Guardians of the Dead

We're all going to die but how we check out may be totally out of left field. In this episode, Prof Byard explores some of the more unusual cases he's seen in nearly four decades as a forensic pathologist - from accidental death by sexual asphyxia to misadventures at work.  Get exclusive access to all the stories, pictures and videos in Guardians of the Dead series. This podcast is made possible by our subscribers. Subscribe to The Advertiser today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More and more people in the West are turning to herbal therapies for relief from disease or for general well-being, but as Prof Byard explains, even herbal remedies can kill. He details several cases from Australia and around the world where people have died by consuming and preparations they thought were ‘natural' but were anything but and makes a case for stronger regulation of what's become a multi-billion dollar industry. Get exclusive access to all the stories, pictures and videos in Guardians of the Dead series. This podcast is made possible by our subscribers. Subscribe to The Advertiser today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In modern Australia, Bushrangers are generally held up as folk heroes, fighting for the oppressed 19th century working classes – but is this true? Taking examples such as Ned Kelly,Ben Hall and Captain Moonlight, Prof Byard explains how modern forensic techniques and cutting edge technologies have helped historians see these bush bandits in a whole new light. He also explains why having a Ned Kelly tattoo could be bad for your health. Get exclusive access to all the stories, pictures and videos in Guardians of the Dead series. This podcast is made possible by our subscribers. Subscribe to The Advertiser today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two weeks into his new job at a forensic facility, Roger Byard got a phone call that would not only have a profound impact on his own life and career, but also on the tiny SA town of Snowtown and the whole of South Australia. In this episode, Roger details the forensic aspects of the Snowtown investigation, the unique challenges the gruesome killings presented and his prevailing memories of one of the world's most shocking acts of evil. Get exclusive access to all the stories, pictures and videos in Guardians of the Dead series. This podcast is made possible by our subscribers. Subscribe to The Advertiser today. News Credits: Channel 7 Adelaide  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All kinds of animals can kill people, from leeches, roosters and sheep, to fish, monkeys and camels. In this episode, Roger discusses the many bizarre ways people have been killed by animals and how animals can help solve a mysterious death but also complicate a criminal investigation. Get exclusive access to all the stories, pictures and videos in Guardians of the Dead series. This podcast is made possible by our subscribers. Subscribe to The Advertiser today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wherever tragedy strikes, forensic pathologists follow, tasked with the important work of disaster victim identification - often in the most trying and confronting circumstances. Prof Byard was on the ground in the wake of the 2002 Bali bombings and 2004 Thai Tsunami and reveals how, even in the midst of so much death, he witnessed one of the most beautiful things he'd ever seen in his life Get exclusive access to all the stories, pictures and videos in Guardians of the Dead series. This podcast is made possible by our subscribers. Subscribe to The Advertiser today. News Credits: Channel 7 Adelaide  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is forensic pathology? What happens at a crime scene, in the morgue and in court?  Prof Byard debunks some of the biggest myths about this fascinating science and explains why one particular case - the murder of 15-year-old Adelaide girl Samantha O'Reilly, has stuck with him for almost 20 years. Get exclusive access to all the stories, pictures and videos in Guardians of the Dead series. This podcast is made possible by our subscribers. Subscribe to The Advertiser today. Credits: News clips via Channel 7 Adelaide. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the the Guardians of the Dead podcast before anyone else, ad-free, along with award winning journalism with a subscription to adelaidenow.com.au. Roger Byard knows what death looks like. How it feels to the touch. He can tell you how it smells. In many ways, Roger Byard has given his life to death. The Chair of Pathology at the University of Adelaide, Prof Byard has worked on a string of high-profile cases in SA and around the world, from Snowtown to the Bali bombings. In this podcast Prof Byard opens up his case files and trawls back through his personal recollections, shedding a light on the macabre but fascinating world of forensic pathology.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.