news.com.au launches true crime podcast Perfect Alibi

news.com.au has launched Perfect Alibi, a six-part true crime podcast investigating the disappearance of war veteran and grandfather Leslie Ball, who vanished more than 30 years ago.

Hosted by investigative reporters Jo Townsend and Callum Denness, the series follows a two-year investigation into Ball's disappearance. It features interviews with family members and former police investigators, and examines new details relating to alleged fraud and reported links to Melbourne's underworld.

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Two-year investigation

“What began as an intriguing cold case involving a Townsville man missing since the 1990s quickly expanded into a much larger investigation. The deeper we went, the more complex the case became. We encountered allegations of fraud, forgery, police misconduct, grave exhumations and suspected murder, all of which form part of the broader story surrounding Leslie Ball’s disappearance.

“It’s unusual for one true crime case to combine this level of intrigue, complexity and scale. Perfect Alibi brings that together in a way that shows why long-form investigative audio continues to resonate with audiences," Townsend and Denness said.

The podcast is produced under News Corp Australia's Witness audio franchise, which also includes Witness: William Tyrrell, The Missing 49 Million and Sex, Lies and Streaming.

Premium audio expansion

News Corp Australia head of multi-platform audio Sarrah Le Marquand said: “Perfect Alibi is a powerful example of the high-impact, narrative-driven journalism audiences have come to expect. Led by audio director Nina Young, the podcast combines rigorous investigation with compelling multi-platform storytelling, further strengthening news.com.au’s premium audio offering.”

Perfect Alibi launched today, with new episodes released every Monday and Wednesday on news.com.au and major podcast platforms. The series will also be supported by video and editorial coverage.