Blood Territory cover art

Blood Territory

The Death of Jimmy O'Connell

Preview
Get this deal Try Premium Plus free
Offer ends 29 January 2026 at 11:59PM GMT.
Prime members: New to Audible? Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Just £0.99/mo for your first 3 months of Audible.
1 bestseller or new release per month—yours to keep.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, podcasts, and Originals.
Auto-renews at £8.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.
Thousands of incredible audiobooks and podcasts to take wherever you go.
Immerse yourself in a world of storytelling with the Plus Catalogue - unlimited listening to thousands of select audiobooks, podcasts and Audible Originals.
£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Blood Territory

By: Mark Whittaker
Get this deal Try Premium Plus free

£8.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly. Offer ends 29 January 2026 at 11:59PM GMT.

£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically.

LIMITED TIME OFFER | £0.99/mo for the first 3 months

Premium Plus auto-renews at £8.99/mo after 3 months. Terms apply.

About this listen

Please note: this series contains mature themes and graphic imagery; and listener discretion is advised.

How far would you go to clear the name of the man convicted of your son's death?

Red blood stains the red soil of the Australian Northern Territory in this true crime Audible Original Podcast, Blood Territory.

Less than 250,000 people live in the Northern Territory, an area more than twice the size of Texas. If you want to escape from civilisation, you don't have to go far. But you can't outrun the heat. Every year during October and November the sweltering climate can drive people wild; they call it 'Suicide Season', 'Mango Madness' or, more plainly, 'The Build-up'.

It's during this blistering heat that Jim O'Connell's body is found in a creek bed, mummified and with his genitals removed. But when a dubious plea deal buries the truth and puts Jim's best mate, Philip Mather, behind bars for the crime, the victim's parents seek to unravel it themselves to prove Philip's innocence.

Follow journalist Mark Whittaker's journey into the murky heart of the Northern Territory as allegations of police corruption and judicial racism emerge and a shadowy figure known as The Vigilante lurks on the fringe of the investigation.

This is an Audible Original Podcast. Free for members. You can download all 10 episodes to your Library now.

©2019 Audible Australia Pty Ltd. (P)2019 Audible Australia Pty Ltd.
Murder True Crime
Episodes
  • Ep. 1: Trudy's Story

    Ep. 1: Trudy's Story

    The Death of Jimmy O'Connell
    Aug 18 2019

    In November 2007, Philip Mather was arrested on suspicion of luring his good mate, 22-year old Jimmy O’Connell, out into the Northern Territory bush, punching and stomping him into unconsciousness, before setting fire to Jimmy’s car... with Jimmy in it. But did he do it? Jimmy’s parents don’t think so. Journalist Mark Whittaker investigates.

    Show More Show Less
    26 mins
  • Ep. 2: Meeting a Dangerous Man... Maybe

    Ep. 2: Meeting a Dangerous Man... Maybe

    The Death of Jimmy O'Connell
    Aug 18 2019

    After 11 years in prison, Philip Mather insists he is not responsible for the death of his friend Jimmy O’Connell. Journalist Mark Whittaker tracks him down to sit face-to-face with a man convicted of a brutal killing.

    Show More Show Less
    21 mins
  • Ep. 3: Jimmy's Last Day

    Ep. 3: Jimmy's Last Day

    The Death of Jimmy O'Connell
    Aug 18 2019

    Two best mates who see each other every day suddenly start hurling abuse at each other in a supermarket - and then one of them goes missing. Could Jimmy O’Connell’s last day tell us anything about what happened to him?

    Show More Show Less
    22 mins
All stars
Most relevant
I've never been to this part of Australia - the Northern Territory - but Mark Whittaker paints a wonderful picture of it's landscape, the people, and the heat, demonstrating its beauty and it's dangers. I enjoyed listening to this podcast and getting to know the characters involved and joining Mark in his investigation to find out what happened to Jimmy O'Connell.

Fascinating

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

I enjoyed this immensely, the narration was captivating and I really feel I went on a journey. do I have a definitive conclusion... No but I feel I will be thinking about this for a while. I feel there have been a good few audible podcast with a similar feel like west cork, ghosthunter and John safran VS the occult. I do hope there are more of the same in audibles future.

More than a mystery A journey into people's lives

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Great podcast. Unlike most investigative podcasts, this is balanced. Host could easily have milked extra episodes and publicity by being a SJW and claiming complete innocence, but he went where the evidence took him - honest journalism, unlike others like Undisclosed, Culpable, Truth and Justice, etc who can't see the wood for the trees.

Excellent

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

an easy listen, great investigation and narration and well worth a listen. interesting story.

great!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

what a conclusion, I really didnt know what to think! recommend to true crime virgins too

goodness me true crime at its best

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

See more reviews