Author’s Acknowledgements

I must acknowledge the contribution of the Tanner family. The Tanner parents, Fred and June, simply couldn’t understand why this happened to their family when the alien world of police, smart lawyers and journalists intruded into their lives. This very ordinary Australian family never faltered in encouraging me.

When it comes to ‘good blokes’, Laurie Tanner is the best. His enduring love for Jennifer still touches me; it remains a private love from a very private man. He knows that his wife took her life, and he has one purpose in his: to protect his son and grandchildren from further hurt.

Denis Tanner, in his endless quest for a normal life, trusted me with everything he could get his hands on. He and his family have never deserved the public mockery that this travesty has inflicted on them. I hope that their burden eases with the publication of their side of the story.

Gerry McHugh and his family endured hell at Mildura after he was falsely accused of complicity in the murder of Adele Bailey. Their silence was bought, their story was hidden, but I knew the story well, so it had to be told.

Former detective Gordon Davie spent several months living with us, dissecting evidence and developing a reference system to help me get started. He has loyally stayed with me to the point of publication. Various retired police officers have trusted me to tell their stories, including Ian Welch, Jim Fry, Tom O’Keefe, Bill Fraser, Neil Walker and Peter Mangles, all of whom tried to sort out faults not of their making in 1984 and 1985, and whose reputations were unjustly besmirched during the second Jennifer Tanner inquest.

The staff of former State Coroner Graeme Johnston was always prompt and helpful. Author Robin Bowles exchanged information with me. Her books and her intimacy with the Kale Taskforce provided me with firsthand knowledge of a warped police mindset.

Melbourne University academic, lawyer and author Jude Wallace, psychologist and barrister Professor Don Thomson and criminologist Professor Paul Wilson all volunteered valuable advice. Former homicide squad heads Carl Mengler and Peter Halloran willingly studied my drafts and added their own assessments of the evidence. Author Michael Gilchrist volunteered unexpected assistance with structure and editing of my draft manuscript.

Publisher Poppy Grijalbo, commissioning editor Julia Taylor from The Five Mile Press, editor Jenny Lee and lawyer Nic Pullen lifted my spirits enormously with their enthusiasm and professional advice.

Melbourne barrister Brian Bourke, once my fierce opponent in the courts, volunteered valuable legal advice whenever it was needed.

My own family deserves special mention. They have missed my attention because an intended six-month project turned into an unexpected ten-year marathon. My wife Vi shouldered the burden. She worked long hours running our business and caring for me during my ten years of disability. Without her patience and self-sacrifice, this book could never have been written.