Joe Cinque's Consolation by Helen Garner

Wow, this is such a riveting read as you try to comprehend the events that took place and read with disbelief the judge's verdict. What is so amazing is the story is true!

Joe Cinque is murdered in 1997 by his 25 year old girlfriend, Australian National University law student Anu Singh, in their Canberra apartment. It is part of a plan hatched by Singh to kill both herself and Cinque after a farewell dinner party in their home. The majority of the dinner party guests are aware of the plan, everyone except Cinque. Singh feeds Cinque a lethal dose of Rohypnol and heroin but it takes him 36 hours to die - while Singh watches on.

To add to the bizarre scenario, Singh has discussed her plans with friends, and at length with her best friend. A friend teaches her how to inject and another purchases the drugs for her. Others are at the dinner parties held prior, two parties as she didn't proceed after the first one. No one tries to stop her, no one warns Cinque.

The judge rules not guilty based on diminished responsibility. The verdict is delivered by a single judge, no jury, after the trial of Singh and her best friend for murder is aborted in 1999.

Helen Garner's book is a personal account of her following the legal proceedings and interviews with the Joe Cinque's grief-stricken parents. It is such a provocative read, and so incredibly interesting in the issues it raises around ethics, the legal system, and all the gaps in between.

The Home Filez rating - 5 stars!