Networked Knowledge - Book Reports

[This edited version of the report has been prepared by Dr Robert N Moles]

Debi Marshall homepage

See also
Bob Moles: A state of Injustice - book now online
Bob Moles: Losing Their Grip - The Case of Henry Keogh - book now online

On 24 May 2007 Luke Eliot and Ronan O’Connell in the West Australian reported “Murdered girls’ dads condemn new book”.  

They said the fathers of two Claremont serial killer victims have condemned writer Debi Marshall as senior police claimed her controversial new book on the 11-year murder mysteries could jeopardise the hunt for the killer. Denis Glennon, whose daughter Ciara was the third of the killer’s known victims, says his family will never read The Devil’s Garden, revealing he declined an interviewed with its Tasmanian author about 12-months ago — before reading her works. “I made a decision then not to participate because of concerns I had at the time about her ability to contribute anything new or helpful to the investigations, in particular to the production of a document or manuscript that would be sensitive to the hurt and suffering of my family,” he said yesterday. “I informed her of that and on the second occasion again declined to participate. I have not seen the book, I do not know what is in it but I have had a briefing from the police on it. “I read the front page of The West this morning and it would appear that my concerns were well-founded.”

Mr Glennon said he was not aware of claims in the book that suggested detectives had botched the inquiry, in particular that former Macro task force head, Assistant Commissioner David Caporn, had “tunnel vision” by focusing on a Cottesloe public servant identified as a suspect. “With respect to the investigation carried out to date . . . I’ve no concerns,” he said.

Don Spiers, whose daughter Sarah was the first woman abducted from Claremont’s streets on January 27, 1996, claimed he was pushed into an interview by Marshall. WA Police Deputy Commissioner Murray Lampard again claimed that Marshall’s book was “riddled with factual errors”. He also defended Mr Caporn. “Dave Caporn did not have tunnel vision in this inquiry,” he said. “The officer that took over from him spent the next seven years in charge of the Macro investigation. I can assure you that throughout that investigation a number of persons of interest have been investigated and the investigation has not been on a single point of focus.”

When asked if the Cottesloe public servant remained a person of interest to the inquiry, Mr Lampard said: “That’s an operational issue.”    “It’s not helpful (to the investigation). Clearly it is not going to impact greatly on the investigation. It creates misinformation and certainly incorrect information in the public arena.”

The Cottesloe public servant said he was furious that he had been placed in this situation and claimed that he had been unfairly targeted by police. “I’ve been in hospital because of this and it has ruined my life,” he said. “I do not know what the claims are in this book but I never did anything wrong and I am angry that this has gone on for so long. It is completely unfair.” His mother said she had no doubt that Mr Caporn focused too strongly on her son as a suspect. “He just thought he was the person (responsible),” she said.

Top of Page