MURDER - YOUR LETTERS

13/09/02

Hello Phil

I just thought I'd drop you a line to say how much I loved your book it
was not only an elegant essay but a passionate memorial to your sister.
I can only image that she would be so proud). Having delved into my own
complicated (Indigenous) family history this year myself (also with A&U)
I was really impressed by the sensitive way you handled the always
worrying aspect of revealing aspects of other people's lives.

I also appreciated your challenge to others to reconsider the importance
of class, a much neglected issue today. As a working-class gal from
Moonee Ponds who has made it in the the hallowed halls of academe, it is
something I think about often, but it is so rarely articulated. Somehow
it seems class has been usurped by the race and gender debates, but I
think it underpins those too.

So well done! I will certainly be recommending to my students but also
to those teaching in the areas of women's studies.


Congratulations and best wishes

Lynette


Professor Lynette Russell
Director
Centre for Australian Indigenous Studies
Monash University



At 11:32 19/09/02 +1000, you wrote:
Dear Phil,
I am one of your admirers and follow your activities. I have just finished reading your recent book--'Just Another Little Murder" and found it a very moving experience. I can never contemplate what happened to your beloved sister Vicki with out crying out 'If only!!!' so I can't imagine how you and your family must feel.

What I just can't stomach is the veil of silence which surrounds the
disgraceful way in which the trial of the murderer was handled. Is it just plain guilt that makes the judge unable to face up to the appalling miscarriage of justice? Is it just 'the system' protecting itself?

During this week the 'Law Report' on Radio National ran a whole program on
the subject of provocation used as a defence and I made sure to listen as
I'd just finished your book and I thought is was so timely and relevant.
THE CASE WASN"T EVEN MENTIONED!!! Why???? It makes one feel that there
a conspiracy of silence about it.

Phil, I am a conservative voter and don't watch football so we probably
haven't got a lot in common but I have always admired you passion and your
honesty and I feel despair that we live in a society that allowed your
sister's murderer to get away with his horrible crime.

Keep up your good work--I wish there were more people like you in this
world.

Gillian

Hi Phil

Today I finally sat down to read your book and didn't stand up again until it was finished! So, I just wanted to pass on my congratulations.

It was a somewhat unsettling read for me as I was once in a similar situation. When I was 19 I entered a relationship with a 40 year old man. He was my boss at work and had been pursuing me for months. I was totally uninterested. He was too old for me, we had nothing in common and I wasn't physically attracted to him. That was that [or so I thought]. But he literally wore me down with flowery words of wisdom, offers of overseas trips, compliments ... in the end he just literally wouldn't take no for an answer. I mean, literally.

I was a confused young girl from a lower working-class family and he preyed on that and used it to his own advantage. So, he forced his way into my space and then set about monopolising my life - never coming to family functions, never wanting to go out, exploding with rage if I spent too long talking to a pizza delivery boy, not wanting me to go out to nightclubs with friend! ds "in case something happened to me", pointing at his watch if I was even 2 minutes late coming home from work ... you get the picture. It took me years and years to finally leave him.

In the end, I simply grew up and wouldn't take his shit anymore. He knew it too. I finally saw through him - I saw how weak and insecure he was and his power utterly dissolved into dust. The last time I saw him he was a broken old man and I couldn't wait to get away from him.

But the reason I'm even telling you this Phil is because I think I understand your sister [just a little bit]. I certainly don't presume to know very much but there are similarities in her story and mine that I can't ignore. It seems to be inherent in [some] women that men's feelings are more important than their own. Your sister had such a maternal streak, such a giving nature - do you not think that those characteristics are essential to being a mother? Who must totally surrender her body to her child, who must give everything she has to give life to another?

And God! When you're in your early twenties and haven't yet built up your strength - it's like the importance of your own feelings and needs don't even occur to you. What does "he" want, what does "he" need is all you ask. People like Keogh and my sugardaddy selfishly abuse that in every single way they can. That part of her nature ! probably prevented her from telling you about the harassment and abuse. It sounds like she was "the little mother" to the end - keeping everybody else happy made her happy.

Vicki's story has further clarified what my ex was really like. Even now, at the age of 30, I am still trying to understand that controlling relationship and trying not to hate myself too much for staying for so long. You know, it's like - God, give me 10 minutes with that fucker and I'd make him shit his pants!! I just feel so mad with myself for putting up with it. No wonder my ex and Keogh were so terrified of losing us - they couldn't believe they had snared such tremendous women in the first place. Vicki and I and so many others are guilty of nothing but trust and generosity - of believing people's lies and wanting to help them.

I feel so in awe of Vicki for finding the strength to leave him. And at least she died whilst defying that waste of space with everything she had. It's funny how it's so much easier to understand Vicki's relationship and her reasons for being in it than it is my own. In this! way, I feel that she is really helping me to further understand myself.

And further, I have always felt so very disturbed at the ubiquity of the rape, torture and murder [mainly of women] at the centre of what we call entertainment. Is there really no other storyline television and scriptwriters can muster? And why do we all like it so much? Why do men have to destroy what women create?

Your sister, yourself and your family have touched me and I've thought about you all a lot over the past few weeks. I truly hope that the positive effect your Vicki has had on so many people, in life and in death, will bring you some measure of relief and a great deal of pride.

(name withheld)

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Dear Phil

Someone in the office bought a copy to read on the aeroplane, and read out some paragraphs. My wife then went out to purchase one, and needless to say, once I started, I couldn't put it down!

I can truly understand your frustration and anger over these years, for the system which failed your sister and family. I only hope the book has eased some of the pain for you and your family in some degree.

I'm sure Vicki is looking down on you Phil, and occasionally showing signs of saying "thank you". Thank you for the years gone by, thank you for the tireless work, thank you for the recognition that this deserved. I hope you sense that!

From my side, Phil, I sincerely hoped things could have been different, but some things you can never fully explain, and some things will never leave you, no matter what we say or do.

Joe Piccolo

(Joe Piccolo was in the street when Vicki was murdered and gave evidence at the trial)

G'day Phil,

I'm a Teacher-Librarian from the tiniest high school nearly, in NSW at Bombala near the Snowy Mountains.Great timber town with 4 seasons in one day, regularly and great trout fishing and platypus in the local rivers beat us to them!

I have an extremely bright Year 11 student (Year 12 next year) starting her Year 12 assessments and she is having trouble finding information about using provocation as a defence and the Australian Laws concerning it, with latest changes and precedents etc. especially for battered women. We know you've written your great book ..............................

Back on the track. Any info or names of barristers or others that could let us know of past cases etc and precedents would be wonderful. I know you are a busy guy but we know you have a private interest in this 'provocation' injustice.

By the way, did you catch last week's Aunty ABC's fantastic and poignant story on "Compass "about 'honour killings' in Iran? You would have been very interested and should try to get hold of the program as it was really related to the lack of respect and the violation of rights and freedoms of women, (where family members murdered girls in their family who had been raped and 'dishonoured' the family). ..............................

Over 40-50 women are held in prison indefinitely against their will, 'for their own protection' as if they were released their fathers and brothers will shoot them dead at the prison gates, even if it was totally none of their fault!

Phil thanks for having the website as it is so handy to get a good idea of what you are about...............................

Margaret

Dear Phil

My wife Shirley and I have just purchased and read your new book "Just Another Little Murder" which we thought was excellent.

We did this because we lost a daughter in similar circumstances last year.
We were more fortunate than you in that our crim was found guilty of murder and received 20 years.
However there are many similarities and we also are really "peed off" with the justice system. We would love the opportunity of speaking with you personally to air our views and promote strategies to alter the system.

We live in Geelong but would be very happy to travel to Melbourne if you have the time and feel we might have something to offer that may alter the anomalies and indignities that victim's families suffer.

Phil, thanks for taking the time to read this. We await your reply.

Kind Regards

Dear Phil

I just had the opportunity to read your current book "Just
another little murder". To say I enjoyed it would probably be the wrong
word given the subject however being bought up in the area I found many
of your references and anecdotes really interesting. Its funny how life
gets away from us all, before I read the book if somebody had asked me
when the murder happened I probably would have said 7 or 8 years and yet
it is 15, probably an eternity in your own and your families lifetime.

When the majority of us lead what you would call a sheltered life and
live on the right side of the law it is easy to forget that there is the
element of people like Peter Keogh out there. Once the story is read I
found myself angry that a low life such as this person can inflict
himself on so many lives and yet seemed to live a charmed life with the
authorities. It is not until somebody puts in what must be countless
hours of research that we become aware of these 'low lives'. It is just
very sad when the person on behalf of their family have to do the
research in pursuit of justice that should be metered out within our
legal system.

The book only left me with one question which you probably answered in a
fashion. How did you not get this man and inflict the terror on to him
that he inflicted on your sister and other women?

Good on you Phil, you and your family should be congratulated not only
on the book but on the dignified way that you conducted yourselves.

Yours

phil -

Have read the book. Very impressive. I think someone needs to do
similar re Heather Osland - chase up information on Frank Osland and his
priors, history, etc. this would be a revelation, too. the book is devastating, and it is an indictment of 'the system'. m hobbs ...????? I read a book about the Sherrie Beasley case a year or so ago and of course Margaret Hobbs was tied up in that. mmm. every good wish, ....

I will try a review somewhere. not sure where i will try yet, but will do so.

Yours

Hi Phil,

I saw you on a current affairs program last week. I have been developing a
paper around the legal profession and its power in society.......still under
way......I think that the power of the legal profession is massively out of
proportion and this needs to be curtailed. Still ........its just my point
of view.

I shall make a point of reading a copy of your book.

Regards

At 13:17 14/09/01 +1000, you wrote:
>To Phil Cleary, Hi.

My name is Rochelle and I have just come from the lecture you gave to the legal studies 1 CCR subject at La Trobe University. I just wanted to send you a quick note to let you know that it was one of the best lectures I have ever heard, and that you raised some really important issues concerning the structures of the law and society.

Although it got me really angry and frustrated, I am so glad you told us this stuff, because I also really feel like I've learnt something today that will be with me forever. make a difference! I can only hope that I can use my life to alter such social values and beliefs and create a world closer to equality, as you are presently doing. Keep up the good work.

I'm sure your lecture is one I will never forget!

Thanks

Rochelle Manderson

Hi Phil,

I am a Melbourne barrister and have just finished reading "Just Another Little Murder". I think it is an incredibly sad and poignant tale, and will recommend it to other barristers.

If you know where I could find a copy of Hampel's judgment in R v Keogh, I would be grateful to read it.

Regards,

Andrew

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