Case 40
John Newman
In the 1980s and 1990s, the Sydney suburb of Cabramatta was a hotbed for criminal activity. Heroin use was rife and users flocked to the area looking for their next fix. As was to be expected, the drug epidemic resulted in an increase in violent crime, including gangs, home invasions, robberies, extortions, kidnappings, and worse.
Local politician John Newman was eager to clean up Cabramatta’s reputation. He helped form a campaign to combat organised crime amongst Asian gangs, including the T5 Gang. But when John started receiving death threats, his failure to take them seriously ultimately led to tragedy.
CREDITS
EPISODE:
Research – Victoria Dieffenbacher
Writing – Anonymous Host and Victoria Dieffenbacher
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 and Andrew Joslyn
OTHER:
Logo and website design – Paulina Szymanska
RESOURCES
BOOKS:
“On Deadly Ground” – by Tim Priest
ARTICLES:
John Newman murder: Phuong Ngo loses last appeal for life sentence – The Sydney Morning Herald
Political assassin Phuong Ngo loses appeal bid – The Australian
Frank Oliveri feasted in jail with Phuong Ngo – The Sydney Morning Herald
John Newman murder: Downfall of a merciless crime lord saved soul of Cabramatta – Daily Telegraph
Phuong Ngo murders rival John Newman in Australia’s first political assassination in 1994 – Herald Sun
Ngo asks High Court to quash life sentence for assassination of John Newman – The Sydney Morning Herald
VIDEOS:
The Assassination of John Newman – Crime Investigation Australia