Anyone can get overly invested in their hobbies or relationships.

Think of the last time you said something like, I'm obsessed with this new ice cream

flavor, or I can't stop obsessing over this TV show.

But we don't mean we're literally obsessed.

In psychological terms, an obsession is irrational and uncontrollable.

It causes anxiety and distress.

It can drive you to compulsive, even dangerous behavior.

It can grab a hold of you completely until it feels like there's no you left.

And the deeper you're drawn down the rabbit hole, the harder it is to get out.

This is the story of New Zealand's most sensational crime, one that has everything to do with

obsession.

It's known as the Parker Hume Murder.

I'm Ashley Flowers and this is International Infamy, a Spotify original from Parcast.

I'm taking you on a world tour of 15 notorious crimes from 15 different countries.

This week I'm stopping over in New Zealand.

In the summer of 1954, two teenagers named Juliet Hume and Pauline Parker were embroiled

in a murder trial so wild, a local paper described it as quote, one of the most famous trials

in the annals of British justice.

Juliet and Pauline seemed like nice ordinary girls who would never commit a violent crime.

But they claimed they did it for one simple reason, to be together.

I have all that and more coming up.

Stay with us.

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