Who Killed Leigh Leigh?: A Story of Shame and Mateship in an Australian Town

This is a reverse detective story of sorts based on several years of extensive research into the rape and murder of a teenage girl at a beach party on the east coast of Australia in 1989. Criminologist Dr Kerry Carrington explores many unanswered questions about the case and particularly why the police failed to charge a number of boys with many serious matters relating to the crime despite having an abundance of compelling witnesses and forensic evidence available to them.There is no narrative closure to this disturbing book, no Hollywood ending, no justice and just lots of challenging questions. By asking these questions the author raises some profoundly worrying issues about the exercise of police discretion in criminal investigations, about the inability of our legal system to deal adequately with the concept of moral and collective responsibility, about the source of sexual danger and risk in our society, and about the popular indulgence of adolescent rituals involving a degree of sexual intimidation.*Currently very topical as a major investigation is underway in the exact same area (Newcastle) into bungling by detectives over other investigations into the disappearances of several young women. Questions are being widely asked about negligence.* Major investigation into this specific case has just resulted in no further arrests being made (which has outraged many) but in further inquiries into the police handling of the case at the time* Will be extracted in major newspapers Early talks being held with 60 Minutes* Author is very well regarded and extremely articulate – she will be widely heard on media.*Very, very controversial ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Dr Kerry Carrington is a criminologist and lectures at The University of Western Sydney. She first became interested in the Leigh Leigh case when she taught many students (at University of Newcastle) who had attended the ill-fated party or who had known Leigh and gone to school with her. pp. 187 #0920/0721 ISBN 10: 0091837081ISBN 13: 9780091837082