John Silvester
WAtoday
Australia
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Past articles by John:
‘He has done nothing to deserve it’: A son fights for his murdered mum
Last Saturday, St Kilda Town Hall hosted a rally aimed at keeping serial killer Paul Denyer in jail. Jake Blair, whose life was taken in a different way, was there. → Read More
Two guns, two trials, two verdicts: Why Jason Roberts walked free
Jason Roberts’ legal team asked: if the accused man pleaded guilty to the murder of officer Gary Silk and 10 armed robberies, what would be his likely sentence? → Read More
Seven weeks of fear: The serial killer who terrorised Frankston
“He said, ‘I did it,’ and I said, ‘Did what?’ And he said, ‘I committed the murders, I committed all three of them’.” → Read More
The awful truth: Why Americans will continue to kill their children
If Australia had the same population as the US, at our current gunshot homicide rate there would be 444 deaths a year. In the US it is around 20,000. → Read More
‘We made offers too good to refuse’: Top judge who cracked the gangs
Justice Paul Coghlan, Tony Mokbel, Graham Kinniburgh, Carl Williams, Underworld War. → Read More
A police shooting: The fatal three seconds and the tragic aftermath
The aftermath of Kumanjayi Walker and Zachary Rolfe’s fatal confrontation in Yuendumu raises serious questions about the justice system in Australia. → Read More
Loner, pilot, barbecue-lover
The detectives who spoke to Greg Lynn about missing campers Carol Clay and Russell Hill last month had never met him, but they had already built a psychological profile of the suspect. → Read More
They all love Lucy: How a four-legged friend can help us in court
“I thought, we can do this together. If not for the dog, I wouldn’t have given evidence.” → Read More
‘Personally, I think you’re an a---hole’: Chopper’s Christmas card to Justice Frank Vincent
Justice Frank Vincent has heard some of Australia’s biggest criminal cases, including the Russell Street bombing and Frankston serial killer Paul Denyer trials. → Read More
Police, phones and protesters: Nobody is above the law
These are the people who think police should be guided by the Dalai Lama rather than the Crimes Act, be armed only with chai tea bags and should be tolerant of everything other than lactose. → Read More
One dead, two stabbed, man shot after car set alight on Bourke Street
One person is dead and two others injured after being stabbed by a man who was later shot by police on Bourke Street in Melbourne's CBD. → Read More
The hit that went tragically wrong
In recent months there has been underworld chatter that the Comancheros have gone too far - not by targeting Rasooli - but by killing an innocent. → Read More
The mouse that roared
Michael "Mouse" O'Connor was the detective you didn't want on your tail. Although you rarely knew he was there. → Read More
Ashton's Circus - walking the political tightrope
In an election year Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton is determined to remain neutral. → Read More
'The real deal': My friend Michael Gordon, serial hugger and outstanding journalist
I last spoke to Mickey on Thursday. It was about a refugee story I thought was up his alley - Michael had become a passionate voice for people who often could not be heard. → Read More
Mark 'Chopper' Read always wanted to be a legend. With Underbelly he gets his wish
He deliberately built and then exploited a crime legend that drove his many underworld enemies to distraction. → Read More
Chris Binse has taken one step to reform: Can he make the journey to redemption?
Christopher Dean Binse, an institutionalised prisoner, habitual escapee and master armed robber, well and truly earned the nickname "Badness". → Read More
Flinders St incident's off-duty sergeant a two-time hero
Off-duty police sergeant who grabbed the driver alleged to have deliberately ploughed into pedestrians killing one and injuring 17 in Flinders Street in December was called upon to restrain a dangerous passenger on a domestic flight two years earlier. → Read More
My comments on the Flinders Street attack managed to offend those of the left and right
Like many of us, I spend far too much time on social media looking at Facebook friends posting on what they had for dinner, or their amazing holidays, amazing kids and adorable pets. → Read More
Crime, punishment and the year in review
With community concerns about crime in the red zone, one thing is certain: the law-and-order bandwagon will be reaching F1 speeds come next November's state election. → Read More