Evidence and experience.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)

SIR: Moran and his research assistant Silver (Letters, March 2004) appear not to have read my letter (January-February 2004) concerning incineration of mammalian organic material using bush timber. I clearly pointed out that the example of competent or incompetent crematoria and amateur murderers is irrelevant. My experience is that large amounts of organic material can be reduced to unrecognisable remains by constant heaping up of the fire and feeding with additional wood. The Forrest river punitive party had the need, the training, the experience, the opportunity, the time, and the logistics to find a bed log, to place bodies, to carry or drag additional firing, and to scatter and otherwise dispose of, if any, residual material. Moran's description of "infernos" is sheer gush.

Moran describes McGillivray as highly qualified. I would not argue this other than to say his qualifications were no more or less than those normal of medical officers in the colonial service. However, Moran's statement that McGillivray could not identify any of the teeth and bone fragments as human is a straight gloss. McGillivray thought that the teeth fragments were "very suggestive of human teeth" but could not be "certain". He thought the bone fragments "might be either human or animal". As forensic evidence it is pertinent to point out that McGillivray submitted a written report, he was not cross-examined. In my experience as an expert witness this is unusual to say the least. One usually presents one's evidence and counsel then attempts not only to destroy that evidence but also the status of the witness. All of this confirms my experience of near or total incineration when mammalian bodies are disposed of using bush timber. Moran can't have it both ways.

It is to be regretted that this material was not submitted for study by the then West Australian government veterinary pathologist Dr Harold Bennetts. Bennetts was an outstanding veterinarian in the golden age of his science in Australia, contributing three totally new concepts to the study of disease, the Bennetts Triad. He achieved in the poor resources of the West Australian animal laboratories results that led to his international acclaim in the Royal Society of Medicine and the Academie Veterinaire.

Moran is also being rather cute about the extent of the ground area affected by fire at Dala. The commission visited Dala and examined the area. He disregarded the ...