A REPEAT OF THE GRAHAM STAFFORD CASE?

WHO KILLED LEANNE?

The savage murder of 12 year old Leanne Holland in Goodna in September 1991 was one of the most brutal child killings in Australia’s criminal history. Sadly, very few people remember it. Leanne was battered to death, and possibly tortured and sexually assaulted.

There were no witnesses to the crime and police were unable to establish a motive. Flimsy and since discredited forensic evidence plus a hasty police investigation led to Graham Stafford — the boyfriend of Leanne’s older sister — being convicted of the murder.

Despite two appeals, two High Court challenges, and an appeal to the Queensland Governor, Stafford’s conviction has been upheld, and he remains incarcerated in prison. Yet, by being the first person to have gone as far as the High Court twice for the same criminal matter, Stafford created Australian legal history.

Now, ten years of painstaking research by former police officer and private investigator Graeme Crowley and criminologist Paul Wilson reveals that it is highly unlikely that Stafford could have committed the murder. Crowley and Wilson believe their investigation and analysis of this case raises enormous doubt and provides evidence that, properly put before the trial jury, would have presented no alternative to a verdict of ‘not guilty’. And, they go further by providing clues that could lead to the real killer.

Just as in Australia’s famous baby-dingo case in which Lindy Chamberlain was convicted of murdering her daughter Azaria, the police investigation into the murder of Leanne Holland shows the danger of obtaining convictions for murder based on inconclusive and questionable forensic science evidence. The case against Graham Stafford failed to establish motive and opportunity, and lacked alternative evidence to support the forensic findings.

By reinterviewing key witnesses including some investigating forensic experts, Crowley and Wilson demonstrate how a major miscarriage of justice in a murder case may occur. As in a gripping detective thriller, they provide all the material necessary for you to come to your own conclusions about who killed Leanne.

‘The authors reveal the greatest travesty of justice I have heard of.’ Gordon Davie, ex-detective senior sergeant Victoria Police; and technical adviser on Phoenix, Janus, Correlly, Halifax FP, State Coroner; co-author of The Interview screenplay.