In 1963, on his 19^th birthday, John Button was charged with wilful murder for the hit and run killing of his girlfriend, which subsequently resulted in a conviction of manslaughter. Despite serial killer Eric Edgar Cooke confessing to the crime in 1964, Button served over five years of hard labour before his release. It took another 35 years for his conviction to be overturned in 2002, when expert evaluation of the crime excluded Button’s car as the cause of death.

On February 9, 1963, 17-year-old Rosemary Anderson was tragically killed after being struck by a vehicle. Button, who had been in a relationship with her, was subsequently charged with her death. Still in shock from discovering his girlfriend severely injured at the side of the road, he assisted police with their initial inquiries before being driven back to police headquarters. There, Button was subjected to a brutal interrogation, during which he was informed of Anderson’s death. The devastating loss, combined with the relentless mental and physical coercion by detectives, overwhelmed him – leading to a false confession. No lawyer was present when he was interrogated or when he signed the statement and confession, both drafted by the officers themselves. Charged with the crime, Button awaited trial anxious that he might face the death penalty. Though spared execution, he recalls the harrowing moment when his wrongful conviction was sealed. In delivering the verdict, the foreman first declared he was ‘not guilty’ of manslaughter, only to reverse his decision to ‘guilty’ after a tense 16-second pause. Utterly shattered, Button was sentenced to ten years of hard labour.

In 1964, Eric Edgar Cooke, whose crimes were terrorising the city of Perth, confessed to the hit-and-run death of Anderson, however, his confession was largely ignored. Notorious for his violent and erratic behaviour, Cooke had been responsible for a series of murders and attacks during that period. Despite this, Button’s conviction remained.

The case languished for decades, but in 2002, forensic experts re-evaluated the evidence, focusing on the damage to the victim’s body and Button’s car. This re-examination confirmed that the damage to the car could not have been caused by a collision with a person. These findings, along with further revelations about Cooke’s role in the incident, led to Button’s conviction being quashed. Estelle Blackburn, a journalist and author, was instrumental in uncovering the truth behind Button’s wrongful conviction, while Bret Christian, a journalist and advocate, collaborated with Blackburn to highlight the flaws in the investigation and shed light on Button’s innocence.

Button’s case was marred by a rushed investigation and a deeply flawed legal process. His coerced confession was never properly examined or disputed. While the overturning of his conviction finally brought some measure of justice, it came at a great personal cost to Button. He has fought tirelessly since to expose the significant flaws in the justice system, particularly regarding the handling of confessions and forensic evidence.