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conduct of the interview also suggests that both Paine and Warren knew that Bryant would never be properly defended and even that the case would never go to trial. As a Tasmania Police officer has admitted in an email to researcher Noel McDonald, the videotape was of such poor quality that "the defence would have had a field day if it had been presented" in court? Why would Paine and Warren have persisted in such a long interview if there was a high risk of Bryant's lawyer objecting to the tape's presentation in court? On account of the deliberate negligence by which the videotape was made and the fact that the tape itself has never been released, we cannot be certain that anything attributed to Bryant in the printed record of the interrogation matches what he said. The transcript also omits a great deal of what he did say: a very substantial portion of the conversation has been withheld. Pages 1-9, 18, 23, 32-35, 40, 44-46, 79-81, 92-97 and 116-41 were deleted in their entirety, while most of pages 10, 91, 142 and 145 and parts of pages 17, 31, 36, 39, 41, 43, 47, 74, 78, 98, and 115 were also deleted’ Even the pages that were released cannot be trusted entirely. No fewer than 80 of Bryant's comments have been rendered as "inaudible". Since there is a suspicious tendency for "inaudible" responses to appear in crucial parts of the conversation— particularly parts where Bryant's version of events contradicts that of his interrogators—it is hard to resist the conclusion that the material was excised as a means of withholding exculpatory material, e.g., references to potential alibi witnesses. In addition, it may have contained important clues as to how his movements and actions were manipulated prior to the massacre as a means of making him the scapegoat for it. If the official account of the massacre is true and the killings were perpetrated by a lone nut inexplicably run amok, there can be no good reason to withhold any sections of the transcript from the public at all. Despite its massive shortcomings, the interrogation transcript remains invaluable as a record of Martin Bryant's side of the story. It is a great pity that Australians have condemned him without ever taking on board what he had to say on the very first occasion on which he was confronted with the accusation of having perpetrated the Port Arthur massacre. For those convinced of Bryant's innocence, the transcript also sheds a great deal of light on the devious processes by which he was framed. A careful reading of the transcript establishes beyond doubt that the police manipulated him into a situation in which the most heinous allegations could be raised against him, and he had absolutely no means of challenging them—no means, that is to say, other than his own extremely limited intelligence, which psychiatrist Ian Joblin states is roughly equal to that of an 1 1-year- old. transcript also omits a great deal of what he did say: a very A day in the life of an unwitting patsy substantial portion of the conversation has been withheld. Pages Most Australians will be astounded to discover that in this 1-9, 18, 23, 32-35, 40, 44-46, 79-81, 92-97 and 116-41 were interview Bryant not only denied carrying out the massacre but deleted in their entirety, while most of pages 10, 91, 142 and 145 also related an entirely different narrative of the events of 28 April and parts of pages 17, 31, 36, 39, 41, 43, 47, 74, 78, 98, and 115 1996 than that which has been presented to the public by the were also deleted’ authorities. Even the pages that were released cannot be trusted entirely. No According to the official story put to the Hobart Supreme Court fewer than 80 of Bryant's comments have been rendered as by Tasmania's Director of Public Prosecutions, Damian Bugg, QC, "inaudible". Since there is a suspicious tendency for "inaudible" Bryant had set his alarm clock for 6 am, left his house in Clare responses to appear in crucial parts of the conversation— Street, New Town, Hobart, at 9.47 am precisely (the time he particularly parts where Bryant's version of events contradicts that allegedly activated his house alarm), and drove to Seascape guest of his interrogators—it is hard to resist the conclusion that the house, making stops at Midway Point (to buy a cigarette lighter), material was excised as a means of withholding exculpatory Sorell (to buy a bottle of tomato sauce), Forcett (to buy a cup of material, e.g., references to potential alibi witnesses. In addition, it coffee) and Taranna (to buy petrol). may have contained important clues as to how his movements and When he arrived at Seascape, he murdered the owners, David actions were manipulated prior to the massacre as a means of Martin and his wife Sally, and loaded the building with firearms making him the scapegoat for it. If the official account of the and ammunition that he had presumably brought with him in his massacre is true and the killings were perpetrated by a lone nut car from Hobart. Bryant then proceeded to the Port Arthur inexplicably run amok, there can be no good reason to withhold Historic Site (PAHS), stopping to chat for five or 10 minutes with any sections of the transcript from the public at all. a neighbour of the Martins, Roger Larner, and to buy a small Despite its massive shortcomings, the interrogation transcript amount of marijuana on the way. remains invaluable as a record of Martin Bryant's side of the story. Bryant, on the other hand, told Inspectors Warren and Paine that It is a great pity that Australians have condemned him without ever _ he did not set his alarm clock at all that morning and that he rose at 7 or 8 am. He left the house around 11 am—"when the sun came up and it got a bit warm"—without turning on his house alarm, which he had last done on the previous occasion he went to Melbourne. He then drove to Roaring Beach on the western side of the Tasman Peninsula, stopping only once along the way—at the Sorell Bakery, where he bought a cappuccino. He emphatically denied having stopped at Midway Point to buy a cigarette lighter, at the Sorell service station supermarket to buy a bottle of tomato sauce—"Why would I want tomato sauce for?" he asked Inspector Warren—or at Taranna to buy petrol (he says the Volvo's tank was already full when he left Hobart). Bryant says that after stopping at Sorell he proceeded via Taranna to Roaring Beach, where he surfed for about 20 minutes and 10 15km 1. Seascape Guest House 2. Port Arthur Historic Site (PAHS) . 3 Midway Point “aL noticed two other people bodysurfing in 5 Foret ® short wetsuits at the other end of the beach. 6. Taranna STORM After drying off in the sun, he went to 7. Roaring Beach 9 -offee 2 8 Nubeena war i Nubeena where he stopped for coffee and a toasted sandwich at "a little shop near the school". After this, he says he drove past the PAHS to visit the Martins at Seascape Cottage. 9. Fortescue Bay turnoff Map of southeast Tasmania, indicating the main locations mentioned in this article. 12 + NEXUS Map of southeast Tasmania, indicating the main locations mentioned in this article. www.nexusmagazine.com AUGUST — SEPTEMBER 2006