Helen - The Helen Meads Tragedy

by David White

On the morning of 23 September 2009 Helen Meads was murdered by her husband Greg at the stables on their Matamata farm. It was the final chapter in years of control and abuse.

Here, Helen’s father David White describes the events of that day, and what led to it, and tells of the ordeals that a family is subjected to when one of their own is murdered.

It is a poignant and compelling story. There are issues of custody, access and bail, and looming court appearances. And often, as in this case, there is the killer’s family to deal with.

Finally, there is also the bureaucracy and the media that have to be faced and accepted as inevitable intrusions on the private lives of the victim’s families. Families who would prefer to be left alone to grieve. Now that the trial and sentencing have been completed, much more can be told.

190 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2012

About the author

There is more than one person in the Goodreads catalog with this name. This entry is for David ^ 8 White, nonfiction true crime writer.

David White started at Whitcombe and Tombs Lambton Quay, Wellington, in 1962 behind the educational book counter in the middle of the varsity student rush, (no University bookshops in those days).

David was the opening Manager for their Porirua shop, then transfered to Queen Street, Auckland to work in the education deptartment. From 1975 to 1981 he was the Hodder and Stoughton rep based in Wellington, then moved to Hamilton to be the opening manager for the new London Bookshop there: transfered from there to their St. Lukes store and in 1987 bought the Highland Park Bookshop. During his period at Highland Park Bookshop, David served on the Booksellers NZ Council.

David and his wife Pam sold that business after 13 years at the end of 1999, taking an early retirement, retiring to Waikato to build a large garden.

Until the death of his daughter Helen, his retirement consisted of driving a milk tanker for nine months of the year, and fulfilling dreams for the other three. Now responsible for his grandchildren, he is also actively involved in the prevention of violence towards women.

Reviews

[Nicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very sad book but explains the hard things the family and friends were put through but her low life husband. It can leave you wondering why the death sentence was done away with, especially pre-meditated murder. It is people like Meads that makes me ashamed to be a New Zealander, especially his lack of care for his daughter.

[Helen Cummings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a terrible story, there are no words except to say that I admire David’s courage and feel his pain for the death of his daughter.

[TashNz · Rating 5 out of 5]

The tears poured as I read this heart-wrenching book. I picked it up randomly in The Warehouse because I thought the face looked familiar, I flicked it open to the first page and before I knew it I'd finished the first chapter, tears streaming... in the middle of The Warehouse.

I was telling my work colleagues about it the next day and one of them knew Helen and asked I buy the book on her behalf and bring it into work after I finished reading it.

I have just finished it and the best/saddest thing about reading Helen's story, depending on which way you look at it is it's like sitting down and listening to Helen's Dad tell his story. It's such an easy read, the story flows and when you finish you're just horrified at what a family has to face when they're picking up the pieces.

This book is a very good insight to the reprehensible conditions victims families have to face day in day out while they're waiting for justice. There is NO support for them in comparison to the protection the guilty parties received. I am high-fiving Garth and all he and his champions do for making New Zealand a better place for the VICTIMS.

If you're a victim of spousal abuse GET OUT, ring Women's Refuge if you have no one - and for godsake DON'T TELL your partner you're leaving. It doesn't matter what colour/religion you are, too many people are dieing in our beautiful country due to abuse and we need to stop.

I wish you and your family all the very very very best "Fred". I feel better off as a kiwi for reading your book, I'm more aware of the corporate bullsh!t and I support everything you do to make our country a better place.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is hard not to be moved by this book by David White. He is the father of Helen Meads, a young mother of three who was murdered several years ago by her husband, here in New Zealand. He was controlling and abusive to her in their fourteen years of marriage, and once she finally said enough was enough and going to move out, he killed her.

The book is a bit of an eye opener too, with regards to the craziness of the justice system here in NZ. It seems that the accused has far more rights, than the family who are left behind, who were unable to present any evidence in court regarding the abuse they had seen, or lived with in the childrens case. The whole family was scared for Helen, wondering what he might do to her and their fears were proven right.

Then there are the difficulties and red tape that the grandparents must step through to gain custody of their young grand-daughter, spending lots of money and time with little support. With the husband in prison, he still has a net worth of millions and yet only pays the family the minimum child support of $15 a week - scum.

With so much family violence occurring in our little country, it is a sobering read and one that I would recommend to all.

[Adrienne Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an outstanding book by a very brave and insightful man, David White. It is the story of the aftermath of his daughter Helen being killed by her husband Greg Meads, a wealthy Matamata horse breeder. It throws light on the appalling consequences for every day people confronted by such a tragedy and raises huge questions about the iniquity of the NZ justice system and how it treats victims. I can't recommend this book highly enough. It has information that we all need to know so that we can watch out for friends and family and, hopefully, prevent tragedies such as this before they occur.

[Karl Finlayson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brillant read first ever book to raise sadness and anger in the first chapter, Brought to mind a person I know and how similar in personalities the 2 men are, Thankfully the wife got away.
Does point out that our justice system needs a reboot and if Judges want to give people like this and other dangerous people parol and they offend or break thier parole the judges should be held responsable too.

[Kyle Wadsworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far, it's a very interesting and emotional read. I am amazed at the courage David White has shown by writing about his daughter and how the tragedy affected his family.