HOW WE SEE IT! Justice remains central to my true crime trade

With Bryan Littlely and Shaun Hollis

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Artwork by SHAUN HOLLIS

I trade in true crime. The morbid and bizarre, shocking and down right horrific crimes and events have been at the centre of a more than 30 year career in journalism for me.

You name a killing crime of the past three decades (longer even) and I can very likely say I have seen the inner machinations of it - or at least a crime like it - written about it and even, in many cases, been engulfed in it as it happened.

I reflect on how I have covered crimes for media outlets with everything from pride, even some swagger, at being the first with the story and bringing details to light which have played a part in solving crimes, to disgust that, as a compassionate human, my greatest strength as a journalist has been my ability to deliver details of the darkest and deadliest moments of another human being, and the devastation that leaves behind.

My work as an investigative journalist has delivered accolades and prizes, along with assaults, PTSD and countless sleepless nights going over crucial details about crimes in the hope I find the needle in the haystack which brings an answer to a family of a missing, or murdered, loved one.

In the past few weeks I have featured centre stage in two true crime podcasts, started filming as part of a documentary on two of the most baffling cold case crimes in Australia - the abduction of the Beaumont children from Glenelg Beach in 1966 and the 1973 abduction of Joanne Ratcliffe and Kirste Gordon from Adelaide Oval - and been part of the push for a stronger and more collaborative approach to missing persons investigations as part of the launch of the Centre 4 Missing Persons Australia.

For an hour on the Mamamia podcast series TRUE CRIME CONVERSATIONS I talk about the brutal 2010 triple murder of the Rowe family in Kapunda, South Australia, in an episode released on Thursday. Last week, on another podcast, I spoke about the reasons to dig a sinkhole on Yorke Peninsula in search for the missing Beaumont children

This time next week, I’ll be with a dig crew in the outback looking for the smallest of clues to be able to solve a cold case, and fulfill a promise I made to the mother of a missing child who is no longer alive to get the answers.

And, a fortnight ago, someone threatened to burn my house down and shoot my horses… it comes with the job!

But, no matter the action or activity I am involved in, the positive or negative parts of it, I can say with certainty that I investigate, write and promote the missing persons foundation I helped establish, Leave A Light On Inc, for one purpose…. to see justice achieved.

Our community - and many, many other people stretching far beyond our boundaries - this week was dealt a devastating blow when justice was not delivered in the Toyah Cordingley murder trial.

It is a case that has both captured the attention of a global audience - the true crime buffs I trade with - and is also crippling the communities closest to Toyah who just want to see justice delivered.

You have all been witness to incredible strength and resilience to date… this is a community wrapping its arms around each other, holding each other up when you need to stand strong.

The Toyah case has not been unfamiliar to myself or my colleague, Shaun, but the strength and resilience of the community closest to Toyah is something we are only now learning.

A hung jury and retrial is a bloody tough knock.

Please, though, find the courage and strength to stand together and go another round and show that this community will never give up its quest for justice for Toyah.

 

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