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Territory Famous

Territory Famous

by Kellie Arrowsmith

Documentary True Crime

Season 1

The Hidden Valley Dog Attack Inquest

The episode centers on the deaths of two men at Hidden Valley near Darwin, whose deaths led to a coronial inquest and renewed scrutiny of dog management across the Territory. We'll explore what happened, the evidence presented to the coroner, and the recommendations that followed. We'll also take a closer look at the role of camp dogs in remote communities and the challenges surrounding dog populations, ownership, and public safety. But the story doesn't end with the inquest. We'll examine several later attacks from across the Northern Territory that show the issue continued long after the Hidden Valley deaths. I also share my own experience from 2011, when I was chased by four camp dogs while working in a remote Territory community—an encounter that gave me a small glimpse into how quickly these situations can escalate. This episode discusses fatal dog attacks, serious injuries, and animal welfare issues that some listeners may find distressing. Sources for this episode include coronial findings, court documents, contemporary news reports, and government records. Territory Famous is an independent Australian podcast exploring the people, places, crimes, mysteries, and extraordinary stories of the Northern Territory. Researched and written by: Kellie Arrowsmith Audio editor: Bar Brawl Records https://www.facebook.com/BarBrawlRecords Cover art: http://www.joshbauer.com/ "Skimpy' - a Territory memoir: Kellie Arrowsmith Books - Hachette Australia Follow Territory Famous: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561090053520 Instagram: https://www.intagram.com/territoryfamous/ Tik Tok: Territory Famous (@territoryfamous) | TikTok

Arnhem Land, 1988: The Dennis Rostron Case

In this episode of Territory Famous, we examine the case of Dennis Rostron, one of the Northern Territory's most confronting family homicide cases. In 1988, five members of Rostron's family were killed at an outstation near Maningrida in Arnhem Land. Drawing on Supreme Court records, contemporary newspaper reporting, parole decisions and later interviews, we follow the events leading up to the shootings, the devastating impact on the community, the decades Rostron spent in prison, and the circumstances surrounding his eventual release on parole more than 30 years later. This episode contains discussion of murder, family violence, trauma and death that some listeners may find distressing. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners are advised that this episode contains the names of deceased persons and discussion of death. Sources for this episode include Northern Territory Supreme Court judgments, historical newspaper archives, parole board material and contemporary news reporting. Researched and written by: Kellie Arrowsmith Audio editor: Bar Brawl Records https://www.facebook.com/BarBrawlRecords Cover art: http://www.joshbauer.com/ "Skimpy' - a Territory memoir: Kellie Arrowsmith Books - Hachette Australia Follow Territory Famous: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561090053520 Instagram: https://www.intagram.com/territoryfamous/ Tik Tok: Territory Famous (@territoryfamous) | TikTok

The Alice Springs Balloon Disaster & The Ansett Hijacking

This week on Territory Famous we're looking at two extraordinary events that unfolded in the skies above the Northern Territory. First, we revisit the dramatic 1972 hijacking of Ansett Flight 232, a bizarre and tense ordeal that unfolded in Alice Springs and became one of the most unusual aviation incidents in Australian history. Then we travel back to August 1989, when a routine sunrise balloon flight outside Alice Springs ended in tragedy. The disaster claimed 13 lives and remained the deadliest hot air balloon accident in the world for more than two decades. This episode is a little shorter than usual, so thank you for bearing with me. I'm currently deep into research on several much larger stories that will be released over the coming weeks. The Age - Google News Archive Search Researched and written by: Kellie Arrowsmith Audio editor: Bar Brawl Records https://www.facebook.com/BarBrawlRecords Cover art: http://www.joshbauer.com/ "Skimpy' - a Territory memoir: Kellie Arrowsmith Books - Hachette Australia Follow Territory Famous: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561090053520 Instagram: https://www.intagram.com/territoryfamous/ Tik Tok: Territory Famous (@territoryfamous) | TikTok

Beyond the Impact: The Nicholas Cassidy Cover-Up

In June 2011, 25-year-old Levi Griffiths was walking home along a dark stretch of road in Darwin’s rural area when his life was tragically cut short. What happened afterwards would shock the Northern Territory. In this episode of Territory Famous, we look into the case of Nicholas “Shonky” Cassidy — from the fatal collision on Girraween Road, to the elaborate cover-up that followed, the legal loophole that sparked outrage across Darwin, and the years of unanswered questions left behind for Levi’s family. Using coronial findings, court evidence, sentencing remarks and media reports, this episode examines one of the NT’s most controversial criminal cases and the investigation that uncovered what happened after Levi’s death. This episode discusses death, grief and distressing events. Listener discretion is advised. Inquest: NTMC04Griffithsinquest.pdf Researched and written by: Kellie Arrowsmith Audio editor: Bar Brawl Records https://www.facebook.com/BarBrawlRecords Cover art: http://www.joshbauer.com/ "Skimpy' - a Territory memoir: Kellie Arrowsmith Books - Hachette Australia Follow Territory Famous: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561090053520 Instagram: https://www.intagram.com/territoryfamous/ Tik Tok: Territory Famous (@territoryfamous) | TikTok

Ben Hoffmann Part 2: The Trial, Courtroom Chaos & Life Sentence

In Part 2 of the Ben Hoffmann case, Territory Famous follows the long and chaotic court process that unfolded after the 2019 Darwin shootings. What began as a murder trial quickly became one of the most bizarre and difficult Supreme Court proceedings the Northern Territory had seen in years. This episode covers: • Hoffmann’s behavior inside the courtroom • His repeated clashes with lawyers and the judge • The dramatic sacking and rehiring of legal teams • Psychiatric evidence and claims of paranoia and delusions • The prosecution’s argument that some symptoms were exaggerated or faked • Guilty pleas entered after six weeks of trial • Justice John Burns’ sentencing remarks • The lasting impact on survivors, victims’ families, and the Darwin community The episode also looks at the way the victims were remembered by loved ones, and the emotional aftermath that continued long after the shootings ended. This episode contains discussions of murder, gun violence, trauma, drug use, mental illness, and court evidence that some listeners may find distressing. Listener discretion is advised. Researched and written by: Kellie Arrowsmith Audio editor: Bar Brawl Records https://www.facebook.com/BarBrawlRecords Cover art: http://www.joshbauer.com/ "Skimpy' - a Territory memoir: Kellie Arrowsmith Books - Hachette Australia Follow Territory Famous: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561090053520 Instagram: https://www.intagram.com/territoryfamous/ Tik Tok: Territory Famous (@territoryfamous) | TikTok

Ben Hoffman (Part One: The Shootings)

In 2019, Ben Hoffman was involved in a drug-fueled shooting rampage that resulted in a serious violent incident and multiple shots being fired. This episode focuses on the events of the shooting itself, including how the situation unfolded and escalated, the actions taken during the incident, and the immediate response from those involved and emergency services. It covers the timeline of the day and the circumstances surrounding the violent behavior that led to criminal charges. Part Two of this series covers: The impact of the shootings on the victims’ families, the court proceedings and trial evidence, and Hoffman’s behavior while in custody, including additional charges related to his conduct while incarcerated. Researched and written by: Kellie Arrowsmith Audio editor: Bar Brawl Records https://www.facebook.com/BarBrawlRecords Cover art: http://www.joshbauer.com/ "Skimpy' - a Territory memoir: Kellie Arrowsmith Books - Hachette Australia Follow Territory Famous: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561090053520 Instagram: https://www.intagram.com/territoryfamous/ Tik Tok: Territory Famous (@territoryfamous) | TikTok

Six Men, Two Brothers: The Airport Hotel Bashing

In this episode, I’m covering a pretty full-on pub bashing that happened at the Airport Hotel in Darwin back in 2007. This one stood out to me straight away because I actually used to work there as what they call a toppy (topless barmaid), and later did bookings for the pub — so I know the pub pretty well I couldn't believe I hadn't heard about this episode though, because it got pretty wild. After one bloke made a joke about another man's weight, a fight broke out and the bloke who was upset about the joke was knocked out. So, he went home, rounded up a group, and came back to the pub. From there, CCTV footage and witness accounts show what the court later described as a coordinated attack involving six men and two victims. The fight itself only lasted a couple of minutes, but it was chaotic, violent, and involved punches, kicks, bar stools, and even a hammer being brought into the bar. I go through exactly what happened, step by step, based on court documents — then break down what happened at trial, the arguments raised on appeal, and why the convictions ultimately stood. I’ll also be covering another case involving one of the men from this story in a future episode. Apologies for the short episode today, I will be back next week with part 1 of 2 episodes on Darwin mass murderer, Benjamin Hoffman. Researched and written by: Kellie Arrowsmith Audio editor: Bar Brawl Records https://www.facebook.com/BarBrawlRecords Cover art: http://www.joshbauer.com/ "Skimpy' - a Territory memoir: Kellie Arrowsmith Books - Hachette Australia Follow Territory Famous: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561090053520 Instagram: https://www.intagram.com/territoryfamous/ Tik Tok: Territory Famous (@territoryfamous) | TikTok

Zak Grieve Part 3: Christopher Malyschko — Prison, Kronic, and a Death in Custody

This is the third and final episode in the Zak Grieve series. In this episode, we focus on Christopher Malyschko — the man who carried out the killing of Ray Niceforo — and what happened after the trial. We go through Christopher’s sentencing, including why he received a non-parole period of 18 years instead of the standard 20. The court considered his background, his lack of prior serious offending, and the ongoing abuse and threats within the home that contributed to the situation. From there, we look at his time in prison. Christopher was described as a model prisoner — working, completing courses, and keeping out of trouble. But like many inmates, he was also dealing with long periods of boredom and limited options, particularly after being transferred from Berrimah Correctional Centre to Darwin Correctional Centre at Holtze. After the move, prisoners lost access to many of their personal belongings, including books and music, with a promised digital system meant to replace them. That system failed for years, leaving many inmates with very little to occupy their time. This environment contributed to the widespread use of Kronic — a synthetic cannabis product — inside the prison. In this episode, we examine how that played a role in Christopher’s death in custody, and the findings of the coronial inquest that followed. This episode also touches on broader issues within the prison system, including supervision, substance use, and whether more could have been done to prevent what happened. This is a confronting case, and it impacts multiple families — including those of Ray Niceforo, Christopher Malyschko, Zak Grieve, and Darren Halfpenny. Listener discretion is advised. Researched and written by: Kellie Arrowsmith Audio editor: Bar Brawl Records https://www.facebook.com/BarBrawlRecords Cover art: http://www.joshbauer.com/ "Skimpy' - a Territory memoir: Kellie Arrowsmith Books - Hachette Australia Follow Territory Famous: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561090053520 Instagram: https://www.intagram.com/territoryfamous/ Tik Tok: Territory Famous (@territoryfamous) | TikTok

The Story of Zak Grieve Part 2 - Justice and injustice

In Part 2 of Zak Grieve’s story, we move beyond the events of that night and into the courtroom, where the real complexities of this case begin to unfold. This episode focuses on what happened after the murder of Ray Niceforo, and how the legal system responded to the roles each person played. While the facts of the case were laid out in court, what followed raised serious questions about justice, responsibility, and the limits of the law. You’ll hear how Zak’s involvement — despite not being present at the time of the killing — still led to a life sentence under Northern Territory law. We break down how mandatory sentencing played a critical role, and why even the judge acknowledged that the outcome may not have reflected Zak’s true level of involvement. This episode also explores the broader context, the environment these young men were in, the influence of others, and the ripple effects of decisions made in a moment that would change multiple lives forever. As the case continues, we look at the growing concerns around fairness in the justice system, and how this story became part of a much larger conversation about law, accountability, and mercy. This is not just a story about what happened — it’s about what happened after, and whether the outcome truly reflected justice. Researched and written by: Kellie Arrowsmith Audio editor: Bar Brawl Records https://www.facebook.com/BarBrawlRecords Cover art: http://www.joshbauer.com/ "Skimpy' - a Territory memoir: Kellie Arrowsmith Books - Hachette Australia Follow Territory Famous: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561090053520 Instagram: https://www.intagram.com/territoryfamous/ Tik Tok: Territory Famous (@territoryfamous) | TikTok

Territory Famous presents: Zak Grieve – Part 1: Bronwyn Buttery

This episode focuses on the lead-up to the murder of Raffaele “Ray” Niceforo, and the role of Bronwyn Buttery. For years, Bronwyn lived in a relationship marked by control, intimidation and violence. What started as a relationship that seemed promising slowly deteriorated into something much darker — leaving her isolated, financially strained, and fearful for her safety and the safety of her children. As the situation escalated in 2011, threats, abuse, and intimidation became more frequent. Despite attempts to leave and legal intervention through a domestic violence order, Bronwyn found herself pulled back into the cycle. In this episode, we explore: Bronwyn’s relationship with Ray and how it changed over time The abuse and control described in court The events in September 2011 that became a turning point How fear and desperation contributed to what happened next The facts discussed in this episode are based on court findings from the 2013 Supreme Court sentencing. Content warning: This episode contains discussion of domestic violence, abuse, and homicide. Researched and written by: Kellie Arrowsmith Audio editor: Bar Brawl Records https://www.facebook.com/BarBrawlRecords Cover art: http://www.joshbauer.com/ "Skimpy' - a Territory memoir: Kellie Arrowsmith Books - Hachette Australia Follow Territory Famous: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561090053520 Instagram: https://www.intagram.com/territoryfamous/ Tik Tok: Territory Famous (@territoryfamous) | TikTok

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