{"podcast":{"title":"Auckland News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now!","slug":"auckland-news-today-2-min-news-the-daily-news-now-7853371","podcast_index_feed_id":7853371,"rss_url":"https://feeds.fastcast.ai/auckland-news-today-2-min-news-the-daily-news-now.xml","website_url":null,"image_url":"https://image.fastcast.ai/cover/0c68619e-caff-4b32-b0e4-3fe6ef0c4e17.png","author":"The Daily News Now!","episode_count":666,"summary":"Hosted by Corey with the Story. Auckland News Today delivers fast, focused updates on the stories shaping New Zealand’s largest city—covering local government, business, housing, transport, culture, and more. Stay informed with quick, reliable daily briefings designed for listeners on the go. From breaking headlines to the developments that matter most, this is your daily snapshot of Auckland. Produced by AI as part of The Daily News Now network. Advertise with us: advertise@thednn.ai","last_synced_at":"2026-09-18T06:19:36.974852+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/auckland-news-today-2-min-news-the-daily-news-now-7853371"},"episode":{"title":"Couple Convicted in Cult Leader’s Killing","slug":"couple-convicted-in-cult-leader-s-killing","published_at":"2026-06-28T23:43:14+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/auckland-news-today-2-min-news-the-daily-news-now-7853371/couple-convicted-in-cult-leader-s-killing","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/auckland-news-today-2-min-news-the-daily-news-now-7853371","url":"https://api.fastcast.ai/audio/0c3841fc-9dc4-4852-aec0-f33f4bee9d78.mp3","audio_url":"https://api.fastcast.ai/audio/0c3841fc-9dc4-4852-aec0-f33f4bee9d78.mp3","summary":"A shocking courtroom verdict reveals a religious cult leader and his wife convicted of kidnapping, manslaughter, and desecration after the brutal death of a 69-year-old follower—found wrapped in plastic, bound in a fetal position, and weighted down in a suitcase, floating in Gulf Harbour. The victim, who’d moved from China to join the group, was kept in isolation, forced into servitude, and subjected to starvation and psychological torment under the leader’s authoritarian rule. Evidence—including disturbing handwritten notes, audio recordings, and rice bag serial numbers—exposed a chilling hierarchy where followers were labeled “evil” and punished for minor infractions. Despite the couple’s denials and the pathologist’s inability to confirm suffocation, the jury found them guilty. The leader’s parents also faced charges, with the mother convicted of kidnapping and the father of misconduct involving human remains. This case exposes the terrifying depths of religious control and the devastating consequences of unchecked power. Support the show: Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN: advertise@thednn.ai This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting. Report issues to feedback@thednn.ai. View sources & latest updates: https://sources.thednn.ai/e3aaf6b56d484b2d","meta_description":"A shocking courtroom verdict reveals a religious cult leader and his wife convicted of kidnapping, manslaughter, and desecration after the brutal death of…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":112,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/auckland-news-today-2-min-news-the-daily-news-now-7853371/episodes/couple-convicted-in-cult-leader-s-killing/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/auckland-news-today-2-min-news-the-daily-news-now-7853371/couple-convicted-in-cult-leader-s-killing.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}