Xanthe Weston

My Networks

About Me

Who I am: I am an Associate Professor in the Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research, with a focus on criminology. I am the teaching and research lead for the Centre, with the responsibility of managing those two portfolios. I obtained my PhD in forensics and criminology from the University of Sheffield (UK, 2007), a Masters by Research from the University of Cambridge (UK, 2004), and a BSc from the University of Bradford (UK, 2002). I am a regular commentator to the news cycle on contemporary crime- or forensic issues, across all media. I also host a podcast with criminal psychologist, Tim Watson-Munro, entitled Motive & Method.
Aim: To engage all sectors of the community with contemporary crime-related issues that are impacting them to highlight inequalities.
My areas of expertise: Criminologically, my work focuses on understanding women’s place in the criminal justice system, as both victims and offenders, and the nexus between those two, often overlapping, states. Forensically, I also reinvestigate cold cases and long-term missing persons cases, with a view to assisting families achieve answers.

Research Areas
Criminology:
1. Miscarriages of justice
2. Gender-based violence
3. Child sex offender demographics
Forensic science:
4. Human decomposition rates in Australia
5. Clandestine gravesite detection, body recovery, and identification

General

Background

What I can do:
· Gendered analysis of crime and victimisation
· Crime data analysis, including a focus on warning signs for domestic homicide
· Cold case and missing persons evaluations
· Crime scene analysis
My approach: I lead teams to critically evaluate the gendered nature of crime, including domestic homicide, to identify offender and victim-survivors’ behavioural patterns. I use my advanced communication skills and extensive media engagement expertise to reach outside of the University, contributing to key social justice debates around the impacts of violent crime. I incorporate my media work into my teaching, including my podcasts and long-format investigations – most recently the Byron Bay Murders (as part of the series Murder Down Under, Channel 9).
Examples of capabilities: I have expertise in the re-evaluation of cold case murders and disappearances, including crime scene analysis. I have taught forensic science and criminology at university since 2007, including undergraduate, taught and research Masters, and PhD. I was part of a team that established the first human taphonomy research facility in Australia (colloquially known as a ‘body farm’). I have published over 50 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, three monographs the focus of which was gendered violence against children, cold case analysis, and the causes of miscarriages of justice.

Universities Studied At

2004 – 2007 PhD: Facial Identification for the Courts; Science, statistics, and law
University of Sheffield, UK
2003 – 2004 MPhil Biological Anthropological Sciences
University of Cambridge, UK
1998 – 2002 BSc in Archaeological Sciences (BSc) (1st Class Honours)
University of Bradford, UK

Universities Worked At

University of Newcastle, Australia
2020 – 2025 Associate Professor of Criminology, Discipline lead
Director of the Newcastle Justice Clinic
2017 – 2019 Senior Lecturer in Criminology, Discipline lead, and BScoSci Criminology Major convenor
University of New England, Australia
2013 – 2017 Senior Lecturer in Forensic Criminology
2013 – 2016 Academic in Residence (public engagement and outreach position)
2012 – 2013 Lecturer in Forensic Criminology
University of Dundee, UK
2008 – 2012 Lecturer in Forensic Human Identification

Awards

Awards
2024 Australian Award for University Teaching
Award for outstanding contribution to student learning.
Nomination description ‘For pioneering the Justice Clinic and making 'true crime' an innovative, authentic placement experience for criminology, law, and psychology students to support clients seeking justice’
2022 College Excellence Award for Student Experience (awarded)
2020 Awardee for the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Merit List for Teaching and Learning Excellence on the basis of student feedback on the quality of teaching in CRIM1010 (Introduction to Criminology)
2020 Joint winner of the 2020 Faculty Excellence Award for Work Integrated Learning (WIL) (with co-applicants, Dr Kathleen McPhillips, Dr Ann Taylor, Dr Justin Ellis, Dr Chris Krogh, Dr Kate Davies, and Mr Peter Gogarty)
2019 Nominated for a Faculty of Education & Arts Dean’s Excellence Award for engagement excellence
2019 Inaugural awardee for the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Merit List for Teaching and Learning Excellence on the basis of student feedback on the quality of teaching in CRIM1010 (Introduction to Criminology) and CRIM2010 (Crime, Media and Culture)
2017 Faculty of Education & Arts Dean’s Award for Research and Innovation Excellence (Mid-Career Research): $500
2015 Second place for the University of New England in the UniJobs 2014 Lecturer of the Year Awards

Media Citations

For 2025:

2025
1. TV interview for Sky News regarding the ongoing search for Dezi Freeman (15/09/2025)
2. TV interview for Today regarding the ongoing search for Dezi Freeman (15/09/2025)
3. Radio interview for ABC Qld regarding my Conversation piece about women mass murderers (10/09/2025)
4. Radio interview for ABC regarding my Conversation piece about women mass murderers (10/09/2025)
5. TV interview for A Current Affair regarding Victoria’s youth knife crime epidemic (10/09/205)
6. Interviews for regarding Erin Patterson’s sentencing (08/09/2025)
a. Radio interview ABC Drive Tasmania
b. TV interview for Sky News
c. TV interview Chanel 7 News Melbourne
d. Podcast interview the Briefing
e. Radio interview for ABC News
f. Radio interview for ABC Newcastle
g. Radio interview for ABC Melbourne
h. ABC News Daily podcast
i. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqzasrE6QJU
j. Radio interview for ABC Radio Adelaide
k. TV interview for Sky News mornings
l. TV interview TV interview for Sunrise
7. TV interview for 9 late News regarding Erin Patterson’s sentencing (07/09/2025)
8. Radio interview for ABC Sunshine Coast regarding murder of Andrew Burow (04/09/2025)
9. Radio interview for 3AW regarding the rise in car thefts in Victoria (04/09/2025)
10. Radio interview for ANC Newcastle mornings regarding sentencing following domestic and family violence homicides (04/09/2025)
11. Radio interview for 2GB regarding retail crime (01/09/2025)
12. Online interview for the Irish Times entitled ‘Obsession with the Shakesperean ‘Mushroom Murder’ Trial hasn’t Gone Away’ (29/08/2025)
13. https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025/08/29/opinion-obsession-with-the-shakespearean-mushroom-murder-trial-hasnt-gone-away/
14. Radio interview for ABC Queensland Drive regarding QLD’s sex offender register (27/08/2025)
15. TV interview for Sky News regarding Erin Patterson pre-sentencing hearing (25/08/2025)
16. Online interview for Women’s Day magazine entitled ‘No One Knew how Dangerous Erin Patterson Could Be’ (25/08/2025)
17. Radio interview for ABC Newcastle – Erik Menendez not going bail (22/08/2025)
18. TV interview for Weekend Today regarding Erin Patterson (09/08/2025)
19. TV interview for 7 News at 4 o’clock regarding Erin Patterson (08/08/2025)
20. Radio interview for ABC Queensland regarding the on-going DNA testing issues in QLD (05/08/2025)
21. TV interview for 7 News at 4 o’clock regarding Robert Issa’s murder (04/08/2025)
22. Radio interview for ABC Darwin regarding the NT Government’s reintroduction of spit hoods (30/07/2025)
23. TV interview for Sky News regarding Bradley Murdoch’s death (16/07/2025)
24. TV interview for 9 News at 6 o’clock regarding Kathleen Folbigg (14/07/2025)
25. Radio interview for ABC South East regarding Erin Patterson’s conviction (09/07/2025)
26. Radio interview for ABC Brisbane regarding crime tourism (13/07/2025)
27. Radio interview for 2SM Breakfast Program regarding Erin Patterson’s trial (09/07/2025)
28. Radio interview for ABC Canberra regarding Erin Patterson’s conviction (08/07/2025)
29. Online interview for The Wire regarding Erin Patterson’s conviction (08/07/2025)
30. https://www.thewire.org.au/story/why-australia-cant-look-away-from-the-mushroom-murder-trial/
31. Interviews for regarding Erin Patterson’s trial (08/07/2025):
a. Radio – ABC Queensland
b. Online - News.com
c. Radio – ABC Perth
d. Radio – ABC Melbourne
e. Radio – ABC Southeast SA
32. Interviews for regarding Erin Patterson’s trial (07/07/2025)
a. Podcast interview – the Briefing
b. Radio – Triple J Hack
c. Radio – ABC News
d. TV – Sky
e. TV – 9 Today Show
f. TV – Channel 7 News, rolling coverage for 3 hours
g. Radio – 702 Sydney
h. Radio – 2HD Newcastle
i. TV – ABC News Breakfast
j. Radio – ABC Illawarra
k. Radio – ABC Perth
l. Radio – ABC Melbourne
m. Radio – Channel 7 News
n. Radio – 3RRR Melbourne
o. Radio – 2CC Canberra
p. Radio – ABC Queensland
33. TV interview for Sunrise regarding third arrest in alleged Phoebe Bishop murder (03/07/2025)
34. TV interview for ABC News regarding Bradley Murdoch’s cancer diagnosis (25/06/2025)
35. TV interview for Sunrise regarding Bradley Murdoch’s cancer diagnosis (25/06/2025)
36. TV interview for Today Show regarding Bradley Murdoch’s cancer diagnosis (24/06/2025)
37. TV interview for Sunrise regarding the arrests in the Phoebe Bishop case (05/06/2025)
38. Podcast interview for Channel 7’s ‘The Briefing’ regarding the disappearance of Phoebe Bishop (29/05/2025)
39. TV interview Channel 7 News at 6 o’clock (28/05/2025)
40. TV interview for Sky News regarding the Erin Patterson murder trial (28/05/2025)
41. TV interview for 7 News at 6 o’clock regarding the disappearance of Phoebe Bishop (24/05/2025)
42. TV interview for Sunrise regarding the disappearance of Phoebe Bishop (24/05/2025)
43. TV interview for Sunrise regarding the disappearance of Phoebe Bishop (22/05/2025)
44. TV interview for 7 News at 6o’clock regarding Erin Patterson and sub judice issues (28/04/2025)
45. TV interview for 9 News at 6 o’clock regarding the latest development in the search for Samantha Murphy (15/04/2025)
46. TV interview for Sunrise regarding the latest development in the search for Samantha Murphy (15/04/2025)
47. TV interview for Channel 7 News at 6 o’clock regarding the release of Tony Mokbel on bail (06/04/2025)
48. TV interview for Weekend Today regarding the Bondi Stabbings Coronial inquest (06/04/2025)
49. TV interview for Sky News regarding the release of Tony Mokbel on bail (05/04/2025)
50. https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/gangland-figure-tony-mokbel-59-enjoys-morning-walk-with-family-before-reporting-to-police-station-as-part-of-bail-conditions/news-story/83cee3244293f31a04c8a7de98a71456
51. TV interview for ABC regarding the release of Tony Mokbel on bail (05/04/2025)
52. TV interview for ABC’s Insight episode entitle ‘Citizen Sleuths’ (02/04/2025)
53. https://www.sbs.com.au/news/insight/article/citizens-sleuths-take-justice-into-their-own-hands-but-are-they-a-hindrance-or-a-help/clshknju8
54. Radio interview for ABC NSW (Moree and Tamworth) regarding youth crime (20/03/2025
55. Online interview for ABC regarding a intrafamilial child sex offence case (18/03/2025)
56. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-18/taree-father-who-raped-daughters-sentence-reduced/105053052
57. TV interview for Channel 9 News at 6 o’clock regarding the new dig in Adelaide for the missing Beaumont siblings (24/02/2025)
58. Radio interview for 2hd Radio Newcastle regarding the new dig in Adelaide for the missing Beaumont siblings (20/02/2025)
59. TV interview for Channel 7 News at 6 o’clock regarding the shootings of the Alameddine crime network (19/02/2025)
60. TV interview for Channel 10 News at 5 o’clock regarding the first anniversary of Samantha Murphy’s disappearance (04/02/2025)
61. Radio interview for ABC Radio Melbourne drive regarding the first anniversary of Samantha Murphy’s disappearance (04/02/2025)
62. TV for Sunrise regarding the first anniversary of Samantha Murphy’s disappearance (03/02/2025)
63. TV interview for 7 News Melbourne at 6 o’clock regarding the arrest in double rape of Jessie Lauder in Melbourne (24/01/2025)
64. TV interview for Sky News regarding the Queensland woman accused of harming her child for money (17/01/2025)
65. Radio interview by ABC Adelaide regarding the enduring interest in the Beaumont children’s disappearances (13/01/2025)
66. Online interview for The Daily Mail regarding the Queensland teenager who stabbed her grandfather to death for financial gain (13/01/2025)
67. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/snapchat/article-14278143/Teen-girl-murdered-grandfather-plot-steal-life-savings-cried-family-death.html
68. Online interview for The Daily Mail regarding the one-year anniversary of the disappearance of Samantha Murphy (13/01/2025)
69. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14276527/Samantha-Murphy-milestone-questions-unanswered.html

Previous teaching

I have taught across all areas and at all levels of criminology, including; introduction courses based in criminological theory, victimology, media criminology, criminal psychology, and introduction to forensic science (for criminology students).

Professional Experience

I have worked with police forces in the UK and Australia as an expert, providing advise and analysis in cases of forensic human analysis. In this context, I have given expert evidence in court. I have also worked with many victims of violent crimes and their families, re-evaluating long-term missing persons cases, cold cases, and potential miscarriages of justice.