Sunday, March 10, 2013

Cold Case: Jeanette and Harvey Crewe

Dear Readership,

Jeanette and Harvey Crew of Pukekawa, South Auckland, were murdered on the night of June 17, 1970.

I am doing analysis of some statements and am asking readership's assistance in researching this case.

Thank you,

Peter Hyatt

17 comments:

John Mc Gowan said...

Police revisit Crewe murders.

Peter,i dont know if this is any use to you.

It is about the mysterious women.

Snipped:

That in 1973, just before the second Thomas trial, Len Johnston wrote in his notebook that Roddick's identification of the woman confirmed the police's own suspicions.

The woman Birt names yesterday denied any involvement.

"It's not true," she said. "I had nothing whatsoever to do with it. I have a clear conscience. I can put my head on the pillow every night and go to sleep."

She said she "sort of" knew the Crewes. They were "a lovely couple".

"It was the most dreadful, dreadful thing. Who the heck did it I don't know."

Full article:

http://www.waikaretu.co.nz/news/example2.php?subaction=showfull&id=1175138044

Anonymous said...

(From Ivanna-Anna)

I look forward to this!

Anonymous said...

(From Ivanna-Anna)
For those unfamiliar with the case:
There's a documentary available on YouTube:
http://youtu.be/77bVHiIfbzk
and the second part
http://youtu.be/9YdJxG63Yek

Lis said...

I had never heard of this case, just quickly read up on it. I did not, however read any direct statements of any of the subjects. I would like to.

I will say that, looking at photos, that both of the Demlers give me the willies- it's going to be hard to be objective after seeing those.

Lis said...

The woman Birt names yesterday denied any involvement.

"It's not true," she said. "I had nothing whatsoever to do with it. I have a clear conscience. I can put my head on the pillow every night and go to sleep."

-I wish I knew exactly what question this is in response to- what exactly is "not true"? There is no reliable denial here. (That she can put her head on 'the' pillow and sleep does not mean anything.)

She said she "sort of" knew the Crewes. They were "a lovely couple".

-If you only 'sort of' know someone, how do you know if they are 'lovely'?

"It was the most dreadful, dreadful thing. Who the heck did it I don't know."

-Still no reliable denial. I am curious what question this statement is in response to, also. Dreadful repeated. The second sentence is odd to me, instead of saying "I don't know who did it" or "I don't know who the heck did it" it seems backwards to say "who the heck did it I don't know," it's like you can separate this into 2 sentences "who the heck did it." and "I don't know." And if you do, the "I don't know" doesn't necessarily point to the "who the heck did it." To me, expected would be, "I wonder who could have done it" or "who would have killed them."

In my brief reading, I read that Mrs. Demler has steadfastly refused to give any interviews or statements on the case but I am wondering if this is from her?

Lis said...

In this case, it is said that a mystery woman cared for the couple's small daughter for days after the couple were killed but before they were reported missing. If the woman who cared for the little girl felt she had not taken part in the actual killing, hiding the bodies, or cleaning up the murder scene, wouldn't she still easily be able to say,

"I had nothing whatsoever to do with it. I have a clear conscience. I can put my head on the pillow every night and go to sleep."

I notice the pronoun "I" used here. When she says "I" have a clear conscience, "I" can sleep at night, does it seem to imply a someone else who does not have a clear conscience and cannot sleep at night.

Thanks for finding the quote, John, direct quotes are few in my reading so far.

Anonymous said...

(From Ivanna-Anna)
Lis, she says something on the Youtube clip, starting at around 5 minutes (first clip).

John Mc Gowan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
John Mc Gowan said...

@5:10 in the vt Phil kitchen asks the alledged mysterious woman,

"You dont know anything at all aboout feeding Rochelle"?

She reply's "Definitely not"

He say's"You'd be prepared to stand up in court and say that?"

she reply's"A lot of people swear on the bible everyday now and they're not telling the truth"

http://youtu.be/77bVHiIfbzk

Anonymous said...

(From ivanna-anna)

Thanks, John! I couln't understand what she said at the end (and my internet connection is slow -> the image is blurry -> i couln't read the subtitles).

I wonder how much she knows. At least enough for it to have disturbed her sleep at some point, and bothered her conscience.

John Mc Gowan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ivanna-Anna said...

John, do you have a link to the affair info?

Farm worker Bruce Roddick said he saw a woman outside the Crewe's home two days after the murders. There was speculation that the woman might have been Norma Demler, Mr Demler's (Jeanette's father's) second wife. However, Roddick said Mrs Demler's hair was darker. If we trust Roddick, we should be looking for someone with "not as dark hair as Norma Demler's" :)

Link with an opinion it was not Norma Demler:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10834466

John Mc Gowan said...

Ivanna-Anna

My apologies strike my last comment about the affair i miss read it.
(Hits myself on the forehead)

This is an interesting article.

THE WOMAN WHO FED THE BABY.

http://www.crewemurders.com/resources/crewemurders/images/The%20Woman%20print.pdf

Lis said...

"You'd be prepared to stand up in court and say that?"

"A lot of people swear on the bible everyday now and they're not telling the truth"

Interesting he asked if she would stand up in court and say that, and she brings swearing and the Bible into her reply, which he didn't mention. I take her reply to mean that if she had to go into court and swear on a Bible to tell the truth, she would not have a problem lying; that she sees it as something "a lot of people" do.

Sus said...

http://news.msn.co.nz/haveyoursay/1069340/the-crewe-murders-who-fed-the-baby#ugc_comments

"What I did was end my marriage to Arthur. But I did not desert him. I know Arthur did not kill those people and I will declare his innocence until the day I die."
Vivian Thomas, first woman suspected of feeding the baby.

Anonymous said...

What's up i am kavin, its my first occasion to commenting anywhere, when i read this piece of writing i thought i could also create comment due to this brilliant paragraph.

Feel free to surf to my web-site :: detox diet info (buildethiopia.org)

Habundia said...

"It's not true," she said. "I had nothing whatsoever to do with it. I have a clear conscience. I can put my head on the pillow every night and go to sleep."

It reminded me of Casey Anthony.....she said "I sleep good at night"