In the latest episode of the Targeted Violence Podcast, I sit down with criminal defence barrister Tim Marsh, whose career has seen him represent some of Australia's most high-profile homicide offenders.As defence counsel, Tim occupies a unique position within the criminal justice system. His role extends far beyond arguing points of law. To effectively represent his clients, he must understand the person behind the offence—their history, relationships, vulnerabilities, and the factors that shaped their pathway to offending. In this conversation, Tim reflects on his experiences representing Codey Herrmann, Jaymes Todd, and Luay Sako. Through these cases, we explore the complex interplay of childhood adversity, mental health, violent ideation, social disconnection, personality, and life circumstances that can converge in acts of lethal violence.We discuss what it is like to build a relationship with clients accused of murder, how Tim approaches understanding their stories, and what these cases have taught him about human behaviour, responsibility, and the pathways that can lead individuals towards serious violence. We also explore how Tim manages the psychological impacts of working high profile criminal defence cases. This is a thoughtful and deeply insightful conversation that moves beyond headlines and the formalities of court proceedings to examine the factors behind some of Victoria’s most serious crimes. Whether you work in policing, psychology, law, threat assessment, or simply have an interest in understanding violence, this episode offers a rare perspective from someone who has spent decades at the coalface of the criminal justice system.