Who the Hell is Hamish? · The Australian

From The Front: The mystery of ‘Shotgun Johnny’ Regan

·14 min·1 clip

Was corrupt detective Roger Rogerson behind the unsolved murder of gangster Shotgun Johnny Regan in 1974?

This episode of "From The Front" investigates the 1974 unsolved murder of notorious Australian gangster Stuart "Shotgun Johnny" Regan. Host Claire Harvey presents a segment on The Australian's new cold case podcast series, "The Gangster's Ghost," hosted by senior writer Matthew Condon. The episode explores whether corrupt detective Roger Rogerson committed this as his first alleged killing. Regan was a 29-year-old pimp, rapist, and standover man gunned down in a Marrickville laneway. The investigation reveals bullets from three firearms, including a .38 caliber police-issue pistol, were found at the scene. Regan's childhood in Young involved abuse and time in a brutal boys' home, and he believed police were constantly framing him. The era was defined by deep police corruption, with figures like Rogerson controlling Sydney's underworld. Rogerson, who later murdered Warren Lanfranchi in 1981 and Jamie Gao in 2004, reportedly found Regan frightening. Regan's criminal career lasted only eight years, from 1966 to his death. His family, including cousin Kelly Slater-Regan and de facto wife Margaret Yates, seek answers about his life and murder. Kelly, a former NSW police officer, was professionally scrutinized due to her infamous surname. A fascinating element is the recovery of Regan's own secret recordings made via a reel-to-reel tape hooked to his rotary telephone. These tapes, discovered in his aunt's house in the late 1980s, capture him conspiring with associates like Arthur Moore. Audio experts Jasper Leake and Leah Tamaglou used advanced software called DX Revive to restore hours of these scratchy, muddled conversations. Matthew Condon expresses astonishment at hearing the gangster's voice, calling it a "million to one" opportunity for a true crime story. The family's motivations vary: Kelly wants to know if Regan was truly a psychopath, while his children question his monstrous public reputation. Margaret Yates was left with three young children and wonders why his criminal associates abandoned her. The NSW Cold Case Homicide unit recently visited the Regan family, but the 50-year passage of time makes resolution incredibly difficult. Condon notes that time allows conspiracy theories and false yarns to flourish, creating a "mushroom cloud of falsity." He hopes the podcast's public reach might prompt someone with new information to come forward. The tone is investigative and narrative, blending historical analysis with personal family stories and forensic audio details. It is educational yet driven by a compelling mystery, focusing on legacy and unresolved justice. True crime enthusiasts fascinated by Australian underworld history and cold case investigations will love this episode. Listeners seeking light entertainment or definitive conclusions might skip it, given its deep dive into a decades-old unsolved murder.

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