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The Death of Dr Duncan
The drowning of Dr Duncan in the River Torrens in 1972 remains one of South Australia’s most notorious unsolved murders. His death shocked the community and still reverberates 50 years later.
Tim Reeves is an award-winning author and the acknowledged authority on the Duncan case. He pulls together the complex strands of a police investigation, coroner’s inquest, New Scotland Yard enquiry and trial. He also examines the attempts at gay law reform in the state that were triggered by Duncan’s killing.
This meticulously researched and tautly written book tells a story that is disturbing yet captivating, distressing yet ultimately uplifting.
Tim Reeves is an award-winning author and the acknowledged authority on the Duncan case. He pulls together the complex strands of a police investigation, coroner’s inquest, New Scotland Yard enquiry and trial. He also examines the attempts at gay law reform in the state that were triggered by Duncan’s killing.
This meticulously researched and tautly written book tells a story that is disturbing yet captivating, distressing yet ultimately uplifting.
- GenresTrue Crime
240 pages, Paperback
Published March 1, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 4, 2023
Dr Duncan was murdered by being thrown into the River Torrens in Adelaide of the night of May 10, 1972, only six weeks after he'd arrived from England to take up a lecturing position in the Faculty of Law of Adelaide University. Evidence points squarely at some members of the police Vice Squad, who were in the habit of going to a particular gay beat on the riverside, and of "giving the faggots swimming lessons" by throwing them into the river. In the case of Dr Duncan, he couldn't swim and so drowned. Although this crime had its 50th anniversary in 2022, it had been merely one of many in the murky and unpleasant history of gay hate crimes in Australia.
However in 2022 it exploded into public consciousness. First with a hauntingly beautiful and emotionally wrenching oratorio "Watershed: the Death of Dr Duncan" with music by Joseph Twist and libretto by Christos Tsiolkas and Alana Valentine, with Tim Reeves as consultant. And second with this superb book, which paints the entire grim picture of the crime and its consequences.
The murder remains officially unsolved, because even though two police officers were charged and brought to trial, the case against them fell apart owing to lack of evidence. Tim Reeves carefully points out that one of the huge difficulties was simply getting enough eye-witnesses to come forward: even the hint of being gay, in Adelaide in 1972 as well as elsewhere in Australia, could cost you your family, your job, and even your life. Best simply to stay quiet, out of sight and say nothing.
There is thus a frustrating slipperiness about this case: not only the difficulty of obtaining enough eye-witness statements, but of physical evidence. A suitcase belonging to Dr Duncan ended up for a time in the possession of the South Australian Coroner, and was destroyed by order of the Chief Commissioner.
It is very unlikely that the criminals will ever be brought to justice; even if still alive, they would be very old nearly 51 years later. But Dr Duncan deserves justice, and he gets some in this fine and unsettling book.
An irony is that Dr Duncan - an intensely, even pathologically, private individual - would never wanted to be remembered as a gay icon, a gay hero, or somebody central to gay rights in Australia. But one of the many outcomes of the murder's investigation and its various mishandlings was a decriminalisation of homosexual activity. And the history of Australia's slow movement from gay hatred towards equal marriage can be traced - and is so done by Reeves in this book - to this one event.
Finally, as the author says of Dr Duncan: "I ask now that he be remembered as more than an epithet."
This is a book for everybody.
However in 2022 it exploded into public consciousness. First with a hauntingly beautiful and emotionally wrenching oratorio "Watershed: the Death of Dr Duncan" with music by Joseph Twist and libretto by Christos Tsiolkas and Alana Valentine, with Tim Reeves as consultant. And second with this superb book, which paints the entire grim picture of the crime and its consequences.
The murder remains officially unsolved, because even though two police officers were charged and brought to trial, the case against them fell apart owing to lack of evidence. Tim Reeves carefully points out that one of the huge difficulties was simply getting enough eye-witnesses to come forward: even the hint of being gay, in Adelaide in 1972 as well as elsewhere in Australia, could cost you your family, your job, and even your life. Best simply to stay quiet, out of sight and say nothing.
There is thus a frustrating slipperiness about this case: not only the difficulty of obtaining enough eye-witness statements, but of physical evidence. A suitcase belonging to Dr Duncan ended up for a time in the possession of the South Australian Coroner, and was destroyed by order of the Chief Commissioner.
It is very unlikely that the criminals will ever be brought to justice; even if still alive, they would be very old nearly 51 years later. But Dr Duncan deserves justice, and he gets some in this fine and unsettling book.
An irony is that Dr Duncan - an intensely, even pathologically, private individual - would never wanted to be remembered as a gay icon, a gay hero, or somebody central to gay rights in Australia. But one of the many outcomes of the murder's investigation and its various mishandlings was a decriminalisation of homosexual activity. And the history of Australia's slow movement from gay hatred towards equal marriage can be traced - and is so done by Reeves in this book - to this one event.
Finally, as the author says of Dr Duncan: "I ask now that he be remembered as more than an epithet."
This is a book for everybody.
May 4, 2023
May book club read.
An important story, particularly how the SA police “may” have been involved in this death and the subsequent legislative changes. However, it became convoluted and difficult to follow at times because of the minutia of information included (and yet despite this a clear timeline was also hard to gauge when they were talking about the case in court - found the timeline at the end but I was done by then).
An important story, particularly how the SA police “may” have been involved in this death and the subsequent legislative changes. However, it became convoluted and difficult to follow at times because of the minutia of information included (and yet despite this a clear timeline was also hard to gauge when they were talking about the case in court - found the timeline at the end but I was done by then).
April 24, 2023
3.5 stars. In an depth but somewhat convoluted book about the notorious death of Dr George Duncan in Adelaide in 1972, and the subsequent changing of legislation regarding decriminalisation of homosexual activity. Well researched and plenty of pictorial history regarding the case. A shame those guilty were never convicted...
May 26, 2024
This short book contains some interesting source materials and photos, but suffers from poor editing and a rambling and convoluted narrative.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews