The Case Of
The Case Of
ABC Australia
Maree Vermont was 60 years old and living in a beautiful stone house she built by hand, when a guest she hosted via Airbnb changed everything.  UK national Timothy Loosemore booked a one-night stay, but weeks later he remained at the property, finding ways to make himself useful. Then one night, the house went up in flames, with Maree inside. Days later, Timothy Loosemore was charged with her murder. In The Case Of The Airbnb Guest, Bendigo reporter Anna McGuinness walks through the June 2026 trial and explains why this jury was not the first, but the third jury Loosemore faced. The Case Of is your eyes and ears inside the courtroom for Australia's biggest trials, unpacking major trials recently heard in court and cases in the headlines. This podcast will explain how it all works and answer your questions along the way. The Case Of is the follow-up to the hit podcast Mushroom Case Daily, and all episodes of that show will remain available in the back catalogue of The Case Of. The response to Mushroom Case Daily was overwhelming, with more than 8,000 emails from listeners, many of them noting how the coverage had given them unprecedented insight into Australia's criminal judicial system. We decided to convert the podcast into an ongoing trial coverage feed to continue delivering on this front, following cases that capture the public's attention. Additional seasons of The Case Of include: Sharon's Disappearance Forty years after her disappearance, Sharon Fulton's former husband and father to her four children was charged with her murder. Full of bizarre twists and clues, the trial for Robert Fulton — now Raymond Reddington — covered life insurance claims, secret recordings, anonymous tip offs and real-life serial killers. With no body or weapon, and mostly circumstantial evidence, the prosecution had a difficult task to prove this cold case to a jury. Maree Crabtree follows the trial of Gold Coast mother Maree Crabtree, who was accused of murdering two of her children, five years apart. She was tried and acquitted for Jonathan's murder, and later prosecutors dropped the murder charge relating to her daughter Erin's death. The Two Intruders follows a cold case of Irma Palasics's murder. For decades, police hunted for the two intruders who robbed Palasics's Canberra home in 1999, leaving 72-year-old Irma Palasics dead, and her husband Gregor badly beaten. Wheelie Bin Murder follows the trial of Sheree Glastonbury and three co-accused, including Sheree's current partner, Mark Murphy. Prosecutors allege Sheree Glastonbury overdosed her former partner Geoffrey McLean, then disposed of his torso in a wheelie bin. Toyah's Murder, which follows the trial of 41-year-old Rajwinder Singh, charged for the murder of 24-year-old Toyah Cordingley, who was killed when she went for a walk with her dog on one of north Queensland's idyllic beaches, in 2018. Kumanjayi Walker, a six-part series revisiting the murder trial and coronial inquest that followed the police shooting of a young Walpiri man in Yuendumu, in 2019. Easey St Murders, which follows the committal hearing for alleged killer Perry Kouroumblis, who police believe attacked Suzanne Armstrong and Susan Bartlett in their Melbourne terrace house. Snowtown Parole, which follows serial killer James Vlassakis's parole proceedings. Romance Scam, which follows the trial and appeal of Perth woman Donna Nelson, who was charged with drug trafficking in Japan. Croc Wrangler, which follows the reality star and Northern Territory celebrity Matt Wright, charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice related to the investigation of a fatal helicopter crash. Mushroom Lunch continues to follow all proceedings related to Erin Patterson's triple murder conviction in July 2025.
03 The Airbnb Guest | Verdict
The prosecution's final pitch to the jury described Timothy Loosemore as a man who snapped and murdered Maree Vermont, but the defence told them they hadn't heard the evidence to back up that story. In this episode, Bendigo reporter Anna McGuinness explains the closing arguments and what Timothy Loosemore told police when he was in a hospital bed after the fire. If you have any questions you'd like Anna and Stocky to answer in future episodes, please email [email protected]. The Case Of is the follow-up to the hit podcast Mushroom Case Daily, and all episodes of that show will remain available in the back catalogue of The Case Of. Editor's note 7/7/26: Today's episode has been republished with updated audio after an initial publishing error.
Jul 7
25 min
02 The Airbnb Guest | Dejected ex-lover, or helpful house guest?
The prosecution describes Timothy Loosemore as an ex-lover driven to murder by rejection. The defence says he's a welcome help around the stone house. So which was he? In this episode, reporter Anna McGuinness tells Stocky how Maree Vermont's friends described the relationship, and what the fire investigator found at the scene. If you have any questions you'd like Anna and Stocky to answer in future episodes, please email [email protected]. The Case Of is the follow-up to the hit podcast Mushroom Case Daily, and all episodes of that show will remain available in the back catalogue of The Case Of.
Jul 2
28 min
01 The Airbnb Guest | A body in the ashes
After welcoming a British visitor named Timothy Loosemore, Maree Vermont's house went up in flames, and her body was found in the ruins. How did things go so wrong? In this episode, reporter Anna McGuinness explains the prosecution's case against Timothy Loosemore, and how the defence argued back in his trial this year. If you have any questions you'd like Anna and Stocky to answer in future episodes, please email [email protected]. The Case Of is the follow-up to the hit podcast Mushroom Case Daily, and all episodes of that show will remain available in the back catalogue of The Case Of.
Jun 30
21 min
‘ISIS Brides’ | The slave
Two Australian women — Zeinab and Kawsar Ahmad — have been charged with owning a Yazidi slave in Syria while living under ISIS rule. Reporter James Oaten tells Stocky what life was like for the teenage slave, and the arguments for and against bail for both Kawsar and her daughter Zeinab. UPDATE 26/6/26: Since publishing this episode, alleged slave-owner Kawsar Ahmad has been granted bail by a Melbourne Magistrate. More details: 'ISIS bride' Kawsar Ahmad charged with slavery offences is granted bail
Jun 25
26 min
'ISIS Brides' | Who has been charged with what
ISIS-linked women returning to Australia from Syria will face domestic courts for charges including crimes against humanity: slavery and being member of a terrorist organisation.  Melbourne reporter James Oaten returns to the pod and explains the legal process to now and the political and media storm these women faced upon their arrival.  Extra reporting by James Oaten: Australian kids returned from Syria deserve compassion, says grandfather — ABC News  If you have any questions you'd like James and Stocky to answer in future episodes, please email [email protected].  The Case Of is the follow-up to the hit podcast Mushroom Case Daily, and all episodes of that show will remain available in the back catalogue of The Case Of.
Jun 23
25 min
Maree Crabtree | The murder charge the jury didn’t hear
Gold Coast mother Maree Crabtree was tried for murder in relation to her son's overdose death, and acquitted in May. The jury didn't know she also was facing a murder charge for her second daughter, Erin. In this episode, Brisbane court reporter Talissa Siganto joins Stocky to explain why Maree was accused of killing Erin, a dramatic morning in court and why we had to keep this secret from you.    If you have any questions you’d like Talissa and Stocky to answer in future episodes, please email [email protected].    You can listen back to The Case Of Maree Crabtree, starting with episode one - 01 | Maree Crabtree | A mother tried for murder - ABC listen  The Case Of is the follow-up to the hit podcast Mushroom Case Daily, and all episodes of that show will remain available in the back catalogue of The Case Of.
Jun 22
12 min
04 Sharon’s Disappearance | No body, no parole
Thirty-six years after he killed his wife, Robert Fulton changed his name to Raymond Reddington, the lead character in US crime show, The Blacklist. We discovered another connection to this program not mentioned in the trial. Stocky, David Weber and Clare Rawlinson discuss the sentence, the name change and why Raymond Reddington didn't receive a non-parole period. If you have any questions you'd like David and Stocky to answer in future episodes, please email [email protected]. The Case Of is the follow-up to the hit podcast Mushroom Case Daily, and all episodes of that show will remain available in the back catalogue of The Case Of.
Jun 18
26 min
03 Sharon’s Disappearance | A tip off with a twist
An anonymous letter was sent to Sharon Fulton's coronial inquest, claiming to know who killed her and where her body was. But who wrote this letter, and can it be believed? Court reporter David Weber reveals who the author was and what the jury decided at the end of the trial in this 40-year-old cold case. If you have any questions you'd like David and Stocky to answer in future episodes, please email [email protected]. The Case Of is the follow-up to the hit podcast Mushroom Case Daily, and all episodes of that show will remain available in the back catalogue of The Case Of.
Jun 16
18 min
02 Sharon’s Disappearance | What Robert Fulton stood to lose
Sharon Fulton was looking into divorcing her husband months before her disappearance. He stood to lose everything. Was this a motive for murder? In this episode, Perth reporter David Weber describes what Sharon wanted out of a divorce. David also explains the defence argument she may have been a victim of Perth serial killers 'The Birnies', and her son's attempt to find the truth. If you have any questions you'd like David and Stocky to answer in future episodes, please email [email protected]. The Case Of is the follow-up to the hit podcast Mushroom Case Daily, and all episodes of that show will remain available in the back catalogue of The Case Of.
Jun 11
01 Sharon’s Disappearance | No body, no weapon, no crime?
Sharon Fulton dropped her three-year-old son at daycare in Perth's north and never returned to pick him up. Forty years later, her husband Robert Fulton is charged with murder. In this series, Perth court reporter, David Weber, retells the trial of Raymond Reddington — formerly Robert Fulton. If you have any questions you'd like David and Stocky to answer in future episodes, please email [email protected]. The Case Of is the follow-up to the hit podcast Mushroom Case Daily, and all episodes of that show will remain available in the back catalogue of The Case Of.
Jun 8
22 min
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