Murders, attempted murders, ol mate robbed n beaten twice...18 months in quite Canberra.
First published – Apr 5 2009.
Life has been good to me over the last 18 months, every week things seem to just keep getting better but in contrast so many of my friends have not had it so good lately.
Over the last 18 months it seems like for every good thing that goes down in my life a bad thing goes down in a mate‟s life.
A good mates missus was stabbed to death in front of the kids, another guy I know was bashed to death and another mate is on remand for attempted murder after stabbing two guys in an alleged „drug deal gone wrong‟.
Yes it‟s been a pretty crazy 18 months in quite Canberra and for many people round town life will never be the same again.
I thought it was only right that I took some time out to reflect on the circumstances some of my fellow Canberran's have faced and in two cases not survived.
In all cases my heart goes out to everyone who has been touched by these events.
There was also the case of V getting robbed and bashed twice but that‟s hardly a tragedy to be mentioned in the same breath as these other tragic events.
More of a sad joke really but in the scheme of things around town lately I guess it deserves to be a foot note.
First I have to start with the event that has weighed heaviest on my mind since I first heard it had occurred.
I received a call from a mate about a year ago, I can‟t mention his name publicly but we can call him „Mark‟.
Mark called me while I was recording my EP and planning a tour so I was on top of the world.
We hadn‟t spoken in like 8 months or so and straight off the bat I rattled off everything that had been going on with me.
After I finished blabbering on Mark asked if I was back in Canberra and if I was keen to go for a beer.
I was in Sydney at the time and wouldn‟t be moving back for a while so I told him I couldn‟t do it.
At about this stage of the conversation I realized Mark sounded really down.
Id been doing so much talking I hadn‟t noticed.
He went on to tell me that during an altercation at Charnwood shops his partner had been stabbed seven times and had died as a result of the wounds.
I asked how he was doing and offered my support but it seemed weak in light of the gravity of what had happened.
What could I say that would really make a difference?
We chatted for a bit about what had happened but after a few minutes Mark exited the call.
I got the impression that he needed a drinking partner pretty quick and as I wasn‟t in town I guess he wanted to ring someone who was.
Out of respect Im not going to mention any details about what I was told here in this blog.
If you are really interested in more on the case use google.
Ive been in touch with Mark through phone calls since he rang and when we speak he seems to be holding up ok all things considered.
I still haven‟t sat down with him for that beer but now Im back in the Canberra area I am going to make it a priority.
Marks a real stand up guy and doesn‟t deserve this kind of thing in his life.
I first met him on remand in Canberra in 02 and later during our prison sentences we spent a year together in Goulburn gaol.
In the nick you really get to know someone because you‟re stuck together all the time.
Some guys are a nightmare to be around all day everyday but not Mark, he was a man of his word and had my back in that shithole prison.
I got to know him well and as I said he doesn‟t deserve this in his life.
Mark doesn‟t get online, he‟s old school, in his forties but if you do read this mate stay strong, I promise I‟ll be calling for that beer soon!
About 6 months after Mark called I received an email through our “Behind The Walls” project, it was from the family member of a mate of mine.
The lady that contacted me told me that my mate was being charged with attempted murder and had been arrested for allegedly stabbing two Ice Dealers in a robbery gone wrong.
This mate I can name as the media has all ready done so.
Tim is a guy I‟ve known for many years, he was in the year below me in high school and the first memory I have of meeting the guy was a day that we had both been suspended and sent home from school.
Neither of us wanted to go home and face the music so we hung around the local shopping centre at Mawson and got up to mischief.
We hung out a fair bit back when I was doing my weed thing and all ways got on well.
Most recently I caught up with him a few times in late 05 and early 06 just after my own release from prison.
When I received the email about what had gone down it had been about 3 years since I‟d seen Tim and besides the odd text about how my music thing was going we hadn‟t spoken in ages.
Even though Tim was all ways a pretty staunch dude stabbing two blokes seemed way out of character for him.
I asked myself what changed since we last caught up or if he maybe got himself caught up in something he couldn‟t control?
The devils own drug „Ice‟ is alleged to have been involved so that worries me but in saying that Tim had never even mentioned Ice to me or any other drug besides weed for that matter.
A couple of other things I have been wondering are whether or not this was a case of self defence or maybe these guys had seriously wronged him?
Who knows?
Im not really sure so I guess I shouldn‟t speculate too much, the truth will be told.
In the meantime if you want more details hit up google.
I offered advice and support to Tim through the family member that contacted me and I plan to head in and see the big fella soon.
Regardless of what‟s gone down a mates still a mate.
A couple of weeks ago the ABC reported Tim had re-applied for bail and it was mentioned that he had been assaulted and his jaw had been shattered.
I hope he‟s holding up all right, the justice system is a slow moving machine and guilty or not it will be a long road.
Tim‟s had a hard life, I hope he can pull himself up again and put this behind him when he eventually gets the chance to.
About another 6 months passed after I got the news of Tim‟s arrest and then a couple of weeks ago I received some more bad news from around the way.
It turns out that Jamie Peisley a guy I know from around South Canberra had been bashed and killed over the weekend, he was only 26.
I won‟t discuss the details of what I was told but I was pretty stunned by the news.
Another tragedy, it all most left me lost for words.
If you ever drank at The Venue in Erindale no doubt you would have come across Jamie at some point.
My condolences go out to his friends and family.
Rest In Peace mate.
Yep it‟s been a pretty shocking 18 months in quite little Canberra.
On top of these tragic tales mates have been jumping back in to prison, jumping back in to the drug trade and getting caught up in all the violence and drama that goes with the shit.
There was also the action with my former mate V.
He was bashed, robbed and put in hospital twice, I guess he wasn‟t cut out to be a dealer after all..ha ha that‟s poetic justice for you.
To say I was anything but happy about what happened to V would be a lie.
At least with this situation it happened to a guy that really deserved it.
Stabbing mates in the back, ripping off family and speaking to police are not traits I admire, street justice.
Nuff said.
With such a shit storm going on out there I really had a good think while I was writing this blog.
I thought about my life, my old life, the drama that used to surround me and how it may have turned out if I made different choices.
I also thought about other people‟s lives and the choices they have made.
My life is chill these days.
No piggers, no drama, no gaol.
Im so glad Ive left all that behind.
I work hard but I do what I love and when Im not doing that Im with family or friends.
Yep my life is chill these days and that‟s just how it should be.
If you‟re out there caught up in all the bullshit, the cycle of drugs, money, gaol, respect etc then I hope this blog gives you something to think about.
Again my condolences go out to everyone touched by these crazy events.
Back soon guys.
Dave.
R.I.P Jamie Joseph Peisley and Elizabeth Anne Booshand.