A murderous mistake?

[vc_row][vc_column width="1/1"][vc_custom_heading text="A murderous mistake" font_container="tag:h2|font_size:40|text_align:left" google_fonts="font_family:Abril%20Fatface%3Aregular|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal"][vc_column_text]

MAY 2016 | Wendy Laing

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/1"][vc_separator color="black" align="align_center" style="dotted" border_width="2"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/1"][vc_column_text]

MRS DEBORAH Benson has been busy touring libraries throughout Tasmania to promote her novel, A Judicial Murder.

On the 14th April 2016, she gave an author talk at Westbury. Organised by LINC Tasmania via the Westbury Library the talk was given in the Westbury Fire Station meeting room.

Mrs Benson and her husband, Christopher Creek, own the picturesque Maldon Eaglehawk Motel in Victoria and it was here that she began her research into the background story of David Young, who was the first man to be hanged in the Old Castlemaine Gaol 150 years ago for the murder of 17 year-old Maggie Graham.

She started researching the information firstly for her own interest and then decided that she had uncovered overwhelming evidence showing there had been a miscarriage of justice and he was innocent of the murder.

After two and a half years of research, she took a professional writing course and eighteen months later her historical-fiction novel became a reality.

During the author talk, Mr Creek read the very moving hanging scene from the book and Mrs Benson told her audience that the picture of David Young on the cover is a photo of his actual death mask.

A Judicial Murder has been accepted as a finalist for the Sisters in Crime ‘Davitt Award’.

Mrs Benson is now endeavouring to clear David Young’s name and gain him a posthumous pardon.

A Judicial Murder can be purchased through www.eaglehawkpress.com.

[udesign_icon_font name="fa fa-camera" color="#000000"] Mike Moores