It really makes the investigation look floundering, and the guy heading it like he's really got his head stuck up his arse.
I've read about the murders, and how they think he's probably responsible for even more murders they haven't identified yet, but not a lot about the investigation itself. This makes the task force look like an embarrassment. Was it, in real life, as well?
You might very well think that. I couldn't possibly comment.
I don't regard myself as an expert, but I have read five books on this subject several times, entries from compilation books and watched every interview and doco that is available. All that I have read shows that this series really exaggerated the police investigation and in fact it was performed to the very best standard. The main inaccurate part about this series though, which I really liked by the way, knowing that it would be drama and not factual, was that it makes Paul Gordon out to be the hero and the only one who thought it was Milat, when in fact that was a lead given to him by Clive Small to investigate because he deemed it important. All that I have read indicates that Gordon was in no way the sole voice of reason, and he was actually terminated from the investigation quite early because he blabbed to the media and gave them their front page, threatening the investigation and tipping off the Milats, giving them a head start to get rid of evidence. His clumsy work lead Milat to know that he was being investigated and made the surveillance work ineffective. He went on the 'Sunday' program and they let him tell his version of the story which of course portrays him as the hard done-by unappreciated hero. I have however, seen many interviews with Clive Small and he is in no way like the actor's portrayal of him in the tv show. All we can do to determine the truth, is to read every book, watch every interview and doco and then make up our own mind what went on. In my opinion the tv show got Gordon and Small totally wrong,there is nothing to back it all up except for one disgruntled cop's story. Gordon never even met the Walters family or Paul Onions and was only on the team for a half year or so, not two years, all misrepresented in the movie. Bob Godden and Rod Lynch were totally ignored on this show, even though they are the most responsible for catching Milat, although they credit a team of over 500 for the arrest, and crucial to all of this, was Clive Small. So watch it like I do, for the drama, for an interesting serial killer story and to see a fleshed-out version of the victims, so we can feel more for them, but as far as fact goes, this program was pretty thin. Sorry for the long response, but this is a subject that I feel some passion about. Hope that helps!
shareIt did indeed, porosus, thanks! ;-)
I really appreciate your taking the time to write such a detailed reply -- interesting in itself, but also because it helps put the TV depiction into a realistic context.
For what it's worth, I was rather suspecting, without knowing the exact details, that the reality would be something like what you've described. I thought the miniseries was well made, but it just didn't ring true to me, and felt from the start like it was trying to massage a dramatic angle out of the true events.
Anyway mate, I really appreciate your reply.
You might very well think that. I couldn't possibly comment.