From the first night, the investigation into Phoebe's death was plagued by problems. Police on the scene would not allow ambulance officers to check for signs of life. Apart from the refuse room where her body lay, other relevant scenes on the 12th floor - the apartment where she lived with Antony, and the entry to the garbage chute - were not secured.
There was blood in the apartment, on a computer keyboard and mouse, and on an architrave. Only some of it was tested and found to be Phoebe's.
Very quickly, police came to regard the death as a suicide.
But Phoebe's family did not accept that. Her grandfather, Lorne Campbell, a retired police detective of 28 years' experience, began conducting his own investigation, involving Phoebe's friends in attempts to get in to the same garbage chute which led to her death.
They found it difficult, but possible, to climb in feet first, but their hands were all over the entrance to the chute, making the lack of fingerprints puzzling.
Compounding the family's scepticism was the revelation that Phoebe had a blood alcohol content of 0.16, and had taken sleeping drug Stilnox.
"There's a big balancing thing involved in that, and a lot of coordination, and if you were drunk, you just couldn’t do it," her grandfather said.
"And ... having seen Phoebe with a few drinks in her, and seeing how quickly she lost her sea legs, that made it doubly suspicious."
There was also unexplained bruising on Phoebe's neck, upper body, wrists and arms.
Phoebe's family say the troubled 24-year-old was attempting to leave her boyfriend, known as Ant, in the days leading up to ther death, and had broken up with him a number of times in previous weeks.
But Ant Hampel, who declined to be interviewed for the podcast, later said that Phoebe had just been taking time out, and had been looking forward to a Christmas trip with him to Paris, for which he had already bought tickets.
Ant objected to a coronial inquest being held. He was supported by his father, retired Supreme Court judge George Hampel, and step-mother, sitting County Court judge Felicity Hampel.
However Coroner Peter White ruled that an inquest be held. While his counsel assisting recommended an open finding, the coroner found Phoebe had entered the chute in a "sleepwalking state" under the influence of alcohol and prescription sleeping drug Stilnox, and had no intention of killing herself.
He found Ant had played no role in Phoebe's death, and Fairfax is not suggesting otherwise.
The family wants an open finding returned, but cannot afford to appeal the decision.
Now, for the first time, Fairfax tells the full story of the short life and brutal death of Phoebe Handsjuk.
Who's who
![pic](/web/20160927192618im_/http://www.watoday.com.au/interactive/2016/phoebesfall/images/who/phoebew.jpg)
Phoebe Handsjuk
Found dead at 24 in the refuse room of the Balencea, a Melbourne apartment building, after falling 12 floors down a garbage chute.
Phoebe's family
![pic](/web/20160927192618im_/http://www.watoday.com.au/interactive/2016/phoebesfall/images/who/natalie.jpg)
Natalie Handsjuk
Phoebe's mother. Still searching for answers. Doubts Coroner's finding of accidental death.
![pic](/web/20160927192618im_/http://www.watoday.com.au/interactive/2016/phoebesfall/images/who/len.jpg)
Len Handsjuk
Phoebe's father. A psychiatrist who believes Phoebe was on the cusp of sorting out her life.
![pic](/web/20160927192618im_/http://www.watoday.com.au/interactive/2016/phoebesfall/images/who/tom.jpg)
Tom Handsjuk
Phoebe's younger brother. He and his sister were very close.
![pic](/web/20160927192618im_/http://www.watoday.com.au/interactive/2016/phoebesfall/images/who/lorne.jpg)
Lorne Campbell
Phoebe's grandfather. A retired detective who exposed flaws in the initial police work.
![pic](/web/20160927192618im_/http://www.watoday.com.au/interactive/2016/phoebesfall/images/who/jenette.jpg)
Jeanette Campbell
Phoebe's grandmother and most trusted confidant.
![pic](/web/20160927192618im_/http://www.watoday.com.au/interactive/2016/phoebesfall/images/who/nic.jpg)
Nikolai Handsjuk
Phoebe's younger brother. His 18th birthday party was scheduled the night after her death.
Phoebe's boyfriend and family
![pic](/web/20160927192618im_/http://www.watoday.com.au/interactive/2016/phoebesfall/images/who/ant.jpg)
Antony Hampel (Ant)
Phoebe's boyfriend of 18 months. Lived together in Balencea apartment for just over 12 months. Cleared by Coroner of any involvement.
![pic](/web/20160927192618im_/http://www.watoday.com.au/interactive/2016/phoebesfall/images/who/george.jpg)
George Hampel
Ant's father. A retired Supreme Court judge. Picked up Phoebe 's mobile phone from a repair shop after her death.
![pic](/web/20160927192618im_/http://www.watoday.com.au/interactive/2016/phoebesfall/images/who/felicity.jpg)
Felicity Hampel
Ant's step mother and a sitting County Court judge.
![pic](/web/20160927192618im_/http://www.watoday.com.au/interactive/2016/phoebesfall/images/who/kris.jpg)
Kristina Hampel
Ant's older sister. Grew close to Phoebe. Later pleaded guilty to trafficking cocaine.
Phoebe's friends
Hazel Brown
Friends with Phoebe since primary school in Melbourne.
Elleisha Carvill
Another schoolfriend of Phoebe 's. Partied hard with her in their teenage years.
Sarah Howett
Champion boxer who did martial arts training with Phoebe.
Vanessa Levin
Long-time friend of Phoebe 's boyfriend Ant Hampel who grew close to Phoebe.
Brendan Hession
Long time friend of Phoebe 's. Drank with her in her last week alive.
Ben Silver
Art school friend of Phoebe 's who saw her take ecstasy pill days before she died.
Others
Betul Ozulup
Concierge at the Balencea apartments who discovered Phoebe's body in refuse room.
Eric Giamarrio
Building manager at the Balancea apartments.
Neil Bone
His company, Wastech, made the garbage chute and compactor that caused Phoebe's death.
Shellie Tonkin
Cleaner of Ant and Phoebe 's apartment. Also cleaned for Kristina Hampel.
Christo Van Egmond
Ant 's friend and workmate. Lived in same building. Talked to Ozulup several times after Phoebe's death
Matthew Lynch
Forensic pathologist who conducted autopsy on Phoebe and found she bled to death.
Joanna Young
Phoebe 's psychologist. Saw and spoke to Phoebe in her final week.
POLICE
Mark Butterworth
Senior homicide squad investigator who was in control of the scene on the night Phoebe died.
Justin O 'Brien
Junior uniformed officer who was there on the night and made notes about Ant Hampel 's behaviour.
Brendan Payne
South Melbourne detective given the task of investigating Phoebe's death for the Coroner.
CORONER'S COURT
Peter White
Coroner who ruled that Phoebe accidently killed herself in a sleepwalking state due to combination of alcohol and sleeping pill Stilnox.
Deborah Siemensma
Counsel assisting the Coroner who urged Coroner White to make an open finding.
Robert Galbally
One of Melbourne 's most experienced criminal lawyers who represented Ant Hampel at the inquest.
Ross Gillies QC
Top Melbourne barrister who advised Phoebe 's family that Coroner White erred by not making an open finding.
EXPERTS
Rowland Legg
Experienced retired homicide investigator. Reviewed Phoebe 's case for The Age and believes open finding should have been made.
Byron Collins
Forensic pathologist of 40 years experience. Reviewed forensic and medical evidence for The Age.
Ian Freckleton QC
Top coronial legal expert who advised The Age on how the Coroner 's Court works.
Michelle McDonnel
Community lawyer who wants reforms to the Coroners' Act.
Prof Ron Grunstein
Professor of Sleep Medicine at University of Sydney, sceptical that Stilnox could be blame.
Geraldine Moses
Clinical pharmacist who has given evidence in many Stilnox cases in court
Prof Jo Duflou
Consulting forensic pathologist and clinical professor at the University of Sydney who we also consulted on the Stilnox issue.