— Press Release —

By:     Stewart K. Beattie author of,

Contact

details:              32 Brunskill Road,

                        Wagga Wagga, NSW, 2650

Phone:              (02) 6922 3397

Subject: Port Arthur massacre video

“Over the past week when I was interviewed by a number of electronic and print media journalists, when the Police Training Video affair was broken, and their common reaction to the threatened police raids and seizure of the video has commonly been restrained outrage,” Mr Beattie commented. 

“You know I was assured, that a Tasmania Police spokesman and our local Wagga Police command confirmed to The Daily Advertiser that no police raids were planned.”

In fact it was reported on Wednesday last (2 Sept 04), that "Police crime manager acting Inspector Rod Smith said Wagga police would not get involved in the controversy".

“While that assurance I believe was given in good faith,” explained Mr Beattie, “a Hobart based media source confirmed to me on Thursday evening last, that in speaking directly with Deputy Commissioner of Tasmania Police, "Jack" Johnston, he was still promising to have me raided and all copies of the video tape seized, in spite of the fact I have no copy in my possession,” he explained.

“There is just so many inconsistencies the public is unaware of concerning the entire Port Arthur incident, but surely by now the public’s suspicions are being aroused as to why Mr McCreadie and his senior colleagues exhibit such enthusiasm to round-up all the copies of their 'escaped police training video'.  I noticed among all of the various documents attributed to them, that the Police Commissioners proclaim their actions are driven out of "concern" for the wellbeing of surviving victims;  six years of investigations into this horrible incident, demonstrate a reality very different.” 

Mr Beattie suggested that he holds to the “opinion, that Mr McCreadie’s ‘video drag-net’ is doomed to failure,” as he reminded us of that old saying which harkens that, “Even a truth told with bad intent beats all of the lies one can invent,” and so he believes That this time, “the truth will out.”

“I have no objections whatsoever to handing over my copy of the video tape now in safe keeping, to a coroner appointed to conduct an open inquisition into the deaths of 35 people on 28-29 April 1996, around Port Arthur, the arson of the cottage Seascape, and the burning of the BMW sedan nearby,” he went on.

“Its amazing, but few Australians realise that no coronial inquest was ever conducted, and even right up to and involving the then newly elected PM, John Winston Howard himself, the coronial process has been thwarted.  

“But after six years of sober, time consuming investigation and writing about the events that occurred before, during and long after the Port Arthur massacre in 1996, my colleague, former Victoria policeman Mr Andrew MacGregor and I, have been forced to reach disturbing conclusions as to many of those events.  Inside the Broad Arrow Café for example, this video footage demonstrates empirical evidence present there, which a barrister for the accused, when giving his first media interview (The Australian, 4may96) was reported to have stated, the item of controversy had not been recovered by police.

“The content of the video tape has only ever strengthened considerably our conclusions; evidence has been corrupted and tampered with,” he stated. 

“But sadly it only gets worse:  there is exposed very disturbing admissions made by various persons on the tape, which I have no doubt will in the fullness of time horrify the public when the truth regarding these crimes, finally struggles from beneath the stifling, burial shrouds of officialdom,” Mr Beattie stated. 

“I do not make these claims lightly, and I’m not surprised by the reactions of authorities  in this instance.  They are attempting yet again to cover their miserable "backsides",” he claimed. 

Continuing, Mr Beattie stated that he aware that, “Mr Graeme Scurr, and indeed his wife by inference, have been falsely accused as the antagonists in this Video Tape affair.  I must make the following points,” He said : -

·        The credits on the tape show Tasmania Police produced the video in the first instance. 

·        This inert piece of old technology, did not escape Tasmania Police by itself.

·        The tape was legally purchased for 10c and as the purchaser’s private property;  she could do any lawful thing with that was her will.

·        Save for Tasmania Police themselves, who have made public presentations of the video at which entrance fees were charged, no on else has done so for any reason.

·        At beginning of June 2004, Police Minster, David Llewellyn MHA, was fully informed Mr Scurr, and he could have collected the original tap, but instead, for about 120 days he deliberately chose not to resolve the impasse but simply passed the "buck", and that is when the intimidation and threats began,” he said.

“While Mr Scurr has been subjected to various documented threats of legal action, all issued at the behest of  the Commissioner of Police, Richard McCreadie himself, in Queensland, similar documents threatening gaol were served on Mr Ian McNiven, by Det Sgt John O’Keefe and a colleague out of the Queensland Police armed robbery unit no less.  Meanwhile here in Wagga, I carry on under a cloud, not knowing if or when "they" may come knocking on my door,” he reflected.    

Mr Beattie suggested that the Scot, Lord Shaw explained the present situation concisely, and quoted the passage:-

“In the darkness of secrecy, sinister interest and evil in every shape have full swing, where there is no publicity there is no justice, publicity is the very soul of justice.  It is the keenest spur to exertion and the surest of all guards against improbity.  It keeps the judge himself trying, under trial.  The security of securities is publicity.”- end quote

“Truisms never dates,” he continued, “and so the public is wholly reliant upon the principles of integrity and independence, demonstrated by a free and willing press, to shine the light of freedom of speech upon these matters, and so encourage that the "security of securities" – Lord Shaw writes of, "publicity", not only survives, but that as a result, for ordinary people real justice is seen to thrive eternally,” he concluded.

Stewart K. Beattie

32 Brunskill Road,

Wagga Wagga, NSW, 2650.

Ph. (02) 6922 3397

 

The Daily Advertiser

MASSACRE ON TAPE - Wagga man claims to part of group in possession of gruesome Port Arthur video

 

By Paul Enever

Thurs September 2, 2004

 

(pp.1-2)

A WAGGA  man claiming to have video evidence of police bungling in the Port Arthur massacre investigation yesterday said he would rather be imprisoned than surrender his tapes.

 

After investigating the killing in which 35 people were shot dead by gunman Martin Bryant on April 28, 1996, former Wagga gunsmith Stewart Beattie, 62, claims he has been sent two videos of forensic investigations filmed at the crime scene.

 

The videos contain gruesome images of the slain Port Arthur victims before they were removed from the crime scene.

It is believed the tapes are copies of a Police video that was mistakenly dumped and recovered in a Tasmanian opportunity shop in March.

 

"The video was sent anonymously ... I received them in late-March," Mr. Beattie said.

 

"This news was intended not to be broken because we (a group of people with the tapes) realised the sensitive nature of the it.

 

"Unfortunately the story ahs been broken and we find ourselves in an awkward situation where we've got to now defend having what was obtained quite legally."

 

Fearing a police raid on his home, Mr. Beattie said he had sent the tapes to friends for safekeeping.

 

"They are both in safekeeping and I certainly have no intention of giving the videos up," he said.

 

"Even if they threaten me with legal action or jail I will not give the videos up unless I can hand it to the coroner at an open inquest into Port Arthur and I am then able to give evidence."

 

He claimed the footage exposed inconsistencies in investigations, including a spent rifle cartridge found under a victim.

 

"It could not have possibly got there as a result of coming from the breech of the firearm and landing there by itself," he said.

 

"I'm willing to stand up in court and explain why it is impossible.  The case could not have got there unless it was put there by human hands."

 

Mr. Beattie said he would pursue his investigation into the massacre because he "had seen what had been done to the survivors".

 

"The sad fact is they were denied a coronial inquest and there has been no closure and no answers given." end

------------------

(p.2)

 

Police confirm they won't force the return of tapes

 

WAGGA and Tasmanian police confirmed yesterday they would not force Wagga man Stewart Bettie to return his Port Arthur tapes.

 

Police crime manager acting Inspector Rod Smith said Wagga police would not get involved in the controversy.

 

"We've had no correspondence with Tasmanian Police and Wagga Local Area Command has no involvement with what happened in Tasmania eight years ago," Insp Smith said.

 

"We're unsure of what he has in his possession, but if he has evidence that hasn't been disclosed to the Tasmanian coroner, he should present it to the relevant authorities."

 

Tasmania's police commissioner Richard McCreadie said he was concerned "a number of copies had been made of the Tasmania police video concerning the Port Arthur shootings".

 

He said the video contained material that was "clearly never intended to be in the public domain".

 

"We've appealed to people to hand them in," a police spokesman said.   

end.