Synopsis
Eric Edgar Cooke was the last man to hang in Western Australia. Between 1958 and his capture in September 1963, Cooke committed 22 murders and attempted murders that forever changed the face of Perth from a friendly big country town to a city of suspicion and fear. His fantasies and delusions led him to commit a series of sexual perversions and crimes, including theft, deliberate hit-and-runs, vicious attacks on women in their beds and murder - by shooting, stabbing and strangling. When two innocent men were convicted and jailed for crimes committed by Cooke, journalist Estelle Blackburn began an exhaustive investigation which lasted six years. 'Broken Lives' is the award-winning, compelling and thought-provoking result of her relentless search for the truth. Blackburn reveals the life of a social misfit with a desire to hurt others, and the stories of the people whose lives he intruded upon. She examines and appraises the police investigation and uncovers the workings of the judicial system of the day. Through her investigations and the new evidence Blackburn presented in 'Broken Lives', new appeals were gained before Western Australia's Court of Criminal Appeal for John Button and Darryl Beamish, leading to Button being exonerated of manslaughter in 2002 and (as this updated edition reveals), Beamish being exonerated of wilful murder in 2005.
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BROKEN LIVES.
Published by
Stellar Publishing, Perth, 1999
ISBN 10: 0646361732
ISBN 13: 9780646361734
Used
Softcover
Seller: Serendipity Books, Subiaco, WA, Australia
Seller rating 2 out of 5 stars
Name on half-title, a near fine copy. Pp. vi, 410. "Serial killer Eric Edgar Cooke's secret crimes, the women who survived them and the man still paying the price". Seller Inventory # ABE-1760155312978
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BROKEN LIVES Serial killer Eric Edgar Cooke's secret crimes, the women who survived them and the man still paying the price
Published by
Stellar Publishing, 1998
ISBN 10: 0646361732
ISBN 13: 9780646361734
Used
Softcover / Paperback
Seller: Loretta Lay Books, London, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Softcover / Paperback. Condition: Fine. Softcover. A serial killer stalked the city for months, shooting strangers in the dead of night. Unknown to the terror-stricken citizens of this trusting, emerging metropolis, the young father of seven children who pulled the trigger had for years been doing other sinister night work. Eric Edgar Cooke prowled the streets and back gardens, sadistically attacking many young women. In a remarkable twist of fate, the killer's life tangled with that of 19yr old John Button, whose 17yr old girlfriend was killed. Both men confessed to that crime. Now the stories of Cooke's other victims, and other startling evidence uncovered by the author, strongly suggest that Button still carries the stigma of one of Cooke's many murders. This riveting investigation into the life and untold crimes of the last man to hang in Western Australia reveals new evidence to indicate that at least one innocent man, John Button, went to jail for one of Cooke's murders. Illus., Epilogue + Appendix. 410pp. trade size softcover. From the library of true crime writer, Wilfred Gregg, with his personal b/plate. Includes loosely inserted 2-page account of deaf mute, Darryl Beamish, cleared of an axe murder after 45yrs. Eric Cooke had previously confessed to the killing, which was repeatedly discounted by the courts as the work of a "palpable and unscrupulous liar". F. with no creasing to covers. A fairly heavy book which may require additional postage. Seller Inventory # 16473
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Broken Lives; Serial Killer Eric Edgar Cooke's secret crimes, the women who survived them, and the man still paying the price
Seller: river break books, Fort benton, MT, U.S.A.
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Soft cover. Condition: Near Fine. Paperback is very clean and unmarked except for author's signature and inscription to prior owner on title page. Edges are square with a tight, strong binding. Only flaw to book is very light bump to exterior top corner. signed and inscribed<not speci. Seller Inventory # 007458
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Broken Lives by Estelle Blackburn
Published by
Stellar Publishing, Claremont WA, 1998
ISBN 10: 0646361732
ISBN 13: 9780646361734
Used
Soft cover
First Edition
Seller: Book Merchant Bookstore, Bunbury, WA, Australia
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Soft cover. Condition: Good. 1st Edition. Seller Inventory # TBM646361732