Anonymous

Investigators didn't believe Cook had blacked out for a second. However, they had their confession, and their case was bolstered by a cartridge case recovered from Cook's car. The case matched the rifle used to kill Shirley MacLeod. Late on Sunday September 1, police charged Eric Edgar Cook with murder.

As Western Australia still had capital punishment in 1963, Cook was looking at a death sentence. Although the rifle didn't match the firearm used in the Australia Day killing spree eight months earlier, investigators had always suspected that whoever was behind Shirley's murder committed those crimes too. They just needed to prove it.

As Western Australia still had capital punishment in 1963, Cook was looking at a death sentence. Although the rifle didn't match the firearm used in the Australia Day killing spree eight months earlier, investigators had always suspected that whoever was behind Shirley's murder committed those crimes too. They just needed to prove it.

As Western Australia still had capital punishment in 1963, Cook was looking at a death sentence. Although the rifle didn't match the firearm used in the Australia Day killing spree eight months earlier, investigators had always suspected that whoever was behind Shirley's murder committed those crimes too. They just needed to prove it.

Over the following days, they spent hours and hours with Cook, questioning him about his other crimes. Just as he'd initially done when arrested, Cook openly admitted to breaking into homes throughout the western suburbs, but denied anything to do with the other murders.

Over the following days, they spent hours and hours with Cook, questioning him about his other crimes. Just as he'd initially done when arrested, Cook openly admitted to breaking into homes throughout the western suburbs, but denied anything to do with the other murders.

Over the following days, they spent hours and hours with Cook, questioning him about his other crimes. Just as he'd initially done when arrested, Cook openly admitted to breaking into homes throughout the western suburbs, but denied anything to do with the other murders.

On the morning of Tuesday September 3, three officers took Cook on a tour past the Netherlands and Cottesloe addresses where John Sturkey, George Wormsley and Brian Weir had been shot. Cook's uncomfortable body language left no doubt in the officers' minds that he was responsible. When they stopped for lunch at a pub, one of the investigators stated,

On the morning of Tuesday September 3, three officers took Cook on a tour past the Netherlands and Cottesloe addresses where John Sturkey, George Wormsley and Brian Weir had been shot. Cook's uncomfortable body language left no doubt in the officers' minds that he was responsible. When they stopped for lunch at a pub, one of the investigators stated,

On the morning of Tuesday September 3, three officers took Cook on a tour past the Netherlands and Cottesloe addresses where John Sturkey, George Wormsley and Brian Weir had been shot. Cook's uncomfortable body language left no doubt in the officers' minds that he was responsible. When they stopped for lunch at a pub, one of the investigators stated,

Cookie, you're going to hang, there's no two ways about that. You'll go to the gallows as a bloody coward for the way you shot those people. Your wife and your kids are going to be reading history about you as a cowardly mongrel who went to the gallows without letting the people know exactly what you've done. So, what are you going to do, Cookie? Go there like that?

Cookie, you're going to hang, there's no two ways about that. You'll go to the gallows as a bloody coward for the way you shot those people. Your wife and your kids are going to be reading history about you as a cowardly mongrel who went to the gallows without letting the people know exactly what you've done. So, what are you going to do, Cookie? Go there like that?

Cookie, you're going to hang, there's no two ways about that. You'll go to the gallows as a bloody coward for the way you shot those people. Your wife and your kids are going to be reading history about you as a cowardly mongrel who went to the gallows without letting the people know exactly what you've done. So, what are you going to do, Cookie? Go there like that?

Or go there like a bloody gentleman? With that, Cook indicated that he was ready to make another confession. He took the officers on another tour through Perth, this time explaining everything he'd done on Saturday January 26. A police photographer accompanied them, snapping pictures at each location.

Or go there like a bloody gentleman? With that, Cook indicated that he was ready to make another confession. He took the officers on another tour through Perth, this time explaining everything he'd done on Saturday January 26. A police photographer accompanied them, snapping pictures at each location.

Or go there like a bloody gentleman? With that, Cook indicated that he was ready to make another confession. He took the officers on another tour through Perth, this time explaining everything he'd done on Saturday January 26. A police photographer accompanied them, snapping pictures at each location.

First, Cook guided the group to a home in the suburb of South Perth, where he'd stolen a cream and yellow Holden from. The vehicle had been parked in the garage with the keys in the ignition, a common practice in Perth at the time. Cook used the car as his means of transport on the night in question, then returned it to the garage after.

First, Cook guided the group to a home in the suburb of South Perth, where he'd stolen a cream and yellow Holden from. The vehicle had been parked in the garage with the keys in the ignition, a common practice in Perth at the time. Cook used the car as his means of transport on the night in question, then returned it to the garage after.

First, Cook guided the group to a home in the suburb of South Perth, where he'd stolen a cream and yellow Holden from. The vehicle had been parked in the garage with the keys in the ignition, a common practice in Perth at the time. Cook used the car as his means of transport on the night in question, then returned it to the garage after.

The car's owner hadn't even realised it had been taken, let alone used in the notorious crime spree. The Winchester single-shot rifle Cook used on Australia Day was also stolen. He'd found it in a wardrobe while robbing a home in Cottesloe. It had taken the owner five months to realise it was missing as he rarely used it.