Airdate: CIA: Mystery of the Homestead Murders
The next episode of Crime Investigation Australia investigates a 1978 double murder in country New South Wales.
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The next episode of Crime Investigation Australia investigates a 1978 double murder in country New South Wales.
The murder of Mick Lewis and his wife Sue at their country homestead is a classic ‘whodunit.’
It was a country telephone exchange supervisor who had been checking an out of order phone line to a homestead belonging to shearer, Mick Lewis, his wife Sue and two children.
After trying the line off and on for several hours it was finally answered by a little girl who said her mother and father were sleeping. When asked to wake her mother, the child replied in a faltering voice: “I don’t like Mummy anymore ‘cause Mummy’s turning black”.
The operator immediately called police, who made the chilling discovery that Mick and Sue Lewis had been shot dead. Their four-year-old daughter and her three year old brother were unharmed and had been fending for themselves in the house that contained their parents’ decomposing bodies.
Sue was found in her bed, shot twice in the head. Noting the body’s advanced state of decay, the police at first surmised it was an all-too familiar domestic murder-suicide, where the husband murders his wife before eventually taking his own life.
But the more they examined the gruesome scene, the more this simple deduction did not quite add up.
What followed was a complex inquiry which included the discovery of tiny clues and the testing of ingenious theories, ending in the arrest and conviction of the killer – and the award of a special medal to the leader of the investigators.
Hosted by Steve Liebmann, it airs on the CI Network on Thursday, November 26th at 7.30pm.
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34 Responses
It is incredibly brave for the family to allow the public to know the facts of this case. It is important for the public to know about crime so that they can take precautions to protect themselves and lobby to change laws to protect the innocent. The perpetrator was an animal – to let him out after nine years – someone who demonstrated a completely disregard for human life – is beyond belief. I don’t believe in the death penalty, but this case makes a strong argument in favour of it. To Tanya – you were incredibly brave then and you are incredibly brave now. You managed to keep yourself and your brother alive in horrendous circumstances. I have a four year old daughter and imaging her in that situation is unbearable. As a result of seeing the show, I will now be speaking to my children about what they should do if they should ever find themselves alone. The airing of this show may save a young life.
Why do people blame lawyers and judges for the time he spent in prison? He was sentenced to two life terms. It was the prison system which let him out after nine years – based on laws written by the government. Why do people repeatedly blame the legal system instead of the legislators? Lawyers and judges can only uphold the law not make it.
What a horrible tragedy. My heart too goes out to Tanya and Mark. What a horrible memory for Tanya. I hope she has remained strong throughout this, and yes, their approval should have been given even before production of the episode had commenced.
Two lives taken and only 9 years. Doesn’t make sense why these justice systems and the judges get the money that they do. He should have got life, no possibility for parole.
Sending you some strength, Tanya & Mark.
I too am absolutely appalled that Fairley (he doesn’t deserve a Christian name) only got 9 years for this terrible murder. Let’s hope the lawyers and judges have sleepless nights for the rest of their lives. When does a life sentence become 9 years. The television station should follow up where this murderer lives and expose his life as they have exposed the names and lives of the children – the innocent victims. So much for the law – what law?????
omg wot a terrible tragedy not to mention the a** hole who did this is walkin round scott free!!! tanya and mark im so sorry u hve to be reminded of this again and u shld definately follow up on sum sort of legal action as to why u guys were’nt informed bout this documentry being aired…
To my cousins Tanya and Mark, I am in shock and feeling your pain all over again, how dare CIA put this show together. I can’t find the words to tell you how sorry I am. Thinking of you both and sending you all our love as you deal with this injustice, your cousin Dianne Clark (May’s daughter)
I’am very sad and angry that someone…..like this animal…..can take the life of this mother and farther in cold blood and get away with it………..the law suck’s..the law was made……so animals like that can be put away for live…never to walk again in the light…………..the law has let these children down….not happy..something must be done!!!!!
Typical. Right as Steve was about to say what happened to the murderer, he was cut off and we went to a ad break. So what happened to John Farley?
Sad that the children were not consulted prior to going to air. Also, sorry, but not surprised that the murderer got to spend only 9 years in prison. I have seen it all so often, and expect that nothing will change in my lifetime. It amuses me that property crime is regarded by the justice system to be more important than human life.
Please support victims of crime.. because the justice system does not.
I keep my little boy close tonight. There will never be any words to explain how Sorry I am that a monster could do such a thing, not care and then only get 9 years! No one should have to go through what Tanya & Mark went through and their parents didnt deserve what happened to them. Im sorry for the heartache you have to experience for the rest of your life. I don’t understand this world. Im sorry it was brought up without permision, thats wrong.
i feel for these people and what happened and sure they should have granted their permission but one thing i got from this program but which channel nine barely mentioned was the fact that in 30 years our justice system still cant make the punishment fit the crime. If channel 9 cared about the people affected and people who have been in similar circumstances they would donate to victims against crime and run shows to lobby for longer sentences. they could use a current affair to highlight the injustice instead of having tracy grimshaw host a program full of tripe every week. it appears our lives are not worth much. maybe their were less senseless crimes when the death sentence was still in force.
belated condolences to the now adult children.
@ Tanya
I am shocked that they have not asked permission from you or your brother. I hope you seek legal advice. My heart goes out to you, I have a 4 y.o. daughter and I can’t possibly imagine what the two of you have been through…
xo
My love and thoughts for both Tanya & Mark – your survival is testament to your strength & courage.
What kind of a justice system do we really have in this country? None apparently!!! 9 years is an insult to the memory of both Mick & Sue
I remembered seeing this Video footage and studying this murder case in my Science class in Year 10 i think, it was for forensic science. This left me sick to the stomach and chillingly haunted for days after we saw it. So so sad. Those poor children. I feel so sorry for them to have to see that this was on tv again…
How the hell can someone do this and get out after 9 years!! ?
This Masonic justice system in this country Stinks!!
I then can’t believe that this CIA show didn’t contact the Children of this family!! Evil Channel 9
Tanya take this to Mediawatch ABC!
I saw a documentary when i was at school in a science class, this when i was in year 7 (12 years old, i am now 25), that was well over 10 years ago and I vividly remember it as it was a little scary to watch and highly inappropraite for school children. I couldn’t sleep well for ages after watching. Imagine how the survivors feel. I feel for the surviving family as i just watched a documentary, the original documentary many years ago. Surviving family should have to grant permission before items like this are documented for airing to the public.
I have just seen this in NZ and have been looking for info on why 2 life sentences equated to only 9 years…? I can find very few links at all and was about to give up when I found this site. I agree with the sentiments expressed here towards the children and the criticisms directed at the producers, anything for ratings and the hell with anyone’s feelings or right to privacy.
But how could this man be released after only nine years after being given two life sentences?
I wish Tanya and Mark and their extended family all the best for the future…
sorry to here about this tanya. I can remember you telling me about what happened along time ago when we were just teenagers. I also remember the pain in your face telling me. What a bloody disgrace that they didn’t even ask your permission. I could only imagine what this did to you both.
I am always interested in reading detective stories and watching investigation stories like CI in cable tv. In the case of the homestead murders, neither have i watch nor read the full context of the crime. Nevertheless, reading the synopsis of the horrendous crime makes me reach out to the children of the murdered couple. I understand how they feel and how to grow in this world without the guidance and love of one’s parents. In my capacity, I can help them only through prayers that no matter what life will go on, even though the memories are still there but still they will overcome the crisis. I pray the best for them and their family and cherish the moments with their parents when they were in this world. Please, i urge everybody, to respect their privacy.
Another person who is horrified this was broastcast without the surviving children’s knowledge!
And why the hell was the bastard released from gaol after 9 years? That’s nothing for the amount of lives he affected. Justice? I don’t think so!
Hi Tanya,
I am sorry for both you and Mark that this has been brought up again. CIA should be ashamed they didn’t get permission to air the program. I hope everything is going well for you myself and my family will be thinking of you.
your cousin.
Troy
I am one of the surviving children of this crime and my brother and I are devestated that you have televised this documentry.You did not get approval for this from Mark or myself and you have now stir so many things again.Thank god Mark was to young to remember anything but I do and you have just stirred things up again for me.I still to this day deal with this and probably will for the rest of my life.You haven’t just hurt us you have hurt all the family and friends,and I hope you are happy that you have got ratings because you obviously don’t have hearts.
It’s Sunday February 7th and I have just seen the show on Foxtel…. I too feel for children, who are now adults and as a mother of 4 children I can only wish their grandparents, aunts, uncles and family friends have filled these two survivors with the many happy memories, occassions and moments of their parents had shared with them and created many more with the children over these past 30 odd years….
I also feel for the 5 children that the murderer had left behind (for not long enough in jail 9 years) that they had to suffer due to their fathers horrible murder crimes comitted….
I do feel for Mick & Sue’s children. They should have been asked & pemission granted before production. As the sister of a murdered policeman, I would be shocked to see somethinglike this without first being warned as everyone must be aware that it is like going though it all over again. We do however live in an era of crime investigation programs & I do find it facinating the techniques used to solve crimes, but I was appalled to discover that the perpetrator had only served 9 years in jail.
I am quite disgusted to think that the showing of mick and sue lewis murder. I personally knew these people and i also know the surviving children. The murder was a senseless crime not to mention what these two children have had to endure throughout thier lives…with out thier parents to guide them through life not to mention how devasting this whole affair was to the whole remainding families…all i want to know is one why wasnt the children told of the making of this show and why cant these children just be left alone to get on with the remainder of thier lives in peace..let them remember thier parents without the dreadful past being constantly shoved in thier faces
Producer’s website / contact is here.
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