The first episode reconstructs the murder of Cabramatta MP John Newman and the volatile environment in which it occurred. Set in a suburb defined by drugs, gang violence, and rising anti-Asian sentiment, the episode presents Newman as both a crime-fighting politician and a deeply divisive figure with many enemies.
In the immediate aftermath, suspicion quickly narrows onto local councillor Phuong Ngo. Despite limited evidence, media narratives and public fear begin to shape the case against him. The episode establishes the central tension of the series: a complex murder reduced to a simple story, and a suspect formed as much by perception as proof.
This series draws on publicly available court records and archival reporting. The primary source is Carlotta McIntosh’s book “A Marked Man: The Questionable Conviction of Phuong Ngo”.
Comng soon: Episode 2 – The Trial & Evidence
Creator & Narrator:
Paul Searles
Producer:
Will Halliday
Voice actors:
Adam Andrews
Phan Win
Original score:
Paul Searles
Michael West established Michael West Media in 2016 to focus on journalism of high public interest, particularly the rising power of corporations over democracy. West was formerly a journalist and editor with Fairfax newspapers, a columnist for News Corp and even, once, a stockbroker.
