Can the Crewe case be solved?
Almost 50 years after their brother was wrongly charged over the double murder of Jeannette and Harvey Crewe, the Thomas family continues to fight for justice. Eugene Bingham and Paula Penfold report.
It’s the most infamous cold case murder in the country – the killing of Jeannette and Harvey Crewe in 1970. It’s been the subject of stacks of books and a movie, a Royal Commission of Inquiry, and a major police review of the case in
2014.
And yet for one of the families caught up in it, there’s so much more to be said.
‘‘The reason I’m fighting this is there are too many injustices in this country and this case is solvable, and the police have to back down and admit they’re wrong,’’ says Des Thomas, youngest brother of Arthur Allan Thomas who was wrongly convicted of the murders.
‘‘If somebody doesn’t make a stance there’s going to be more innocent people in jail.’’
The Thomas family quest is part of a Stuff Circuit podcast series called The District, which examines what happens to people caught up in cases of injustice; people who feel the system has let them down.
The Crewes, a farming couple from Pukekawa, a small district in north Waikato, were shot in the head with a .22 rifle.
When the bloody murder scene was discovered five days later, the bodies were missing, but alone in the house was their
18-month-old daughter, Rochelle. The bodies were eventually found in the Waikato River.
Arthur Thomas, a local farmer, was arrested and, while he always maintained his innocence, he was twice convicted of the murders.
A campaign to free him saw him pardoned in 1979.
But the family believes the police have never accepted Arthur’s innocence.
Des Thomas, along with his sister, Margaret Stuckey, and her husband, Buster Stuckey, have produced their own report on the case, titled ‘‘Justice V Lies’’.
It’s a response to the 2014 review, which they believe unfairly targeted the Thomas family.
‘‘It was like a trial and we weren’t allowed to have any defence,’’ says Des Thomas.
The family’s report also uncovers what they say are fresh leads in the case.
Police declined to be interviewed for the podcast series but in a statement said they rejected allegations the Thomas family had been targeted.
‘‘Police firmly reject any commentary by the Thomas family that the review work was unfair.
‘‘Any balanced reporting of the review should include the comments and conclusions of David Jones QC, who was appointed to provide independent oversight of the review.’’
Jones’ report, released at the same time as the review, says: ‘‘Care had to be taken to ensure that an objective, balanced inquiry into the issues raised by the terms of reference was conducted.
‘‘The process adopted was designed to best achieve this.’’
The review eliminates other named suspects in the murders, including Jeannette’s father, Len Demler, saying of him and others ‘‘there is no credible evidence’’ they were involved.
But it does not conclusively rule out Arthur Thomas, and finds that there is ‘‘significant physical evidence linking the Thomas farm’’ with the murders.
The family’s report rejects these connections and highlights what they say are gaps and flaws in the police case, including the destruction of evidence.
They also question why new evidence which came to light during the review was not mentioned in the review report.
‘‘What worries us is when the police get a lot of this evidence they don’t go and investigate it because they’ve already put the time and effort into planting and manufacturing evidence against Arthur.
‘‘He’s been pardoned but they’re not interested in looking seriously at who murdered the Crewes,’’ says Des Thomas.
Police say the matters raised by the Thomas family were considered, even though they are not mentioned in the publiclyreleased review report, and were deemed not to be of interest.
Stuff Circuit also approached Rochelle Crewe, who instigated the review when she pressed for unanswered questions in the case to be addressed.
But a lawyer who acts for her, Natalie Walker, replied saying she did not wish to be interviewed for the podcast.
‘‘She said to pass on thank you for the courtesy of letting her know but she is content not to know any more about it.’’ The District is Stuff Circuit’s new podcast.
It’s not your typical true crime podcast. It’s so much more. You can listen on iTunes if you have an iPhone or Mac, Stitcher if you have an Android phone, or on Spotify if you don’t want to pick sides.
‘‘This case is solvable, and the police have to back down and admit they’re wrong.’’ Des Thomas
Margaret Stuckey, with her brother, Des Thomas, and her husband, Buster Stuckey, have produced their own report on the case, titled ‘‘Justice V Lies’’.