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Published byMarie-Christine Malenfant Modified over 6 years ago
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Death in a regional community: what the local paper did
Kay Nankervis
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If in distress... This presentation will discuss reporting on the deaths of two people in Bathurst earlier this year. There have been allegations the deaths involved murder-suicide. If this discussion causes distress the following organisations – with 24-hour help-lines – might be useful: Lifeline Beyond Blue The NSW Mental Health Access Line Suicide Call Back Service MensLine Australia
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Deaths are reported.... The Canberra Times, October 9, 1947
MURDER, SUICIDE AT DURAMANA BATHURST, Wednesday. A 16-years-old girl made a tragic discovery when she found her father and mother lying dead at their home at Duramana, 14 miles from Bathurst. The victims were Richard Sidney Bonham, 37, and his wife, Evangeline, 32. Mrs. Bonham had a bullet wound in the forehead, while Bonham had one in his head. The rifle was lying beside his body. The police believe that Bonham shot his wife and then committed suicide. Maureen Bonham went to her parents' room this morning and found them both in bed, with blood on the sheet. She sent the three younger, children to a neighbour for help. The police ascertained that Mr. and Mrs. Bonham visited a solicitor yesterday to settle their affairs after they had quarrelled bitterly for months past. Hilton Bonham, 10, stated that about 10 o'clock last night he heard the sound of a thud come from his parents room. ‘
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The story breaks ... westernadvocate.com.au Two people dead in Kelso
July 17, 2015, 12:27 p.m. POLICE remain at a home in Kelso where two bodies were found this morning. A spokesperson for NSW Ambulance said they received a triple zero call to the address at 11.15am, but when officers arrived they were unable to do anything to assist those inside the house. Detectives and forensic officers remain at the site, with police declining to comment at this stage. .
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The story breaks. westernadvocate. com
The story breaks westernadvocate.com.au Two people dead in Kelso July 17, 2015, 12:27 p.m. 4PM The bodies of prominent Bathurst businessman Elie Issa and a woman understood to be aged in her 50s have been found inside a house in an apparent murder suicide. Further updates here.
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The next day... TWO DEAD IN KELSO HOME
Weekend Advocate , Saturday, July 18 TWO DEAD IN KELSO HOME Police Investigate Double Fatality, Gunshot visible in house’s window, Community left in shock. p1 Police were called to scene of horror ‘An investigation such as this has to be very methodical’ p5 Shock at loss of ‘beautiful person’ p5 (Mostly about Elie, one par about Nadia)
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The next day... Weekend Advocate, Saturday, July 18
Term “murder-suicide” not used in any of the 3 stories. Instead: “...police do not support a theory that a third party was involved.” (Police said officers) ”... found a man and woman dead in the living room” (Police said) ”... a firearm was also found between the pair, but would not comment on whether it was used in their deaths.” (Police said)”... the investigation.. was in its infancy and.. it was not possible to say whether their deaths were suspicious.”
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When our wonder turned to horror
OUR VIEW Western Advocate When our wonder turned to horror “It remains up to a coroner to determine what happened inside that Kelso home in the late hours of Thursday night and early hours of yesterday and the community would do well to refrain from idle speculation. Two families are grieving this morning and the rest of the community needs to stand beside them in support, not gossip behind them in judgement.” Weekend Advocate Editorial, Saturday, July 18
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That same day in the Herald
murder-suicide term not used: “The bodies of businessman Elie Issa and his girlfriend Nadia Cameron were found by a family member just before midday inside their home in the central-western NSW city. A firearm was also found in the Rosemont Avenue residence.” Details about background of the two people –Elie’s business interests and Nadia’s employment with a local real estate agency + their children from previous relationships. Quote from a neighbour expressing shock Byline Eryk Bagshaw, Megan Levy with Jacinta Carroll “Mr Issa was a widely respected Bathurst businessman and restaurateur, known for entertaining the likes of former governor-general Quentin Bryce and Australian rugby league star Brent Tate. Advertisement His partner, 52-year-old Nadia Cameron, moved out of an advertising job in Sydney to Bathurst two years ago to take up a position as a real estate agent. She has a teenage son who lives with her ex-partner in Avoca. "We woke up to centimetres of snow and a shooting, you never expect that," said a neighbour who asked not to be named. ”
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(Later) that same day in the Herald
Nadia Cameron broke up with Bathurst cafe owner Elie Issa weeks before murder Rachel Olding, Reporter, Exclusive Nadia Cameron had a moment of serious reflection six weeks ago... “... Nadia realised that her relationship was going nowhere,” her step sister and close friend, Debbie Majella Nolan, said. Ms Cameron, 52, made the difficult decision to leave her partner of four years, prominent Bathurst cafe owner Elie Issa, two weeks after her father's funeral. Mr Issa, described as a larger-than-life personality who had hosted many prominent Australians at Elie's Cafe on the main street, was trying to win her back, Ms Majella Nolan said.
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(Later) that same day in the Herald
Exclusive Unnamed best friend quoted: "I kept saying, 'don't let him back, you're finished, just stay away' but she said she felt sorry for him. I think that's why she may have gone over there," she said. "For the last two-and-a-half years, she was being emotionally and mentally abused to the point of tears, she was miserable," the friend said. "She was in an extremely controlling relationship, he was a very jealous person and this was her courageous attempt to get out." She said Mr Issa was gregarious on the outside but he never bought Ms Cameron a birthday present or took her on a holiday. She and Ms Majella Nolan both said it was a clear and tragic case of domestic violence. Her best friend of 20 years, who didn't want her name published, spoke to Ms Cameron daily, who said she felt sorry for Mr Issa. "I kept saying, 'don't let him back, you're finished, just stay away' but she said she felt sorry for him. I think that's why she may have gone over there," she said. Prior to their break up, she said Ms Cameron would cry to her on the phone almost every night. "For the last two-and-a-half years, she was being emotionally and mentally abused to the point of tears, she was miserable," the friend said. "She was in an extremely controlling relationship, he was a very jealous person and this was her courageous attempt to get out." She said Mr Issa was gregarious on the outside but he never bought Ms Cameron a birthday present or took her on a holiday. She and Ms Majella Nolan both said it was a clear and tragic case of domestic violence. "She was the loveliest, kindest, most generous person, she just made a mistake of picking this person," the best friend said. Read more: Follow on Twitter | sydneymorningherald on Facebook
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That same afternoon in the Tele
Elie Issa and Nadia Cameron found dead in Kelso just weeks after she ended ‘emotionally abusive’ relationship July 18, :33pm LIA HARRIS POLICE REPORTER The Sunday Telegraph A WOMAN killed in a suspected murder suicide near Bathurst had ended her relationship with her partner just weeks earlier and was determined to start a new life, her family says. Mr Issa was described by locals as a respected businessman and restaurateur, but the family of Ms Cameron said she had left him last month after years of emotional and mental abuse. “People had no clue what kind of animal he was and how horribly he treated her,” her stepsister Debbie Nolan said. “Elie was emotionally abusive and incredibly jealous. Nadia could look at someone and he’d believe she was having an affair with them.
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The next Western Advocate
Police tight-lipped about deaths of Elie Issa and Nadia Cameron By Rachel Ferrett July 20, 2015, 4:30 a.m. No mention of relationship problems or any other details gleaned from Nadia’s friend and step sister: ‘A firearm was also located in the vicinity and a gunshot in one of the home’s windows was visible from the street. Police say they are not looking for a third party in relation to the couple’s deaths. Sergeant Ross Hunt from Chifley local area command confirmed yesterday that detectives were still at the property. “Police continue to investigate the circumstances of their deaths,” he said. “We are investigating all aspects that could have resulted in this.”’ POLICE remained at a home in Rosemont Avenue, Kelso over the weekend as they continued their investigation into the deaths of Bathurst residents Elie Issa and Nadia Cameron. Officers yesterday remained tight-lipped about the progress of the investigation after the bodies of the couple, who had been in a relationship for several years, were discovered in the living room of Mr Issa’s home on Friday morning. A firearm was also located in the vicinity and a gunshot in one of the home’s windows was visible from the street. Police say they are not looking for a third party in relation to the couple’s deaths. Sergeant Ross Hunt from Chifley local area command confirmed yesterday that detectives were still at the property. “Police continue to investigate the circumstances of their deaths,” he said. “We are investigating all aspects that could have resulted in this.” On Friday, Chifley local area command Acting Superintendent Chris Sammut said the investigation was in its infancy and police would be speaking to family and friends in the hope they could shed some light on what may have occurred in the days and weeks leading up to the incident. No further details regarding the case have been released by police at this stage. A report will be prepared for the information of the coroner. Mr Issa was the owner of Elie’s Cafe on William Street, while Ms Cameron worked as a sales consultant for Bathurst Real Estate. Bunches of flowers were left outside both businesses on Saturday morning.
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Time of grief is not the time for gossip
OUR VIEW Western Advocate Time of grief is not the time for gossip “The metropolitan media’s coverage of a shocking double fatality in Bathurst last week falls short of the standards we should expect as a community.... “The couple were well-known in Bathurst business and social circles and their photos have regularly appeared in the pages of the Western Advocate. “Such a shocking event challenges the media to report responsibly and with integrity and we at the Western Advocate have done our share of soul-searching in recent days in our attempt to do just that.” Weekend Advocate Editorial, Saturday, July 18
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Time of grief is not the time for gossip
OUR VIEW Western Advocate Time of grief is not the time for gossip “In doing so, we have sought to resist the temptation to reduce this sorry story to a series of salacious revelations that may or may not bring us closer to the truth. “Nor is it our job to take sides at a time when two families and many, many friends are still grieving the loss of two people who meant so much to so many. “The Sydney media cannot possibly understand the impact these deaths have had on our community and does not feel the same sense of responsibility to objectively report on the case. Weekend Advocate Editorial, Saturday, July 18
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Time of grief is not the time for gossip
OUR VIEW Western Advocate Time of grief is not the time for gossip “Because the police – and, ultimately, the coroner – are the right people, and the only people, to investigate this tragedy and come to some conclusions about what has happened. “And as each of those conclusions is properly revealed, this newspaper will report the news and leave it to our readers to draw their judgments. “We owe that much to our readers, at least. Weekend Advocate Editorial, Saturday, July 18
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Research and analysis Mapping news principles adopted by each reporter /newspaper/editorial staff Range of hypotheses for WA editor’s position (and that of reporters) related to relationships within the regional area and/or ethical position Story frames re recent coverage of domestic violence resulting in murder and murder-suicide in regional locations. Principles of reporting suspected suicide and how they have been followed or flouted in coverage of this case.
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Deaths are reported.... The Canberra Times, October 9, 1947
MURDER, SUICIDE AT DURAMANA BATHURST, Wednesday. A 16-years-old girl made a tragic discovery when she found her father and mother lying dead at their home at Duramana, 14 miles from Bathurst. The victims were Richard Sidney Bonham, 37, and his wife, Evangeline, 32. Mrs. Bonham had a bullet wound in the forehead, while Bonham had one in his head. The rifle was lying beside his body. The police believe that Bonham shot his wife and then committed suicide. Maureen Bonham went to her parents' room this morning and found them both in bed, with blood on the sheet. She sent the three younger, children to a neighbour for help. The police ascertained that Mr. and Mrs. Bonham visited a solicitor yesterday to settle their affairs after they had quarrelled bitterly for months past. Hilton Bonham, 10, stated that about 10 o'clock last night he heard the sound of a thud come from his parents room. ‘
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If in distress... This presentation will discuss reporting on the deaths of two people in Bathurst earlier this year. There have been allegations the deaths involved murder-suicide. If this discussion causes distress the following organisations – with 24-hour help-lines – might be useful: Lifeline Beyond Blue Suicide Call Back Service MensLine Australia The NSW Mental Health Access Line
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