Defrosting Cold Cases

“All the Commissioner’s Men” by Chris Birt is a book about the cold cases of Jeanette and Harvey Crewe who feature on my blog. They have this prominent place not in the least because they are tied to the wrongful conviction of Arthur Allen Thomas or, to the call from their only child Rochelle Crewe to finally get [...]

Supplementary statement by Chris Birt regarding the alleged viewing by Bruce Roddick on 1 June 1972: This 1 June 1972 statement was produced, for the first time, at the crucial February 1973 First Referral to the Court of Appeal which granted, against all odds, Arthur Thomas his re-trial. The retrial was held in April 1973. [...]

This post is Chris Birt’s rebuttal to the statement that investigative reporter Bryan Bruce released to the media. Bruce claimed Roddick made it clear that Mrs Norma Demler was not the woman that he saw at the Crewe Farm. Chris Birt explains in detail why he disagrees. __________________________ Media statement by Chris Birt, long-time Crewe [...]

For decades, rumours circulated that it had to be Norma Demler who fed Rochelle Crewe in the time period between her parents’ murders and her being officially found in 1970. The fact that Norma was Len Demler’s second wife and a very closed, reserved woman, who refused to talk about the Crewe Murders, only added [...]

A new book by Chris Birt is out to shed more light on the Crewe Murders. From the web: “Researcher Chris Birt says he has finally cleared up one mystery – the timing of when detectives planted the cartridge case that pointed to Thomas, who spent 10 years in prison before being released, pardoned and [...]

The lid has been lifted on the extent of police malpractice in New Zealand’s most controversial homicide inquiry. In a new book, released today Friday 15 June long-time Crewe murders researcher and writer Chris Birt chronicles a significant list of what he determines are acts of malpractice and ropes more of the original homicide squad [...]

The New Zealand Herald brings the fantastic news that  Senior Detective Superintendent Andy Lovelock, who is reviewing the Crewe murders, has urged anyone with information about their deaths to speak out and help find answers for their only child Rochelle Crewe. I quote: “I am extremely keen to hear from anyone who may have information concerning [...]

The Crewe Murders will be explored once more but in a different setting. “Although much of the detail of the filming and direction the programme will take is being kept under wraps the film company has confirmed the Crewe murders programme will be a “one-off special”. No firm date for the screening has yet been [...]

In the magazine “North & South,” Chris Birt makes a  strong case for an in-depth review of Len and Norma Thomas Demler’s involvement in the case. Note that Norma is not related to Arthur Allan Thomas! Strong ties have existed between the Demler and Thomas family for quite some time. The siblings in the family married [...]

Arthur Allen Thomas’ ex-wife and staunch supporter died of cancer. “Harrison filed for divorce after Thomas’ guilty verdict remained in place after the second trial. She changed her name from Vivienne Thomas to Vivien Harrison. She remained a staunch supporter of his innocence, maintaining he was home with her at the time of the murders. In [...]