The Phillip Island Murder by Vikki Petraitis & Paul Daley

Author:Vikki Petraitis & Paul Daley [Petraitis, Vikki]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: True Crime
ISBN: 9780648293736
Publisher: Clan Destine Press
Published: 2018-04-04T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

The End of the Statement

When Jack McFayden had finished his cup of tea, and given his writing hand a well-deserved rest, he turned his attention once more to the pyjama-clad farmer propped up comfortably in bed. Fergus continued talking, bringing his narrative closer to the time of Beth’s murder. On the second-last night of Beth Barnard’s life, Sunday 21 September 1986, Fergus had arrived at her house about 8pm, he told McFayden.

Fergus recalled that Beth was ‘despondent’ because she had been struck with a sinus infection and Dr Paul Flood – who two days later would identify her body – had put her on antibiotics.

Beth was also depressed because she could see no change in her relationship with Fergus. Although Beth was unwell, and Fergus only stayed with her for less than an hour, he later told detectives that he and Beth had made love during that time. Fergus told McFayden he arrived home to his wife shortly after 9pm – after a ten-minute drive – where he answered a number of phone calls until after midnight.

By 8.30 on Monday morning, he was back at Beth’s house. He told the detective that he had noted no change in her mood and as he left, he had promised her he would ring her at lunch time. ‘She was a lot more cheerful and was keen for me to see her after the penguins on Monday night, which I did.’

After finishing work about 8pm, Fergus said he drove his 1978 Holden sedan to Beth’s house, where she met him at the back door. Consistent with the statement of Beth’s next-door neighbour – Dianne, Fergus said he drove his car up the driveway with the headlights on and parked it in the backyard between a gum tree and the garage.

After Beth met Fergus at the door, he noticed that the security door hadn’t been locked. ‘I told her to be more security conscious and keep the door locked,’ he told McFayden, who nodded at the irony.

During his visit, Fergus had sat in a beanbag in the lounge room and discussed with Beth, among other things, his marriage to Vivienne. ‘We were both more optimistic than we had been for a while about Vivienne and myself separating. There was no reason, but we were just both optimistic.’

Fergus Cameron told Jack McFayden he left Beth’s house about 9.05pm. While they had ‘kissed and cuddled’ each other, he was adamant that they did not ‘make love’ that night. ‘When I have said I made love to Beth I am referring to sexual intercourse, but I don’t like using that term,’ he explained to the detective.

Before Fergus went home to his wife, Beth told him that she was thinking of driving back to Melbourne that night or early the next day. Sitting in the bedroom at Marnie’s house and carefully writing down Fergus’s statement, McFayden couldn’t help but wonder if Beth would still be alive had she made that drive to her parents’ home.

‘I thought that

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