Customer Reviews

Joe Cinque's Consolation

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book -- so well written -- is (without explicit intent) a powerful indictment of the "diminished capacity" defense in criminal trials. Joe Cinque was murdered in a premeditated act by Anu Singh, and she served only 4 years in prison for manslaughter. Now she is "free" and as remorseless as ever, bathing in the spotlight of renewed celebrity because attention turned to her when this book was released. No one with compassion can read this book without loving and grieving with Joe's family.

Helen Garner's book explores a bizarre true case of a young Australian woman killing her boyfriend and the ensuing court case.

It was bizarre because the woman was an intelligent, well-brought-up university student; her boyfriend had done nothing wrong; although she told her friends what she planned (and even got them to assist), they did nothing effective to stop her.

I've described this as "essential reading" because it shows just how weird apparently sane and normal people can get; and how complacent (and complicit) others can be about their friends' obsessions.

It's also an examination of the Australian legal system which leaves you shaking your head (the killer was found guilty of manslaughter and released after just a few years in prison).

If the story was fiction, you'd dismiss it as unbelievable. As non-fiction, it's horribly compelling reading. Garner describes the carefully planned murder, by a bright, rich, attractive law student, of her devoted boyfriend and its aftermath in the legal system.

Anu Singh, the girlfriend, was finally convicted of manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility.

The description of Joe Cinque's death, and the long, long, preamble to it is very disturbing. It's disturbing because Singh shared her plans with numerous friends, none of whom did anything to deter her from her plans (which originally included her own suicide as the finale). In fact they assisted: with research on suicide methods, with demonstrations of injecting technique, with buying the necessary drugs. These are not sad cases on the margins of society; they're all students with plenty of financial and emotional support as well as access to professional advice.

I'd urge everyone to read this book. It won't be pleasant, but it will show you something and make you think about issues you didn't even think needed consideratino.

I followed this case through the local press and read this book when it was first published. I am not sure that a lesser author could have attempted a book of this tragic story.

No-one can make sense of the death of Joe Cinque. It is now almost ten years since he was killed. The woman responsible was found guilty of manslaughter (on the basis of 'diminished responsibility') and served four years of a ten year sentence.

In the meantime, Joe's parents are left grieving the loss of their son. The Cinques were interviewed recently, and it is clear that their grief is as raw today as it was then. For them, there is no finite sentence to serve. 'Diminished responsibility' or not, Anu Singh has robbed a family of a much loved son.

In recounting the facts, Helen Garner restores some dignity to Joe Cinque. We get a sense of the young man he was and a hint of the man he might have become. What we don't get is a sense of why Anu Singh killed him. I suspect that is one mystery that non-one, and certainly not Singh herself can ever explain.

This is a well-written, albeit very uncomfortable, book.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

In Joe Cinque's Consolation, Garner asks and attempts to answer the questions that come to mind when one person causes the death of another. The search for answers and for justice is fraught, complicated and not always satisfying, and Garner's prose allows us to see and to feel why. I particularly respected the way she allowed Joe's parents to show just how deserving they are of respect and justice. Garner remains one of the few creative non-fiction writers whose voice I want to hear. She is a true master.

This book is written in a very balanced way. The author is not on any sides. It documents the real-life story of a mentally disturbed woman who organises a dinner party for a group of friends, and announces to them that she plans to murder her boyfriend. No one takes her seriously, but she puts rohypnol in his coffee which knocks him out, then gives him a heroin overdose. When he is still alive 2 days later, she calls an ambulance to try and save him.

Well written and researched.