Gangland: This Unsporting Life
As gangland figure Squizzy Taylor made (crime)waves in Melbourne, a host of Aussie conmen preferred to swindle and rob gullible Englishmen — and what better way than at the races.
Book Extracts
The Audacious Kidd
When notorious safe breaker Bertie Kidd orchestrated a lucrative betting plunge at the races, he didn’t count on a deadly prison escape putting paid to Plan A. Plan B involved stolen diamonds.
The Expert Witness
In his first book, forensic toxicologist William Allender looks back at some of the most remarkable cases of his career including the shocking cruise ship death of mum Dianne Brimble. READ THE EXTRACT
The Lost Boys of Mr Dickens
It was “the most dangerous life” for a person, and at the British Empire’s first juvenile jail in Australia, it ended in murder.
More Stories
On the Inside
Armed robber John Killick was famously busted out of jail in a hijacked helicopter by girlfriend Lucy Dudko in 1999, but in the early ’80s there was another girlfriend drawn into his life of crime — and another dramatic escape.
Undaunted: The Irish in Australia
WHEN wanted posters started appearing for Matthew Brady’s gang, the “Gentleman Bushranger” knew how to keep the public on side — cheekily creating his own wanted posters for Governor George Arthur and offering 20 gallons of rum.
Bigwig
“FAT Tony” left Australian police red faced when he pulled off an audacious international vanishing act to enjoy a life of luxury in a Mediterranean hideaway. When they finally caught up with the drug kingpin his reaction was priceless.
Stalked: The Human Target
“THE more she weakened, the stronger I felt,” says convicted stalker James of his victim. His relentless pursuit landed him in jail, but even now he admits, “I honestly don’t know” when asked what would happen if he saw the woman again.
Why Ned Kelly is no hero
RAISED in the shadow of his great-grandfather’s murder, Leo Kennedy witnessed the deep psychological wounds inflicted on successive generations of the families of the Kelly Gang’s victims, as the Ned Kelly myth grew.
How the Bra Boys became a notorious clan
THEY were just a band of surfing brothers but an unfortunate slip in an elevator changed the face of the group forever.
Eugenia
WHEN Harry Birkett discovered that his step-father was a woman, he saw the sudden disappearance of his mother in a new – and heinous – light. For Eugenia Falleni, who had lived for years as Harry Crawford, the biggest horror was being unmasked to an unsuspecting second wife.
Scared for your life: What it’s really like to be stalked
“MY life revolves around it. If it’s really bad, I will be scared 24 hours a day,” says Helen as she details a persistent stalking campaign over three years that has changed her life forever. “It’s like this big sick game.”
Gruesome sins of the strawberry patch killers
ADELAIDE has a deserved reputation for gruesome crimes but, at the heart of them all, are real people falling victim to unexpected cruelty, as chief court reporter SEAN FEWSTER reveals in this extract from his bestseller, City of Evil.
The Fatalist
WHEN Lindsey Rose walked into his local, a young Campbell McConachie welcomed the company of a man who was always good for a chat and a laugh — then a mugshot was shown on the TV news.
Original URL: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/bookextracts/page/4