Podcast delayed sex offence trial

The Australian's Shadow of Doubt podcast delayed the trial of William Rob Gilfillan, a former PE teacher, by ten months.

Gilfillan already serving 48-year sentence

Gilfillan was already serving a forty eight year jail term for abusing his daughter in New South Wales.He was convicted in two thousand sixteen of rape and torture.

Podcast questioned conviction as miscarriage

Shadow of Doubt, launched in March two thousand twenty three, claimed Gilfillan's conviction for rape and torture of his daughter may be a grave miscarriage of justice.

“We're innocent … these things just did not happen.”

Details led to online identification

Although suppression orders prevented naming Gilfillan, details such as family involvement in high level athletics and teaching meant people recognised them.

Barrister argued prejudice made trial unfair

Kounnas said the podcast and journalist Richard Guilliatt's jail interview sparked feverish speculation on Reddit.

“It has been inflamed to such a degree by the podcast, which I understand was reasonably high profile, that it's fuelled the internet flames, so to speak.”

Judge delayed trial, ordered content removed

Justice Michael O'Connell denied a permanent stay but ordered the Director of Public Prosecutions to remove prejudicial material from the internet.

“I'm very troubled by the continuing position where these comments remain on the internet notwithstanding that, for weeks now we've identified a very significant problem potentially affecting the fairness of the trial and nothing's been done it seems to resolve the problem.”

Jury convicted Gilfillan in December

When the trial went ahead in December, the jury found Gilfillan guilty of brazen and forcible sexual crimes.