Case 143: Leigh Leigh
🕑 Added 2020-04-18 09:35:00 +0000 UTCIt was a warm spring evening on Friday, November 3 1989 and Leigh Leigh was excited. She was going to her first late-night party to celebrate the 16th birthday of one of the local boys, Jason Robertson. More than 50 youths would be in attendance, mostly Year 10 students from Newcastle High.
Team:
Anonymous Host - narration
Eileen Ormsby - research, writing
Mike Migas - production, scoring
Andrew D.B. Joslyn - scoring
Milly Raso - creative direction
Comments
Casefile True Crime
Thank you for sharing Brooke.
Brooke Holbrow
This one was hard to listen to and it took me a while to even decide that i would. I was 9 years old when this happened and I grew up in Stockton. I knew personally and knew of a number of the people at this party through family friends and also some were older siblings of my friends. Whilst I knew a lot of this case growing up there were parts that I didn’t know (or didn’t realise I knew) as I was only a child. Not everyone in my community blamed Leigh, she was an innocent child herself. However the treatment that she and her family were subjected to was appalling and so shameful by those that did. In the last 12 months that section of beach has been all by washed away by the erosion currently destroying Stockton beach and the old surf club (which had been a day care centre for the last 15-20 years) was recently demolished due to it being at risk from the erosion. It was weird watching it come down. I think you guys did a great job telling this case as difficult as it was for me to listen to it.
Gem
This has to be the most horrendous one yet. What happened to her so called friends? I really can't understand how nobody intervened. It's heartbreaking and makes me ashamed of the human race.
Jason Colombo
It’s taken this long to admit, but I don’t think I can listen to this one. Im too familiar with the case and I wish I wasn’t. I want to bleach my brain of this. I love your podcast, so much, but I think I have to skip this one. Im sure you do an INCREDIBLE job, which is why I don’t want to listen...if that makes sense?? Love you all, thanks for what you do. Please stay safe! ❤️
Mark Ofmalovia
Having lived in Newcastle this was too close for me. I endured it because it was so professionally prepared, presented and produced. I can't imagine how the Casefile team coped with this case.
Tatum
This was hard to get through. I had to turn it off and come back to it a couple times. Very well and respectfully presented though.
Raymond Danford
Brilliant writing, excellent narration and perfect musical background strike again to maintain Casefile's place as the gold standard for podcasts. Sad, sad story but wonderful, thoughtful presentation
HelpFind Ajax&Stamp
I am so angry after hearing how this victim and her family were blamed, words fail me.
Lyman Green
True Crime Fix did this case last fall and so when Casey started I was like “ohhh noooo” because I knew it would be a rough ride. I think the presentation was much the same but I always have to give Casefile the listen (because Casefile, amirite?) the victim blaming and so called “slut shaming” (falsely done and horrifying) by Stockton residents and even officials was so terrible. Ugh. Hard to listen to!!!!
Winter Kara May
I have heard this case before, but not with so much detail, it made this so much more disgusting and heartbreaking, I nearly did not listen because I knew the content but I did and am thankful that you have brought this despicable case to light as it is not a hugely known case. I grew up in a similar community so I really feel for Robyn and her family, so hideous that this behaviour was never punished, the judges comment made me ill, and Lindsey's reputation has never been corrected. What Lindsey went through is just so very heartbreaking...this one made me so angry and sad all at the same time.
Melanie G.
He feels like a ‘c**nt’? That’s it? I couldn’t wrap my head around this one, the community mentality of protecting rapists and murderers is shocking. Disturbing case.
Celine
What an awful community. There was no correct justice for this poor victim. So awful her family went through such harrassment as well as loss.
Amber
What an infuriating story. Thank you for covering this case, and with so much sensitivity towards the victim and her family.
Stefan Bradley
This is such an important story to cover. I felt so much sadness listening to it. It’s not just the victim blaming, but the element of peer pressure is agonisingly brutal.
treecosy
This hurt my heart to listen to. The cruelties human beings are capable of in a group setting is terrifying. All it would have taken was one kid out of 60 to call an adult, and Leigh Leigh might still be alive.
So Real
This case is so heartbreaking, haunting, and vile. The constant and perpetual revictimization of Leigh and her family is repulsive.
Rhys Halliwell
This reminds me of Snowtown, where I just hated everyone involved and wanted to drop a bomb on the entire neighbourhood.
Maya George
I’m about 25 in and it’s devastating and vile. I am so angry and want to cry. The people that are involved and from the local community are without humanity :(
Steve Gilkes
Never before has a case made my feel so angry from start to finish.😢
Kate Lorback
Gosh, was a heartbreaker!! Devastating to hear that no acknowledgment was ever made of the sexual assault on a child. She was just a little girl. As a mother, I’m so incredibly sad for Robyn. You’d literally just never get over it. Well done, Casey, for telling it like it was, and how it should never have been.
Robert Lacey
Case is a true shameful snapshot of a rotton culture close to home. Very good job casefile.
Storme
Casefile did an amazing job of telling Leigh’s story. Such a horrible outcome for her and her family. Hope those involved hate themselves everyday.
Cameron DelaCerna
I'm only 5 minutes in and the warmth and characterization Casey shows in his voice along with the writers integrity really glows in this episode. This is why Casefile will always be my #1 podcast
Jill Warton
This case makes me so cross ... and the whole outcome inadequate
Victor Garcia
Heartbreaking :( Awesome coverage guys
Croix Frigo
Terrible. One of my least favorite episodes. It was done extremely well, but this one really messed me up. Kids that age can be truly truly cruel to one another, and for no one to help her, makes me so sad.
Mandy G
I’m LIVID listening to this episode. This poor girl and her family. 😢
Jennifer Stark
This heartbreaking case reminds us how far we have come as women; however, we still have a ways to go.
Candice Williams
And those people at the party would have girls/boys Leigh Leighs age now... I wonder if they ever think about their actions..or inaction in this case 😞
Fräulein Mánn-schaft
This was horrendous! I remember watching Black Rock as a teenager, probably roughly the same age as Leigh. Well done Casey, on highlighting the gross inadequacy of the Australian legal system once again. I sincerely hope this episode will again bring to light this tragic case, and potentially a movement towards anyone else responsible, accountable! The people at that party would only be in their forties now...
Erica Colliss
Heartbreaking there were so many onlookers that did nothing and keep so many secrets 😢
Bob Trenwith
There was humour there??
Sean Boulden
Failed attempt at humor