Sponsored by Brisbane Crime Tours | Crime Tours Australia
Presenter: Jack Sim, Author and Director Crime Tours Australia
Special guest: John Peel, former prison officer
Description:
After the death of his friend John Stuart in Boggo Road Jail killer James Finch
continued his claims of innocence in relation to the Whiskey Au Go Go nightclub
firebombing. Paroled in 1988 Finch was deported to England where he revealed the
truth of his involvement in the terrible crime.
* * *
Following John Stuart’s death in 1979, James Finch became a fitness junkie and
was allowed to keep pet birds in prison, earning him the title “The Bird Man of
Boggo Road Jail”.
Jim Finch manipulated Cheryl Cole, a disabled pen-friend who believed his claim of
innocence. She lobbied hard for his release. They were married inside Brisbane’s
Boggo Road Prison. The photo above is of James Finch on his wedding day. He also
found religion. He met with families of Whiskey Au Go Go victims, praying and crying
with them. Public sympathy grew. The Friends of Finch movement included
politicians, barristers, QC’s and ordinary Australians. The shocking revelations of the
Fitzgerald Inquiry into police corruption in Queensland gave many reason to believe
Finch’s claim he was setup for a crime he did not commit.
In 1988, Finch was paroled and deported to England. There Finch confessed his
guilt, admitting he and John Stuart did commit the crime. For 15 years he had lied.
He reiterated his confession on television live via satellite. When it was pointed out
that there was an extradition treaty between Australia and the U.K. and that he had
only been convicted on one of the 15 murder charges, Finch retracted the
confession.
Manipulative to the end, Stuart and Finch remain the most notorious prisoners in
Boggo Road Jail’s and arguably Australia’s criminal history. The question remains
over whether they acted alone in the firebombing.
In Season 1 Episode 4 of Murder Trails special guest, former Boggo Road Jail prison
officer John Peel shares his recollection of James Finch and his time in in prison
with Murder Trails author and publisher Jack Sim.
