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Australian Story: Oct 30

On Monday, Perth lawyer Elisha Rose reveals what it's like to be the daughter of a murderer....

On Monday’s Australian Story, Perth lawyer Elisha Rose reveals what it’s like to be the daughter of a murderer, and reclaim your identity.

Perth lawyer Elisha Rose, now 34, has kept the truth about her father close to her heart, ever since it was revealed 20 years ago that he had murdered five people. Lindsey Rose was caught in April 1997, after almost 10 months on the run.

“At the time, he was one of the most wanted men in this nation.” – former Detective Inspector Rod Baker.

The news came as a huge shock to both Elisha and her mother Lynda, who by then had divorced Lindsey, and had relocated with Elisha from Sydney to Perth. The moment Lindsey Rose’s mug shot flashed up on the TV news changed Elisha’s life forever.

“I was 13 years old at the time. And I remember sitting and watching the late night news show. Sitting on my knees, in my nightie. And finding out in that moment, that the allegations against him were for murder.” – Elisha Rose.

“I was gutted. I was terrified that I’d been so naïve about what had happened, that I’d never known.” – Lynda Burke, Elisha’s mother.

Once the initial media coverage died down, Elisha began developing a layer of secrecy around her life. She pushed the brutal truth of who her father was to one side, and threw herself into her studies.

Thirteen years later, Elisha Rose was working as a successful litigation lawyer, and heavily involved in local charities, determined to atone for the sins of her father. Just a handful of close friends knew the truth about her past, and even with them, she rarely mentioned him.

That was until she received an unexpected phone call from an author, wanting to know about her father. He was writing a book, and had been visiting Lindsey in prison.

“Immediately, I felt my cover was blown. I knew that my little bubble of anonymity was going to quickly disappear.” – Elisha Rose.

Elisha faced a dilemma: did she try to keep her secret, or embrace the opportunity to own the truth, and tell her own story? 

8pm Monday on Australian Story.

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