ABC commissions investigative crime series, The Family Court Murders

ABC has commissioned a compelling four-part investigative crime series, The Family Court Murders.

Helmed by Walkley award-winning investigative journalist Debi Marshall (pictured), The Family Court Murders takes a deep dive into the shocking events surrounding the 1980s NSW Family Court bombings and murders. 

Between 1980 and 1985, four murders, two shootings and five bombings were carried out by one man – Leonard Warwick. Dubbed the Family Court Murderer, this violent serial killer paved a path of fear, destruction, domestic terrorism and death. Sparked by a custody feud with his ex-wife, the newly established Family Court system along with many others, became his targets. Despite a mounting body of evidence against him, Warwick was able to elude persecution for decades.

Fascinated by the case, Debi Marshall has spent years delving into the life of Leonard Warwick, slowly piecing together the puzzle of who he is and of his crimes – culminating in her ground-breaking book The Family Court Murders.

Last year, thanks in part to Debi’s tenacity and persistence, Leonard Warwick was convicted for offences including multiple murders and sentenced to life imprisonment. However, many questions remain.

With the same persistence that put this cold case back on the agenda, Debi sets out to piece together the final pieces to the puzzle through exclusive access to victims and their families, recreating events, and utilising the expertise of a forensic criminal profiler and researcher.

These violent crimes left an indelible mark on Australian society in ways that still resonate today and the challenges facing the Family Court are also under investigation in this series. The Family Court Murders will launch next year on ABC TV and ABC iview.    

Production Credits: A Media Stockade and Said and Done Production. Series Director Chris Thorburn. Producers Madeleine Hetherton-Miau, Rebecca Barry and Debi Marshall. Executive Producer Mark Morrissey. ABC Commissioning Editor Stephen Oliver. International Distribution Flame Distribution.