Sirin Kale

The BBC was warned by journalist Eileen Fairweather and Ian Heffron, an uncle of murder victim Nicola Fellows, about claims that true-crime author Christopher Berry-Dee had possessed Karen Hadaway’s missing clothes. Hadaway and Fellows were murdered in Brighton in 1986, and the clothes were later obtained by Martin Bashir for a proposed BBC documentary before disappearing. Berry-Dee confirmed to the Guardian that he had obtained the clothes and claimed he eventually burned them, but did not clarify the timeline. The BBC’s whistleblowing unit closed Fairweather’s case without further action, while Davie’s office did not follow up on Heffron’s warning. The corporation has apologized to Hadaway’s mother and reached a settlement, but maintains that the matter was investigated as thoroughly as possible.

A Guardian investigation examines allegations that bestselling true crime author Christopher Berry-Dee abused women and children, including claims of repeated domestic violence against his former wife Tracey Dee, sexual abuse of a teenage art student, and inappropriate touching alleged by his daughter Sasha. Berry-Dee denies abusing his former wife and rejects the sexual abuse allegations. The investigation also details his criminal convictions, disputed quotations attributed to serial killers, alleged mistreatment of victims’ families, controversial handling of crime-scene material, and graphic and demeaning portrayals of victims in his books. Helen’s allegations were not prosecuted because of evidential and historical legal barriers, although the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority later awarded her compensation; Sasha’s police report remained stalled. The findings raise questions about Berry-Dee’s conduct, the ethics and accuracy of his true crime publishing, and the treatment of alleged victims by authorities and publishers.

A coroner’s inquest is examining the death of Melbourne influencer Stacey Warnecke, who attempted a medically unassisted home birth supported only by her husband and an untrained “birth keeper,” Emily Lal. The case highlights the growing trend of freebirths and the influence of training businesses such as the Free Birth Society. Guardian journalists discuss the motivations behind non‑medical births and emerging findings from the inquest.

The death of Australian wellness influencer Stacey Warnecke from a treatable postpartum haemorrhage during a freebirth has intensified scrutiny of the Free Birth Society and its training program for unlicensed “radical birth keepers.” The investigation details the close ties between birth attendant Emily Lal and FBS founders Emilee Saldaya and Yolande Norris-Clark, whose teachings promote rejecting medical care and contain widespread misinformation. Lal, trained through FBS’s online program, attended Warnecke’s birth and delayed calling an ambulance in adherence to the movement’s ideology of absolute maternal autonomy. The inquest also revisited Lal’s connection to a previous newborn death, though no personal findings were made against her. Experts testified that Warnecke’s death was preventable with timely medical intervention, prompting regulatory action against Lal and renewed concerns about the dangers of non-medical births promoted by FBS.

A Melbourne woman’s death during an unassisted home birth has prompted an inquest examining the rise of freebirths and the role of unregulated birth support workers. The case centres on influencer Stacey Warnecke, who gave birth without medical assistance after guidance from a self-described birth keeper trained through the Free Birth Society. The coroner is assessing why more women are choosing medically unassisted births and how the movement’s claims align with risks highlighted by the incident.

Concerns raised directly with BBC staff about Ashley Cain’s social media misogyny and suitability to interview a sexual violence survivor were not investigated despite internal awareness months before the segment aired. The disclosure contradicts the BBC’s claim that vetting failures were solely the responsibility of external production partners and adds pressure to leadership amid existing scrutiny. Eve, the interviewee, warned producers about Cain’s branding and past behavior but was reassured the matter would be reviewed. After the interview, further allegations surfaced about Cain’s conduct and prior replacement on a BBC documentary. The BBC has apologized, said Cain will not work on future projects, and launched an investigation into its vetting process.

The BBC cancelled the Ashley Cain documentary series after revelations of his past abusive and misogynistic comments, acknowledging failures in its vetting process. The corporation is reviewing how Cain was approved despite prior allegations and a separate misconduct incident. Executives had been developing him as a rising presenter, but the scandal adds pressure to strengthen vetting amid other BBC controversies and ongoing cost-cutting measures.

The BBC commissioned a second Ashley Cain documentary series despite having been alerted to an alleged misconduct incident during a 2025 Las Vegas production, where filming was suspended after Cain appeared intoxicated. Cain, already under scrutiny for past misogynistic posts and a previous allegation of non-consensual sharing of sexual content, was removed from the Las Vegas project and replaced. The situation has intensified criticism of the BBC’s vetting procedures, prompting Liberal Democrat MPs to demand an investigation. The corporation has requested reviews from involved production companies while facing broader questions about its handling of presenter conduct amid recent scandals.

A BBC presenter, Ashley Cain, has a long record of misogynistic and abusive posts on X, including derogatory language toward women and jokes about violence and sexual acts, raising questions about the BBC’s vetting procedures. The revelations emerge alongside earlier allegations that he shared explicit images of a woman, Rachel Roftis, without her consent, causing her significant distress. BBC executives had previously praised Cain’s appeal to young male audiences and commissioned multiple series with him despite publicly available warning signs. The case adds pressure on the corporation as it faces renewed scrutiny over its handling of presenter misconduct following previous scandals.

Backlash grows against FBS as Emilee and Yolande respond during a continuing year-long investigation.

Investigative reporters examine how the ideology spread by Emilee and Yolande has expanded internationally, continuing a year-long inquiry into the reach and influence of FBS.

Following the death of Lorren’s baby and the public backlash toward the Free Birth Society, Emilee Saldaya shifted the organisation’s membership behind a paywall, transforming it into a multimillion‑dollar global enterprise. The episode continues a year‑long investigation into the group’s growth and influence.

A pregnant woman’s engagement with an online free-birth community and its associated podcasts leads to tragic consequences, forming the focus of the third episode in a year-long investigative podcast series.

A podcast investigation examines the Free Birth Society’s promotion of unassisted childbirth and follows Nicole Garrison, who says the group’s ideology put her life at risk.

Backlash grows against the Free Birth Society as Emilee and Yolande respond to the escalating crisis in this episode of a year‑long investigation.

An investigation examines how the FBS ideology created by Emilee and Yolande expanded internationally, tracing the extent of its global reach as part of a year‑long reporting project.

Months after the death of Lorren’s baby and the resulting backlash against the Free Birth Society, Emilee Saldaya moved the organisation’s membership behind a paywall and expanded it into a multimillion-dollar global enterprise. Guardian reporters continue a year-long investigation into the group’s growth and influence.

An investigation recounts how Lorren Holliday joined Emilee Saldaya’s online Free Birth Society community and became deeply engaged with its podcasts during her pregnancy in 2018, a decision portrayed as contributing to a tragic outcome.

Investigates Emilee Saldaya and Yolande Norris-Clark of the Free Birth Society, examining their backgrounds, claims and partnership as part of a year‑long inquiry into the free birth movement.

The investigation examines how the Free Birth Society promoted the idea of giving birth without medical assistance, presenting it as a way for women to reclaim autonomy, and highlights Nicole Garrison’s claim that the group’s ideology placed her life at risk.

An investigation examines how the Free Birth Society promoted the idea that women could reclaim autonomy by avoiding the medical system, a message one participant, Nicole Garrison, says nearly cost her life. Guardian reporters launch a year‑long audio series exploring the risks and consequences of the free birth movement.