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When I joined as a cadet in 1959 and commenced work in in Scientific Section shortly afterwards the Golchert murders in the cane fields of Kalkie just north of Bundaberg was still a big news item. The offender Neville Pressler was a member of a well known cane farming family in the area, as were his victims.

On 19 May 1959 Cliff Golchert and his  wife Marjorie were found murdered as they slept in their bed with each receiving severe head wounds and were also shot in the head with a .22cal rifle.

A prolonged murder investigation was headed by the outstanding investigator of the day Det Insp. Bill Cronau who eventually targeted neighbour Neville Pressler as a suspect.

Pressler eventually confessed to the crimes, hitting both the victims with a length of pipe and shooting them with a rifle he found in the house. He discarded the pipe, rifle and back door key in long grass 100m from their house, he  later found these items for the police. 

He was charged and convicted November 1959 of the double wilful murders and sentenced to life in prison. 

Police never established a motive for the murders. Is was believed that he was infatuated by Marjorie Golchert who may have rebuffed him.

Pressler served his time on a prison farm and was a model prisoner. He served 18 years in prison as he never admitted the killings or showed remorse  which are a requirement for early parole.

Sequel to the Golchert Murders 

Fast forward to June 1960 when the body of Henry Pressler was found in bed with a gun shot wound to the side of his head and with a 22cal rifle beside the body.

The responding police believing it was suicide removed the rifle from the bed to check whether it had a discharged cartridge case in the chamber before any photos were taken.

Henry Pressler was the brother in law of Mrs Enid Pressler who was Neville Pressler's mother. The body was found in Mrs Pressler's home in Bundaberg where he was staying for few days to assist her with some gardening.

On interviewing Mrs Pressler she stated that before the shooting Henry had dictated a confession to her that he had murdered the Golcherts and she left it with him which he later purportedly signed. Mrs Pressler took possession of the note and did not show it to police until after the body was removed.

The P M revealed that the head wound could not have occurred with body and firearm as shown in its present location in the photograph as the bullet entered above the right ear with a downward trajectory.

Further examination of the note showed that the signature of Henry Pressler was a forgery although they could not prove Mrs Pressler had written it.

Australia's leading police handwriting expert Det Sgt Paul Clark from NSW also examined the note and concurred with Bardwell

Mrs Pressler was charged with wilful murder and in her trial which was  in Brisbane. Dan Casey Qld leading defence counsel defended the 66 year old grandmother, assisted by Gerry Brennan who later became Chief Justice of the High Court. This court  case saw Dan Casey at his emotive best.

The Crown case was the two most explosive pieces of evidence, he could not have shot himself and he did not sign the confession and fact that Mrs Pressler committed the murder to get her son released from prison.

Mrs Pressler was a very determined  mother to see her son freed, however you could say her execution was poor.

I attended the court when my boss was giving ballistic and handwriting evidence thinking to myself do I want to be subjected to this most grueling cross examination for the rest of my career. 

Following many weeks of high court room drama Mrs Pressler was found not guilty. These murders still resonate around Bundaberg even today.

Des passed away in May 2019 aged 86. He was recognised for the majority of his legal career as Qld's leading defence counsel after being mentored by Dan Casey who held this honour for 30 years until his retirement in the early 60s.

I first met Des in the early 60s when he met with my boss Les Bardwell over ballistic evidence he was to give in forthcoming trials.

Des had a passion for firearms and he was a avid duck shooter and he enjoyed nothing more than when he was cross examining Les on his ballistic evidence.

He was great friends with Gordon and Jim Kingston who were Qld's leading gunsmiths trading as Kingston Brothers Gunsmith. He would seek their advice on issues he was uncertain of, and we always knew that he was always fully prepared for his trial cross examinations.

Gordon was called on numerous occasions to give evidence for the defence.

In fact, Les and I were also in the inner circle of friends of the Kingston brothers and we also able to add to our firearm knowledge.

When Les Bardwell neared towards the end of his career in 1976, I had already established myself as a ballistic expert after five years in training.

One always knew that when Des was defending any case involving firearms care had to be taken in your preparation and presentation of your evidence including research into what may be canvassed in his cross examination.

Des was quietly spoken, choosing his words carefully spoken he never raised his voice in anger. He would chip away with questions until he achieved his desired outcome, no matter who the witness was.

I was involved in dozens of encounters with Des in the many trials in which we were involved with. 

We both had respect for one another, and he never ever was critical of my evidence.

Many times, he would approach me before a trial and canvas with me the issues he was going to raise so that he could reach the points he wanted to raise with the jury in a quiet and orderly manner.

On numerous occasions he would ask through the Crown Prosecutor for further tests he would like with the firearm and the prosecutor and defence would witness the results as they were conducted.

Des was very persuasive and emotive in his final address to a jury, a skill that eluded many defence barristers.

He had many wins and also losses as well, perhaps most notable was the trial of Donald John Maher in what was known as the National Hotel murder in the early 70s in which he was found guilty.

Des was a very compassionate person who took very seriously the plight of his client and on many occasions, he would defend pro bono if he genuinely believed in his client's case.

He was known as a friend of the police and he defended many police in criminal trials, and I can't recall him losing any.

It was mooted that Des had many approaches to be appointed a Supreme Court judge which he declined as saw himself as a people's advocate.

In 1985 he was appointed the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) a role he held until 1990, during that time he was appointed a Q C.

He then returned to his criminal practice and gradually wound down his workload until he retired around 2005.

Des had plenty of opportunities to crucify police in the witness box, but he never took that final step, leaving it to the jury to form their own opinion on the evidence given by the witness. 

After he retired meant he moved to the Gold Coast for five years and we shared many lunches going over events in our past careers. He was granted Associate membership of the Gold Coast Branch of the Retired Police. He was very proud of the honour and attended many of our monthly social lunches.

Des Sturgess was nature's gentleman with a very caring and compassionate outlook on life and I felt honoured to be amongst his circle of friends.

As youngsters when we visited Brisbane, we used to visit the town hall and catch a lift to the viewing platform to admire the sights of Brisbane. Until 1967 the tower was the tallest structure in Brisvagas and a must do tourist attraction.

I never thought after I joined the police in 1959, I would ever return to the tower.  The beauty of policing you never knew what each day may bring.

Fast forward to the late 60s when a young male person armed himself with a rifle of unknown calibre and caught the lift in the BCC clock tower and proceeded to the lookout at the top. 

The lift driver was a friend of mine as we caught the same Camp Hill bus to work most mornings.

On arriving at the entrance to the clock tower the elderly lift driver could not
give us much more information to the Police Emergency Squad, such as motives and demands. Although he could tell us that the gunman was the only person there.

Why would anyone want to arm himself with a rifle in the clock tower, perhaps he wanted to become a sniper, we put an end to that by clearing King George Square. Perhaps he had dislike of the city hall pigeons and he wanted some target practice. Who knows?

Half a dozen squad members armed themselves with trusty Remington 12G 870 shotguns and vests and made the long journey via the stairwell to the top of the tower, as catching the lift was not an option. Although we did receive instructions how to drive it if needed.

Once we got there we contacted the gunman to ascertain what his plans were, explained who we were and perhaps negotiate a safe compromise.

We found out that he had recently broken up with his girlfriend and contemplated suicide by going out in a blaze glory as a lesson to his girlfriend. A very strange individual indeed, after further conversations he decided perhaps his options were very unattractive and he handed over his .22cal rifle to us.

He was escorted to hospital for psychiatric assessment, and I cannot remember whether any charges were laid against him.

One thing about this job you never know what situation you may face throughout the day. In the end this problem was easily resolved. If there were more sinister motives how would have, we handled the situation?

On Friday 11 July 1970 at 1pm a series of explosions rocked George, Queen and Adelaide Streets; the explosions could be heard a couple of kms away.

Footpaths in the George Street were badly damaged and large slabs of concrete had been strewn onto the roadway with shop windows being shattered. There was minor damage in the other two streets at the intersection with George Street.

Manhole covers were blown into the air and a 18 year old girl was killed with another 37 people being injured. I accompanied my boss Insp Les Bardwell to the scene.

Earlier in the day a strong smell of gas was evident in the basement of the Criterion Hotel which fronts George Street. A BCC gas inspector advised staff to vacate the area whilst the leak was contained into the cellar.

As the location of the leak was being sort the gas inspector asked police to turn off the traffic control lights at the corner of George and Adelaide Streets as the gas pipeline and electricity cables ran beside each other.

Sometime later the gas inspector advised the police to turn on the traffic lights as they considered the leak had been contained.

As the police officer turned on the traffic lights a small explosion occurred within the light control box followed by three massive explosions.

A subsequent examination of the gas pipes found a fractured gas main pipe at the corner of George and Adelaide Streets had caused the gas to permeate along the underground system.

The explosion occurred as a result of a spark from the traffic light control switch igniting the gas.

My boss later gave evidence about the reconstruction of events that led to the explosion in the Coroner's Court.

Needless to say, the people of Brisbane were shocked by the magnitude of the explosion and the death and injuries it caused.

Photos - Damage to George Street

Lights at corner of George and Adelaide Streets 

In Townsville between 9th and 13 May 1969 there was five explosions which caused significant damage to buildings in the town.

Brothers Football club house and two public toilet blocks, by this time there was panic in the town. A person phoned a Woolworths and a Coles store claiming that they were on the list to bombed (maybe hoax calls??). There were two  more explosions causing damage to two Catholic churches in Townsville now the town was really on edge.

Information from the M O Section disclosed that there were two people in Townsville who had been jailed for offenses involving explosives. These two persons of interest were questioned and eliminated.

My boss Les Bardwell travelled to Townsville to assist; I was involved with the forensic examination of exhibits in our laboratory.

There was also a smaller explosion in a railway goods wagon which proved to be the turning point in the investigation. Many fragments of brass were recovered from the scene which was believed could have been casing for the bomb.

In the previous explosions only damaged gelignite wrapping paper and burnt safety fuse was recovered.

Examination of this brass casing disclosed a wall thickness of a 1/4 of an inch with a diameter of an inch and there was a sealed and an open bevelled end. There was also a drilled and threaded hole of half an inch along the brass pipe which could have been approximately 10 inches in length.

Det Gordon Duncan was in charge of the investigation, and he visited a demolition yard which he knew used explosives. Gordon was acknowledged as one of Queensland’s leading detective for many years and he observed some railway staffs in the yard. Staffs were interchanged by the engine driver and station master to ensure there was only one train on line at a time. These staffs were 14 inches long with a brass base and a 4 inch wooden handle.

Gordon saw the significance of these staffs after reading the forensic lab report. The report provided by the lab closely resembled the brass base of the staffs.

These staffs were worn out and the yard would burn out the wooden handle and sell the scrap brass.

This finding very quickly led Gordon to interview a staff member John David Moore who was an employee at the yard, and he admitted that he was responsible for the bombings. Moore had a criminal record which included an arson conviction.

At trial in the Townsville Supreme Court Moore was convicted and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. 

A brilliant police investigation showing the importance of team work. In the early 70s Gordon was promoted and worked in Brisbane for many years. He continued to show his outstanding skills during that tenure.

Gordon only recently passed away aged 89 and he received many accolades on our webpage as a person and investigator.

On joining the cadets in 1959 after five years at high school, never in my wildest dreams did I think I would become a ballistic expert. In fact I had never even fired an air rifle let alone a rifle before then.

When I was transferred to the then  Technical Section in March 1960 to replace Cadet Frank Wagner who became a probationary, did I even know anything about what was to lay ahead of me. My boss DSS Les Bardwell outlined what my future would hold if I wanted to pursue it.

First I had to attended The Central Technical College (now QUT) to study for a Diploma in Industrial Chemistry a five year course then I would work my way towards becoming a forensic scientist, a ballistic expert and also a handwriting expert, the first two appealed to me but being a handwriting expert left me a bit cold.

Les Bardwell then gave me three books to read, one by Kirk on criminalistics  (an early name for forensic science), one by Hatcher on ballistics and a third by Osbourne on handwriting. The first two books were read with much enthusiasm, the handwriting book I put to one side and never read it.

How does one become a ballistic expert? Three years of intense study, working beside my boss. Learning about firearms, attending shooting related  crime  scenes, firing the many different types of firearms and working with the comparison microscope to compare rifling marks on fired projectiles and discharged cartridge cases.

I visited the Lithgow Small Arms Factory for two weeks to study the manufacture of the semi automatic 7.62cal SLR rifle which had taken over from the .303cal SMLE bolt action rifle. I test fired 10 consecutive rifles taken off the production line and examined the cartridge cases and projectiles which showed that no two rifles produce the same rifling marks.

I also visited the NSW Ballistics Section to work with their staff.  This section was recognised as being leading section in Australian. In every other state the ballistic sections were stand alone in Qld we were also forensic scientists. Now in Qld, ballistic experts have their own section.

It is important to become involved with the firearms community. Getting to know local firearm dealers and gunsmiths. I also joined the Police Pistol Club and a shotgun club. Hunting with firearms was not in my DNA.

My first major shooting murder investigation occurred when my boss was on holidays, in the first week after being sworn in. I attended a shooting at Marburg where a 12 year old boy shot his father in the head with a .303cal rifle as he slept. His reason being his mother and he were the victims of DV. 

I learnt that examining a crime scene with competence and confidence and consulting with investigators to ensure that they are happy with what you have done is the key to success.

Part 2 outlines the work of the ballistic expert.

Ballistics is a fascinating world with so many questions to a answer:-

1. Did the exhibit rifle fire the exhibit  projectile and discharged cartridge?

2. From what range was the firearm/shotgun discharged?

3. How safe was the rifle?

4. Had the suspect recently discharged a firearm?

5. Was it murder or suicide?

6. Was it murder or an accident?

7. Identification of the the make of firearm that discharged the exhibit projectile and discharged cartridge case.

8. What size shot was fired in a shotgun and identification of brand of cartridge from wadding found at scene. 

9. How recently had the firearm been discharged?

10. Determination as to whether a weapon was a concealable firearm.

11. Preparation of statements and giving evidence in court as an expert witness.

In my 35 years at Scientific Section I gave sworn expert evidence on over 1,000 occasions not including hand up briefs or guilty pleads, 500 of these appearance where in relation to ballistic evidence. I always kept records of my court appearance together with defendant's name.

Cross examination was varied and often centred around the possibility of a weapon to accidentally discharge and with crimes involving larger calibre firearms and shotguns the issue of recoil was frequently raised.

Other duties included:- 

*Safety testing of imported firearms

*Teaching and supervising police recruits at the pistol range.

*Instructing members of the Police Emergency Squad.

*Lecturing police and recruits on ballistics.

Ballistics was a fascinating and challenging forensic discipline and I loved my involvement with it.

In the late 60s the Lowood police went to a farm house to speak with a person over a minor offence. When the police car pulled up Sgt Brian Denham and a fellow police officer Henk de Visser got out of police car a shot from a .22cal rang out almost hitting de Visser.. The bullet damaged the police car. Henk and I got sworn in together, how dare someone try to take down a mate of mine.

The police decamped  the scene and called for assistance.  On a Saturday evening I received a call to attend the incident with the Emergency Squad. I went to PHQ and packed our vehicle with equipment of and proceeded with my boss in Insp. Les Bardwell and other members of the squad to Lowood.

By the time we got there it was dark. The low set house was in the middle of a large paddock in which a crop of some description was planted. The crop was approx 45 cms high and extended for a perimeter of 100ms around the house and provided minimal coverage for the squad members. 

When I commenced as a 17 year old  cadet in 1959 I started work in the C I B Records Section remaining there for a couple of months. My duties involved filing and being a general roustabout. I enjoyed reading the completed police briefs. I learned many things that my mother told me about life. Within two  months I was transferred to the Technical Section which 10 years later was renamed the Scientific Section.

The photo is an aerial view of C I B H/Q which housed the City C I B, PCC and the M O Section. The building was located on a corner of Queens Park bounded by George and Elizabeth Streets. 

Across George Street in Morcom House which is the low set building there was the Technical Section in the basement, Firearms Section on the ground floor with the Fingerprint and Photographic Sections on the first floor.

In February 1962, all of these sections were moved to the recently renovated Egg Board building in Makerston St. which became the new Police H/Q for many years.

Det Insp Norm Bauer, later to become commissioner was in charge of the CIB at the time of the move.

In 1976 the new chief of our Emergency Squad,  Supt Bob Mathieson selected me to attend a two week stint to train with SAS in WA with the members of the WA Emergency Squad so as to upgrade my training skills as the chief instructor of our own squad.

I was very fit in those days as my brother in law Lou Platz lived with us. Lou played rugby league with Wynnum, Qld and later Australia and most  afternoons we would run from Carina for 2kms to the Pacific Golf Course and train on the hilly terrain of the course. I knew that I would be under the spotlight on the course and I did not want to let down our state with my fitness.

Together with a member of the SA STAR squad we stayed in a motel near Swanbourne for two weeks, receiving the usual hospitality you would expect  from our WA colleagues.

The first four days of the course were spent on Rottnest Island where the SAS had a training facility. We arrived there in an army landing barge and settled into the barrack accommodation. Early morning PE with followed by long distance runs, which I managed to keep up with the front runners. Class room with map reading, operational planning and tactics the main theme with some outdoor activity.

On return to the main land we settled into a very heavy schedule of training and operational exercises. Each morning there was one hour of unarmed combat drill in what is known as the "Killing Room", very physical stuff. The remainder of the course concentrated on honing our skills on their rifle and pistol ranges, walking through their very sophisticated street training scenario shooting facility, abseiling (backward and forward) down cliffs and from choppers , live firing combat exercises, orienteering and finally an overnight siege exercise. A very busy schedule with amazing professionalism shown by all of their training staff.

Always very pleasant to spend at the end of day, relaxation in their Sgt's Mess which was filled with an amazing display of memorabilia. Watching the sunset over the Indian Ocean was also a new experience for me as well.

I was very fortunate to be given this opportunity to train with this elite group of soldiers knowing that the skills I gained could be passed on to our own members of the PES.

Following the retirement of Insp. Les Bardwell in 1976 after being in Charge of the Police Emergency Squad (PES) since its inauguration in 1968, Supt Bob Mathieson took charge of the squad.

Bob was like a breath of fresh air as far as the squad was concerned. The days of the squad being comprised of mainly CIB members were gone and he bought in new members who had special skills, e.g. rifle club members as snipers etc.

Training procedures were upgraded, I was sent to train with the SAS in W A for two weeks and the Army Land Warfare Centre (LWC) at Canungra was approached and agreed to provide five day a training course for the members in 1978.

Fitness became an important feature for the training provided by the army which was not for the faint hearted. Live firing exercises, emphasis on upgrading rifle and pistol skills, map reading, orienteering, mock village exercises and the dreaded confidence course. 

Each morning we were on parade at 6am for P E and a couple kilometres of jogging which helped clear the cobwebs from an evening in the mess.

The confidence course was not loved by many as it was reliant on fitness and the ability to negotiate cargo nets (under and over), wooden walls and the dreaded mud filled pit all while simulated grenades exploded, blank machine gun firing and smoke grenades were set off during completing the course. For the fittest member the course took approximately seven minutes. I was very fit in those days but I could never beat Bob Platt's time. At the end of the course we had to climb a three metre tower and plunge into cool fresh water creek to clean up the mud and cool down. (photo squad members after plunge

Brian Foster was the RSM from the old school being a Korean and Vietnam vet. He expected respect and got it from our members in the Sgt's Mess where he greeted us at the end of each day for a cleansing ale. On Thursday night there was a dine in night with all the pomp and pageantry including pass the port.

Originally we were going to live in tent lines, however when barrack accommodation become available we were housed in very comfortable brick barracks.

The training continued until the squad was restructured before the advent of the Commonwealth Games in 1982. This training together with our regular training at Greenbank allowed for the PES to become a more professional entity ensuring that we went about our duties with more confidence and professionalism.

Some members: Standing (l to r) - Phil Jones, Pat Galwey, Lance Roffey, John Hegarty, Bill McKechnie, Barry Short, Noel Gollschewski, Brian Sheehan

Kneeling - John Carnes, Barry Krosch, Peter Scanlon with Supt Bob Mathieson