A Moment In Crime

The 1998 murder of the Ashburton schoolgirl remains one of New Zealand's most high-profile cold cases.

Kirsty disappeared on December 31, 1998, while walking the family dog Abby on the banks of the Ashburton River.

The day after Kirsty went missing, the family's dog Abby was found tied to a tree near the river, and the teen's underwear was nearby.

Her body was found two weeks later, hidden in dense scrub almost 50km away.

To date, no one has been arrested for her murder and police recently announced a $100,000 reward for information leading to the capture of her killer - or killers.

DO YOU HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT THE KIRSTY BENTLEY CASE?

Anyone with information is asked to contact Police via their non-emergency phone number 105 and reference Operation Kirsty. Alternatively, you can call Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

READ MORE ON THIS CASE IN THE HERALD:

Kirsty Bentley murder: Police offer $100,000 reward in Ashburton cold case

Kirsty Bentley cold case: Police focus on stranger abduction lead

Kirsty Bentley murder cold case: Killer may have already been spoken to by police

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Easter Monday 2021, Paulina Hanna was found dead at the Remuera home she shared with her husband of 30 years, Philip Polkinghorne.

For 16 months, her death was treated as “unexplained”. That’s until it emerged Polkinghorne had been charged with murder. He pleaded not guilty in August 2022.

From the team behind The Front Page, the New Zealand Herald's daily news podcast, comes Accused: The Polkinghorne Trial.

Listen to Accused: The Polkinghorne Trial on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts, or in The Front Page podcast feed.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Moment In Crime - The Patron - looks back at the life and crimes of disgraced knight and serial sex attacker James Hay Wallace.

Behind his money, philanthropy and resplendence, Wallace was a serial sex offender who lured men to his mansion on the premise of discussing funding proposals or helping with projects or careers and abused them when they least expected it.

Wallace’s case took years to resolve with multiple trial dates - one delayed, one aborted and the case then moved to the High Court at Auckland.

After he was sentenced he continued to fight to clear his name, mounting various appeals to keep his identity suppressed and himself out of prison.

A Moment In Crime - The Patron tells the story of Wallace’s life, crimes, court case and the impact it had on the victims and wider community across three episodes.

This episode looks at the victims experiences of the abuse and court, and the aftermath for the arts community.

Part One and Part Two are also live if you have yet to listen to those.

Thanks to the NZ Herald senior journalist Sam Hurley for his contributions to this episode.

For more on the case visit nzherald.co.nz or click:

• Sir James Wallace named as former rich-lister convicted of indecently assaulting three men and attempting to pervert the course of justice
• 'I do not forgive you': Victims of prominent businessman speak out as influential figure jailed
• Sir James Wallace unmasked: The inside story of a rich-lister, arts philanthropist and criminal
• James Wallace: Disgraced arts patron continues to deny offending, refused parole

SEXUAL HARM - DO YOU NEED HELP?

If you've ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone, contact Safe to Talk confidentially, any time 24/7:

• Call 0800 044 334
• Text 4334
• Email [email protected]

Alternatively contact your local police station click here for a list.

If you have been sexually assaulted, remember it's not your fault.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2015 a 43-year-old man was jailed for more than 15 years for the premeditated, prolonged and persistent sexual abuse of his two young daughters - filming much of the abuse of the youngest and uploading it to vile websites.

He was also convicted of sexual offending against another two little girls he met through his job at a community centre and secretly filming an adult friend having sex.

Recently he was refused parole and his daughters spoke to senior journalist Anna Leask, host of the Herald podcast A Moment In Crime about their ordeal.
SEXUAL HARM - Where to get help

If you've ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone, contact Safe to Talk confidentially, any time 24/7:

Call 0800 044 334
Text 4334
Email [email protected]
For more info or to web chat visit www.safetotalk.nzAlternatively contact your local police station.

If you have been sexually assaulted, remember it's not your fault.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the 1970s, the Mr Asia drug syndicate was one of the largest sellers of heroin in the world. The group began in New Zealand, with two men at its centre: Marty Johnstone and Terry Clark.

As the syndicate spread around the world, for a few years, they were living the high life. And then, they started killing each other.

In the new season of A Forgotten History, from the New Zealand Herald and Bird of Paradise Productions, John Daniell and Noelle McCarthy revisit the lives and crimes of these two men, their associates, and how their actions changed drug culture in New Zealand.

Episodes available now wherever you get your podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.