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| In the news today
Posted: 6/30/2008 8:47:59 AM | | ???? Yes! The media does have a way of re wording issues!! Workmen on the scene after incident informs me that a car that came across the crash , turned around to go back and help ... but on the turn was hit by an oncoming vehicle???? | |
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| In the news today
Posted: 6/30/2008 11:47:43 AM | Staff writers
June 28, 2008 12:30pm
PERTHNOW EXCLUSIVE: THE four boys killed in a stolen-car crash in Pinjarra on the weekend stole, bogged and torched another car earlier the same night, police say.
Pinjarra police today confirmed that a stolen car was bogged and torched on Morrell Rd a short distance from where the boys stole a Holden Commodore involved in the death crash.
Sergeant Darrell Phillips-Jones said there was ``probably 100 per cent chance'' the boys were responsible for both thefts.
"They (the boys) would be people of interest to us,'' he said.
"There was a vehicle there that was burnt out that was reported stolen.
''It (the Pinjarra address where the crash car was stolen from) is not far as the crow flies.''
PerthNow was first alerted to the Morrell Rd stolen car by a reader who posted one of hundreds of comments about the case currently running on our site.
Debate: see more Reader's Comments now
"Well, well, well... Who knows the full story here of the group's activities on the fateful night?,'' wrote a local reader calling himself Watcher.
"Their first stolen car of the night was thrashed, bogged and subsequently set alight on Morrell Road, north of Pinjarra at about 9.40 pm. The group then walked about 800 metres to where they then stole their second car of the night, at about 10.00 pm from a farmhouse near the turnoff to Fairbridge.
"Yes, there will be those who claim it was just a coincidence and the boys walked 25 kms from Mandurah to the farmhouse to steal that particular car . . . Then they drove, very rapidly, to their deaths. This is not an exercise in blame or racisim. It is an attempt to get to the truth.''
In pictures: the boys, the crash scene
Brothers Matthew Indich, 15, Benjamin Nannup also known as BJ, 11, and Jeremy Nannup, 10, and their 17-year-old cousin, Quentin Humes, died when driver Quentin lost control and hit a tree in bad weather about 10pm on Friday.
Natalie Clarke, the mother of three young boys who died in a stolen car on the weekend, says she was a good parent whose children were led astray by their cousin.
The boy's deaths have polarised opinion in WA, with many people believing such a loss could have been avoided with better parental care. PerthNow has received hundreds of comments (below) from readers voicing disbelief at how young boys could be so poorly unsupervised that were out at night in a stolen car.
However, others sympathised that it was not possible to control children all the time.
Ms Clarke told reporters yesterday that she would never have knowlingly let her sons put their lives at risk and had not known they were out "joyriding'' with their older cousin Quentin.
She said that despite being strict with the boys, they would sneak out of the house sometimes and play with older kids "which is what young kids do sometimes''.
Supporters of the family rallied yesterday to support of the grief-stricken mother while police spoke of the ongoing problem of young Aboriginal children in the area being attracted to crime.
Peel Supt Dave Parkinson said that generally the problem was due to lack of proper parental supervision.
Poll: who's to blame for out of control kids
THE three brothers and cousin were remembered for their radiant personalities and unfulfilled promise.
Another of their cousins, 17-year-old Beau Pickett, who was the front-seat passenger in the crash, was seriously injured.
``This is more than a tragedy, it's a spur for me and for other people who work with Aboriginal people in this area to do something because we know that it's just three talented boys gone,'' said Greenfields Primary School teacher Michael Bruijn, who taught the three brothers.
``The thing that gets me is their beauty. They were such beautiful boys. They had great smiles, they had great personalities - they are things that I'm going to sorely miss.
``I never thought this could happen to kids like that.
``They were so nice, so polite, so respectful. They were really well behaved when they were monitored. When they're with people who don't try to coerce them into things they shouldn't do, they were just role models for other people.
``I guess the hardest part is to get through this part of it. I know the family is absolutely devastated.
``But from there we need to look to the future and say, `What can we do for these children and children like them?'
``They are stuck in a zone that doesn't seem to hold much for them. They need to be given an opportunity to develop as adults and become role models for the next generation.''
Mr Bruijn described the trio as promising footballers with great on-field prowess, playing with the Mandurah Centrals and Pinjarra Tigers football clubs.
``Everybody I speak to tells me their on-field skills were pretty phenomenal ... they were very talented, very quick,'' he said.
``They had the brightest smiles, they had the brightest futures.''
Natalie Clarke, mother of Jeremy, Benjamin and Matthew, choked back tears as she told The Sunday Times how much she would miss her ``little boys''.
``They were good little footy players and had a lot of talent, but they just got mixed up in the crowd. They will never be replaced.''
Their grandmother Jane Nannup said: ``They were very bright, happy boys and this is a very, very sad loss - I feel terrible about it.''
Peter Humes, Quentin's father, said: ``Quentin just turned 17 last week on the 14th of June. He was a happy go lucky boy who enjoyed helping his twin sisters with their little babies.
``The family are comforting each other and trying to get through this as best we can.''
Premier Alan Carpenter last night offered sympathy and expressed his own frustration.
``What a tragic waste of young life,'' the Premier said.
``All that potential gone in one fell swoop. Absolutely shocking.
``I am a parent. I know it's easier said than done to have 24-hour knowledge and observation of what your children are doing and when they are doing it. The parents of these kids must be absolutely devastated ... I don't want to rush to conclusions.
``But as one parent to others, whatever you can do to monitor your children - especially so young - to prevent them from getting into these situations and this tragic outcome, we all need to do that.''
Police said an unlocked 1989 model Holden Commodore had been stolen from a farming property on South Western Highway, Pinjarra, about 10pm on Friday.
It is understood Jeremy and Benjamin Nannup were killed instantly and their brother Matthew Indich died while being airlifted to Royal Perth Hospital.
The car, which was believed to have been travelling at up to 130km/h, swiped a metal power pole and flipped before the pole cut the vehicle in half.
Yesterday, distressed family and friends made the heartbreaking journey - some from as far as Geraldton - to the crash site.
Two young men, who said they were brothers of one of the victims, told The Sunday Times their families were struggling to come to terms with the tragedy.
``That was my brother,'' he said, pointing at a contorted metal lamp post.
Police said Mr Pickett, who sustained a cut hand and a gash to the head, walked 500m to raise the alarm. He was taken to Rockingham Hospital for treatment.
The crash divided opinions on Perthnow.com.au with some people posting comments that the deceased deserved little sympathy because they were in a stolen car. Others took a much more compassionate view. | |
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| In the news today
Posted: 7/19/2008 7:33:36 PM | Had they not crashed,
Had they been adults or children,
They would of got a slap on the backside and told ,luckily they didnt crash the stolen car,being driven without a license.
Its a culture.
They were indigenous | |
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| In the news today
Posted: 7/19/2008 9:20:37 PM | They were indigenous
Sorry to OP,s if I come across as a racist.
I am certainly not.This tragic occurence happens no matter what colour your skin is.
Its a culture.
Its todays terrible culture for us all to read in the papers on a alarming rate.
State governments and local councils,say we need more after hours activities for our youth,so they can go and have some safe,happy fun without killing themselves.
Seems as though most of the youth these days aren'et interested at all in these other activities.
Its a different way of life,whether it short or long our youth of today are interested in.
Seems gone are the days of netball,football we had,where we trained 2/3 nights a week and played on the weekends.
Or even the regular alochol free weekly dance,they where fun safe times,we all enjoyed and looked forward to,as our parents did as well,as they were safe and our parents got involved as well in some wave shape or form. | |
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| In the news today
Posted: 7/19/2008 9:57:15 PM |
Front page news, Sunday paper.
It's sad days to lose so many of one family to crime. Three brothers and one cousin aged 10, 11, 15 and 17 in a stolen car. Driving at 130kph.
My thoughts ran like this -
-What the hell are they doing out at that time of night? Little sh*ts.
-Where the hell are their parents? As if the parents care! My sons at that age never ever thought about stealing, let alone stealing a car. Hell they can't even break into their own house. I bet those little sh*ts could.
-I assumed their race. I know that's not nice. Sorry.
It's sad days to lose so many in one family on a single day. Four killed, aged 10, 11, 15 and 17. No one wants to hear that babies have been killed. Nothing is sadder than a mother crying for her baby. What a waste
I know lots of the people who went to the funeral down in Pinjarra
Pinjarra has massive problems in realtion to kids and not just indigenous kids. There is nothing there for teenagers so maybe our polititcians and local councils should try and rectify it.
I understand parent responsibility but within the indiginous culture the responsibility would actually fall on everyone as they believe in the community bringing up the offspring. You have to remember these kids live in a society that rarely employs indiginous people (look around you people and tell me Im lying) Alot of people say its because they are lazy. Ummm no, its because they cant get a foot in the door. Very sad | |
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| In the news today
Posted: 7/19/2008 10:33:38 PM | I work with alot of indigenous apprentices, from Alcoa.
Alcoa in Pinjarra have there doors wide open for girls and indigenous folk wishing to start a trade.I talk often to Alcoa,s apprentice masters ,they talk very highly of there personnel.The local secondary high school in Pinjarra could certainly help these kids toward there working directions.
Boddington Gold Mine has also taken off ,as of recent times ,they also use Alcoas doors wide open approach for these kids.
There communities and the schools must have a strong emphasis/push as to these kids working carreers. | |
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