mid-1989, in the small New South Wales Town of Taree, local residents and law enforcement alike began investigating a woman named Roseanne Catt.
There were allegations that Roseanne was a violent and cruel woman, intent on killing her husband: it was reported that she had thrown a rock at his head, stabbed him with a knife, poisoned his drinks, and solicited hitmen. But this investigation was just the beginning of a case that would grow even stranger the more it unravelled…
CREDITS
EPISODE
Research & writing – Erin Munro
Creative direction – Milly Raso
Narration – Anonymous Host
MUSIC
‘Flatline intro’ and ‘Come play with me’ intro and outro – www.dl-sounds.com
Audio production – Mike Migas
Scoring – Mike Migas
Audio editing – Anthony Telfer
OTHER
Logo and website design – Paulina Szymanska
PREMIUM
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RESOURCES
NEWSPAPER ARCHIVES
Wife bashed me, poisoned me, and wanted me shot, says Mr Catt – Sydney Morning Herald
Wife used drugs on husband, court told – Sydney Morning Herald
Wife wanted her husband killed, jury told – Sydney Morning Herald
Man heard plot to kill him, jury told – Sydney Morning Herald
Wife ‘boasted’ of connections – Sydney Morning Herald
Catt denies stabbing himself at picnic – Sydney Morning Herald
Jury hears of threat to new husband – Sydney Morning Herald
Wife hit Barry Catt with rock, court told – Sydney Morning Herald
Offer to pay for killing: witness – Sydney Morning Herald
Accused showed interest in poison – Sydney Morning Herald
Police ‘fishing’ at Catt home, says QC – Sydney Morning Herald
Girl tells of dad’s porno film party – Sydney Morning Herald
Girl tells of father’s death threats – Sydney Morning Herald
Campaign of violence: Roseanne Catt guilty – Sydney Morning Herald
Lithium cocktail bitter, court told – Sydney Morning Herald
Roseanne Catt compared to saint – Sydney Morning Herald
Catt: 10 years’ jail, but kids still back her – Sydney Morning Herald
‘Manipulator’ loses appeal against jail – Sydney Morning Herald
That’s life, says Roseanne Catt after 10 years’ jail – Sydney Morning Herald
ARTICLES
Under a cloud – Sydney Morning Herald
I only heard Roseanne Beckett cry twice. The second time was the day she won justice – New Matilda
Victim of a ‘terrible conspiracy’ – New Matilda
Roseanne Beckett and the long walk to justice – New Matilda
A significant challenge – Law Society Journal
Roseanne Beckett wins $4m in damages for 10 years of wrongful imprisonment – The Guardian
WEBSITES
Roseanne Beckett: A miscarriage of justice – Wendy Bacon
The Justice4Roseanne Homepage – Networked Knowledge
COURT DOCUMENTS
Beckett v State of New South Wales [2015]
DOCUMENTARIES
4 Corners: ‘Burned’ – ABC [transcript]
Roseanne spent 10 years behind bars for a crime she did not commit – 7 News Spotlight
BOOKS
Ten Years – Roseanne Catt