The Night Driver

4.3 (2.4K)
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Janine Vaughan’s disappearance 19 years ago is at the heart of a mysterious case that has split a close-knit community left wondering if a murderer walks among them.

31/05/2024

Listen to episode 1 of BRONWYN

The Night Driver creator Hedley Thomas returns with a new podcast investigation for The Australian. Subscribers to The Australian and registered users hear episodes of ‘Bronwyn’ first. Plus, you can read more about this case and see exclusive stories, maps, timelines, graphics, video and more at bronwynpodcast.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1h 12m
24/05/2024

From The Front: Hedley Thomas’ new cold case podcast, 'Bronwyn'

Where is Bronwyn Winfield? The devoted mum has been missing since 1993 – and the man behind The Teacher’s Pet is on the case. Go to theaustralian.com.au/bronwyn to listen. Plus, you can read more about this case and see exclusive stories, maps, timelines, graphics, video and more. This episode of The Front is presented by Claire Harvey, produced by Kristen Amiet and edited by Josh Burton. The multimedia editor is Lia Tsamoglou and original music is composed by Jasper Leak. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

21 min
10/11/2023

Bonus episode: Hedley reads Chapter 1 of his new book, The Teacher's Pet

Listen to Hedley Thomas reading Chapter 1 of his new book, The Teacher's Pet. The book is published by Pan Macmillan and is available at all good bookstores, and wherever you get audiobooks. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

26 min
30/06/2023

It's back: The Teacher's Pet returns for Australian listeners

The Australian's global smash-hit podcast Teacher's Pet returns for Australian audiences on July 1. You can find it wherever you got this podcast. Just search for "The Teacher's Pet". See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1 min
13/05/2022

Introducing - The Teacher's Trial

From Hedley Thomas and the journalists at The Australian comes The Teacher's Trial. A new episode will be published every Friday for the duration of the trial of Chris Dawson, who is accused of the murder of his wife Lynette Dawson. Search for The Teacher's Trial wherever you listen to podcasts, or read The Australian's ongoing coverage of the trial here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1h 3m
30/12/2020

Episode 11 - Fate

Was Janine Vaughan murdered by a Bathurst man with a propensity for shocking acts of violence? Women who have been with him describe his depravity and cruelty. Or was she killed by a different man who has been dead for years? A man who worked at The Dirty Tav, drove around in a small red car, and was similarly renowned for violence. Hedley and his friend the retired judge Peter Murphy delve deep in the final episode of the series. They also explore what really happened to the bloodied knife, subjecting the stalker notes to analysis by a handwriting expert, and hearing from a former detective who identifies ‘red flags’ for possible deception and believes one of the three persons of interest is lying. The longest episode in the series hears from women who cast doubt on the conduct of the other two key persons of interest while the closest witness to the fight between Janine and her once-close friend describes what she saw just hours before Janine disappeared.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1h 49m
21/12/2020

Episode 10 - The Screams

John Haynes is a former senior cop in Bathurst who still lives at Mount Panorama. He’s been retired for a decade and for the first time he’s speaking publicly about blood-curdling screams he and his family heard near the local university, two days after Janine’s disappearance in early December 2001. Haynes is confident he heard Janine fighting for her life. He has come forward as he says the significance of the screams was not properly understood by police who looked in the wrong place, on the opposite side of a creek separating the university grounds and bushland from the mount. Haynes fears that Janine was killed near the uni and her remains could still lie among the gnarly blackberry bushes along the creek. As Kylie goes back and searches other locations around Bathurst, another thread in this case which fell through the cracks - a fight between Janine and one of her best friends - comes to light. Janine was in serious conflict with her former employee and housemate before they spectacularly fell out. The person became Janine’s public enemy but it went under the radar in the 2009 inquest, raising awkward and distressing questions and memories nineteen years later.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1h 7m
18/10/2020

Episode 9 - Love You, Sis

In the search for Janine’s murderer, her sister Kylie who devotes much of her life to this case is taken to the brink of what she believes is a breakthrough, only to have her hopes dashed. Every time there’s a discovery of bones near Bathurst it hits Kylie and the rest of Janine’s family that these might be the remains of Janine. More evidence including details of a police strike force investigation of possible criminal links to taxi drivers who could have picked up Janine come to light as a retired detective who helped lead the major probe into Janine’s murder reveals he formed a view about the identity of the likely killer, a man who is still alive. The former top cop also describes some of the hurdles put in the way of police who spent years in Bathurst trying to solve the mystery. The crucial assumption of almost all investigating detectives that Janine was abducted by the same night driver who attempted to entice another blond-haired woman into his car 10 minutes earlier is challenged. The podcast investigation pauses for several weeks from the release of this ninth episode to look into fresh leads provided by confidential sources from Bathurst. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1h 26m

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2.5 (717)

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4.3 (259)

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4.3

out of 5

2,373 Ratings

Another bungled loss

18/09/2024

contempt of justice

This is a terrible and terrifying story of a man who got away with murder.
Thank you

01/11/2023

Em, Hobart Tasmania

Hedley’s neutral delivery and compassionate, mild approach to even the most provocative conversations creates a zen-like investigative podcast for the listener. Thank you for an enthralling, entertaining and articulate piece of work - you must be so proud of what you have accomplished here and in The Teacher’s Pet, you really do create a space where getting to the truth is, even against time and all odds, still a real possibility and where the humanness of all people touched by an unsolved crime is totally and honestly explored. You have done justice to everyone involved. My heart goes out to Janine’s family. I hope they get closure one day.
Listened to 11 episodes

21/07/2024

Stricklandstreet

I feel this time the podcast is missing Hedleys usual excellence. The podcast didn’t flow, we were almost at the end of episode one when we were given details of Janine’s last known movements and that should have been where the episode started, not ended. The first episode was particularlydifficult to listen to, but the series seemed to improve after that. I hope there is some resolution to the case for the family and friends that will always miss Janine
Excellent coverage

31/10/2022

jenni frim the block

I hope one day we can solve this tragedy. Well done brilliantly delivered.

Janine Vaughan’s disappearance 19 years ago is at the heart of a mysterious case that has split a close-knit community left wondering if a murderer walks among them.