What do you think?
Rate this book
The Family Court Murders
4 murders. 5 bombings. And no one charged. This is the definitive story of the Family Court Murders.
An initiative of the Whitlam Government, the so-called ‘helping court' opened its doors in January 1976. But despite the high idealism of the court's creators, they failed to factor in one universal truth: that in a marital tug of war, one side would always feel more embittered than the other.
Despite the brazen enormity of the shootings and bombings in Sydney from 1980 – attacks that hit at the very heart of the judicial system – and a prime suspect publicly named by the Coroner, the police investigation failed to culminate in an arrest and after three decades stalled to a benign ‘review' status. Following a tip-off from a possible witness, the Channel 7 Sunday Night program determined to investigate this cold case. Award-winning true-crime writer and investigative journalist Debi Marshall was part of the team who worked this story.
Thirty-three years on, the horror of these crimes still haunts everyone involved. Witnesses are frightened to speak. Family members live in the dark shadows of grief and fear. Widows and children continue to live without closure. To break this uneasy silence, Marshall embarked on a terrifying journey into the dark heart of The Family Court Murders – and the prime suspect.
What she has uncovered will shock and outrage.
An initiative of the Whitlam Government, the so-called ‘helping court' opened its doors in January 1976. But despite the high idealism of the court's creators, they failed to factor in one universal truth: that in a marital tug of war, one side would always feel more embittered than the other.
Despite the brazen enormity of the shootings and bombings in Sydney from 1980 – attacks that hit at the very heart of the judicial system – and a prime suspect publicly named by the Coroner, the police investigation failed to culminate in an arrest and after three decades stalled to a benign ‘review' status. Following a tip-off from a possible witness, the Channel 7 Sunday Night program determined to investigate this cold case. Award-winning true-crime writer and investigative journalist Debi Marshall was part of the team who worked this story.
Thirty-three years on, the horror of these crimes still haunts everyone involved. Witnesses are frightened to speak. Family members live in the dark shadows of grief and fear. Widows and children continue to live without closure. To break this uneasy silence, Marshall embarked on a terrifying journey into the dark heart of The Family Court Murders – and the prime suspect.
What she has uncovered will shock and outrage.
368 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2014
11 people are currently reading
94 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 11, 2020
Very good book about a series of murders/bombings committed in Australia between February 1980 and July 1985, revolving around the court that handles family matters. Unsolved when this book was published ... although they had a suspect ... just couldn't pin it on him. Thirty-eight years later they were finally able to arrest him. His trial (without a jury) ended in April 2020, and the judge hasn't yet issued a verdict.
4 Stars = Outstanding. It definitely held my interest.
(My apologies for such a short review. I'm struggling with a few things, at the moment, and just can't seem to find the presence of mind to write longer reviews.)
4 Stars = Outstanding. It definitely held my interest.
(My apologies for such a short review. I'm struggling with a few things, at the moment, and just can't seem to find the presence of mind to write longer reviews.)
August 30, 2015
Courageous, excellent, Australian investigative journalism! What an achievement with an arrest finally this year. Love your work, Debi, and look forward to reading more of your work.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2020
I learned that when disposing of body in a lake that in addition to weighting the body with rope and bricks that there is one more thing that should be done. In 1803, convicted murderer Joseph Samuel was sentenced to be hanged. In three attempts the executioner failed to complete this task. The matter was referred to Governor Phillip who subsequently pardoned Joseph Samuel. 'Some circumstantial evidence is very strong, as when you find a trout in the milk.' (Henry David Thoreau 1854). 'Time has stood still at Cowan Creek'.
July 14, 2015
(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)
4 murders. 5 bombings. And no one charged. This is the definitive story of the Family Court Murders.An initiative of the Whitlam Government, the so-called 'helping court' opened its doors in January 1976. But despite the high idealism of the court's creators, they failed to factor in one universal truth: that in a marital tug of war, one side would always feel more embittered than the other. Despite the brazen enormity of the shootings and bombings in Sydney from 1980 - attacks that hit at the very heart of the judicial system - and a prime suspect publicly named by the Coroner, the police investigation failed to culminate in an arrest and after three decades stalled to a benign 'review' status.
Following a tip-off from a possible witness, the Channel 7 Sunday Night program determined to investigate this cold case. Award-winning true-crime writer and investigative journalist Debi Marshall was part of the team who worked this story.Thirty-three years on, the horror of these crimes still haunts everyone involved. Witnesses are frightened to speak. Family members live in the dark shadows of grief and fear. Widows and children continue to live without closure. To break this uneasy silence, Marshall embarked on a terrifying journey into the dark heart of the Family Court murders - and the prime suspect.What she has uncovered will shock and outrage.
This was a fascinating book. From the history of the set-up of the "Helping Court" (thanks Gough!) to the renewed investigation many years later, this book charts the amazing story of a legacy that tore apart many, many families.
The description pretty much tells the story of the book - but I got to the end shaking my head wondering how it all got so wrong and if justice will ever be served in this case. There are so many unanswered questions that the author brings to light and really made me think about where our judicial system is right now.
Thought provoking and definitely not a book for those who love a happy ending, The Family Court Murders is a very good book for those who like True Crime books.
Paul
ARH
4 murders. 5 bombings. And no one charged. This is the definitive story of the Family Court Murders.An initiative of the Whitlam Government, the so-called 'helping court' opened its doors in January 1976. But despite the high idealism of the court's creators, they failed to factor in one universal truth: that in a marital tug of war, one side would always feel more embittered than the other. Despite the brazen enormity of the shootings and bombings in Sydney from 1980 - attacks that hit at the very heart of the judicial system - and a prime suspect publicly named by the Coroner, the police investigation failed to culminate in an arrest and after three decades stalled to a benign 'review' status.
Following a tip-off from a possible witness, the Channel 7 Sunday Night program determined to investigate this cold case. Award-winning true-crime writer and investigative journalist Debi Marshall was part of the team who worked this story.Thirty-three years on, the horror of these crimes still haunts everyone involved. Witnesses are frightened to speak. Family members live in the dark shadows of grief and fear. Widows and children continue to live without closure. To break this uneasy silence, Marshall embarked on a terrifying journey into the dark heart of the Family Court murders - and the prime suspect.What she has uncovered will shock and outrage.
This was a fascinating book. From the history of the set-up of the "Helping Court" (thanks Gough!) to the renewed investigation many years later, this book charts the amazing story of a legacy that tore apart many, many families.
The description pretty much tells the story of the book - but I got to the end shaking my head wondering how it all got so wrong and if justice will ever be served in this case. There are so many unanswered questions that the author brings to light and really made me think about where our judicial system is right now.
Thought provoking and definitely not a book for those who love a happy ending, The Family Court Murders is a very good book for those who like True Crime books.
Paul
ARH
November 25, 2020
Fascinating book about an extrordinary case. Incredible to find out that the killer was able to avoid arrest for so many decades. Chilling to think about the terror of all the people who lived with the knowledge he was out in the community.
August 9, 2020
A fascinating, although also disturbing true story. I happened to pick up this book about the same time as the central figure in the story was convicted.
December 3, 2014
I shake my head when I think of how he got away with it. I thought the book was very interesting and well written. I think the right to remain silent should be changed, as he used that the whole way through. Why did it never go before a jury ?
Why did the police never interview all the victims families? Why when they were looking for his cave did they give up after one try, why did they not interview locals from where he grew up ? How did evidence just go missing ? So many unanswered questions.
Where is justice ?
Why did the police never interview all the victims families? Why when they were looking for his cave did they give up after one try, why did they not interview locals from where he grew up ? How did evidence just go missing ? So many unanswered questions.
Where is justice ?
November 23, 2014
Bit a strange read until you realise how it is written. Horrifying to realise that they are still not 'solved'. And that I went to the Parramatta Courthouse for my divorce - remember walking in thinking about the bombing!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews