IFTB – 3: Searching for the Truth

It was enough to drive any sane person crazy!

Attempting to solve New Zealand’s ultimate cold case of who killed Harvey and Jeannette Crewe can be likened to New Zealand documentary maker, Bryan Bruce reinvestigating the death of the most famous person in history!

His 2010 book Jesus: The Cold Case was admittedly on a different scale to his 2012 TV1 documentary on the fate of the Crewes and while both carried the “who dunnit?” theme, the burning question has always been, why did those in authority try and invent facts to suit the crime instead of searching for the truth and nothing but the truth?

I’m not going to answer that just yet but the public at large now know that finding the truth and getting justice was not as important as convicting somebody. It didn’t matter whether the “somebody” was innocent, it only mattered that somebody (anybody, dammit!) was nailed, come hell or high water.

I thought Bryan Bruce’s approach in his documentary differed slightly from the norm as he gave a few hints on topics surrounding this case other than already mentioned by others. He did make it known to me in February 2013 that he did not publish everything he found out “because that might impede the course of justice.”

It sounds like he touched a few nerve ends as not long afterwards I believe Bryan’s computer was hacked into and information on his research was stolen. When I contacted him to offer further information connected to this case I was clearly told, “I don’t do crime related work anymore. I am focusing on social documentary.”

He went on to say that one of the problems with the case was that “the Police made mistakes and even after all this time are loath to admit it.” I think most of us have now come to the same conclusion. The 2014 Review is evidence of this too.

Quite frankly, I’ve been a little reluctant in passing on some of the information that I had uncovered through 40 years of rooting around in old records, searching archival records and dealing with bureaucracy. There were many periods when I’ve wanted to help but the way some witnesses were treated and the reactions I have personally received from a few made me change my mind.

I’ve been deeply suspicious of the motives of some ‘journos’ as they’ve already said I “could be a nutter” but alternatively I “could be genuine” and I am “somewhat eccentric” and I “don’t trust anybody very much”.

Needless to say the vision that came to my mind on the matter was that of the grim reaper in pantomime, rehearsing the standover tactics of a filthy system that was in effect used from day one (in 1970) not only on Bryan but the gullible public as well.

This sort of outcome is not new to me and it made me more determined to find the truth. At one time or another the thought of pulling the pin on this book was very real to me. Not any more. I became determined to go where angels feared to tread.

NOW PAST HISTORY

Although numerous books have already been published on this controversy, all claims of who really did it and who fed the baby have been speculative too. They have become past history. The fact is, nobody gives a damn any more. It’s been put in the too hard basket by officialdom and over the years, by hiding the truth the inevitable outcome is that most of the real criminals are now deceased and therefore cannot be charged.

If this book does lead to some convictions for this horrendous crime, I realise only those still living and who eventually gained could be charged. Is that real justice?

Think about it. There has not been one arrest made since Arthur Allan Thomas was pardoned, nor is there likely to be, for the simple reason that the whole bl**dy affair was really being run by ‘the system’ and in turn by the media.

From my own experience the proverbial brick wall has appeared before me many times. The worst part was meeting every obstacle imaginable from the bureaucratic system. It did test my patience and despite periods of utter frustration, it has really been a hard slog on one’s own.

On the bright side, being a loner was an advantage at times. Secrets were kept.

NOTHING DROPS OUT OF THE SKY

The hardest thing I found was getting the proof or facts needed to finalise the outcome–that ever so elusive deed or document to prove what I wanted to claim has simply not dropped out of the sky. To some it would seem easy. I would say, “Yeah right!” but one has to know what to look for in the first place.

The legal system, not unlike the proverbial turtle, I’ve found works on the rank and file of correctness that more than implies what is written must be the truth.

It has been said more than once that people being interviewed on oath put their hand on the bible and tell lies every day. Some experts in the field speak their minds at times but in today’s world, what is the truth anyway? Is it as quoted for real, or are we all telling porkies, or he’s ‘talking sh*t’ or he’s full of it?

TURNED INTO A NIGHTMARE

I seriously took a look at what others have written. I got upset by some things I read in Beyond Reasonable Doubt by David Yallop (1978) and it was then that I knew something was definitely wrong. But to prove it would be another matter. I did not want to go off half-cocked, only to be told later on that I was wrong. I started asking questions in the neighbourhood then I tried to write a book on what I suspected.

It turned into a nightmare, I felt rotten. I realised I did not have enough information on the subject. Besides, at this early stage, I could see no motive.

How can you claim to understand a case like this if can’t even see a motive? But the matter wouldn’t rest.

In all that I’ve read so far, I have seen a pattern of conduct which tended to steer away from the real problem in finding the truth. The Police were very reluctant on the subject. No third Commission has been put in place to find the killers and bring justice to the fore.

From 1982 onward nothing has been done to right the wrong. What this means to me is things still didn’t add up. The lack of interest by the powers that be was basically saying, we don’t give a damn. Maybe though, it’s something else. Was there something they were trying to hide?

I’m still sure the Police had enough information to nail the right people and from what I have discovered through many decades of research it is obvious they deliberately ignored exploring other lines because, in my opinion, it did not meet the agenda of having to convict somebody, anybody, as long as it kept the media and public off their backs.

Again the 2014 Police Review basically admits this.

REAL TRUTH NEVER REVEALED

When I think back, the few informants who did come forward had the belief they could tell the truth to an interviewer as they saw it or heard it and that they would be taken seriously. In their own minds by speaking it would correct an injustice laid upon another person by way of incorrect statement. This is proven to have been naive.

Within the Crewe case the real truth was never allowed to be revealed nor mentioned by the Police nor the media. The informants, who I believe came forward in good faith, had a trust of those within the system or those interviewing them.

Instead, the informant in return was set upon by those interviewers in such a way or method as to intimidate, ill-treat or traumatise. Their objective seemed to be to humiliate some of the informants to such an extent that in time and stress he or she may not be able to defend themselves from subsequent blatant lies, untrue statements, threats, diversion of truth or information withheld.

The interviewer, although under the oath of silence and conduct of behaviour, is never the less free of all ties. Unless taken to task at a later date on the matter, the credibility of the informant at most times will change forever, with them being treated not unlike a common criminal.

This was simply because, in this case, the Crown and the media way of interviewing an informant could not or would not for whatever reason accept part of or any written statement of truth without redress. It was considered by them to be either an untrue statement by the informant or unsuitable for the occasion.

One may think many things of their conduct or behaviour or about any person or persons connected to this book. What I have written is a mixture of fact and opinion, nothing more. Should one check here and there, one would find many written statements of fact connected or in part associated to the crime. Sometimes a trail of evidence will lead nowhere or seem to meet a dead end.

On the other hand, as the legal system stands today, nothing has ever been done or ever mentioned about the other side of the story and that is what I am trying to put into print.

An opinion fuelled by facts, hard work, in research, combined with the knowledge I know something is wrong and that I will do my best to find the truth.

My early research indicated a blood tie and it could be there was a code of silence put in place by all involved because they happened to be related. Like David Yallop I’m going to leave it up to you to read between the lines and make up your own minds.

PRETTY SCARY STUFF DUG UP

This book of mine may not provide all the answers either but I’ve dug up a whole lot of pretty scary stuff while searching for some frustratingly elusive facts. As a result these facts will not be presented in the chronological order of which they were found. Unfortunately this information never comes together as a time-line so with the benefit of hindsight I hope I am able to produce a manuscript that will not confuse the reader.

This may explain why my first attempt to write this book, back in 1986, turned into a nightmare–a complete shambles. My heart rebelled. One could not foresee the disappointment or hurt I would find.

The research for this book was not to prove I was right over past events of my personal life–no, quite the opposite! The right to be wrong was always an option but the fine threads of truth, or more accurately half truths were all but destroyed by now.

At the mere mention of the word Crewe or Thomas, one was met with silent aggression. Through the smoke one could see the barricades in place. Past experience had taught the public the right to deceive and defend one’s livelihood on this issue was not a game. A subtle approach was in order.

Many books have been written on the Crewe murders in the following decades. Difference of opinion ruled. Not all were fuelled by the taxpayer dollar. There were many who gained recognition for the parts they played. A small number did not, they wrote the truth as they heard or saw it. Most of these were against the grain, however their work is noted.

The Royal Commission made its findings known in 1980. Sixty four days of debate, since then not one person has been held to account for this crime. Incredible!

WORDS FAIL ME

There is also another matter of Rochelle Crewe’s inheritance to be put before the Court. There, words fail me. In my disgust on the matter I believe time is long overdue for the Police and the legal system of New Zealand ‘here then–here now’, to make amends.

The odds of this story having a happy ending are slim, and furthermore I can see nothing but absolute turmoil and suffering for the families involved. Yet through it all when all is calm, out of all that happened, surely in faith there will be good and peace of mind for all those who would seek a conclusion to this horrendous crime of greed.

For me, looking on the surface for the answers proved to be a waste of time and effort. It was not until I started to dig a little deeper that I realised why the authorities got it so wrong. The information I have found should be incentive enough for them to follow up from where I have had to reluctantly call it a day.

In adding another thought, I don’t know if it’s true in New Zealand but experts worldwide claim that crime comes down to–99 times out of a hundred–love, hate, or money. In the case of the Crewe murders I feel it is money and lots of it!

Finding out requires a journey into the past . . .