The few that have publicly spoke of that night described a huge ‘fireball’ bursting into the room, engulfing everything in sight, before thick black clouds of smoke filled the room. You know when it’s right.”. Ross Schumacher – Suicide, Accident or Murder? The judge ruled that it was clear that Barbara McCulkin had known enough about each of the pair’s roles in the nightclub bombings at the time for them to want to silence her. located on the corner of  Since both men were known as ‘career-criminals’ it was not difficult for them to secure the conviction. Whisky Au Go Go went up in flames after two drums of diesel fuel were set alight in the building foyer, killing 15 people. Reports emerged that large quantities of grease had been smeared over the stairs of the building’s rear fire escape, as well as over the door of the exit, in an attempt to trap the victims inside. Billy McCulkin is now deceased, but his statements against the pair were used to secure the conviction. The crime occurred amid a turf war among criminal gangs fighting for control of the valley’s illegal gambling and prostitution dens, and it was believed it may been part of an extortion-terror campaign aimed at the Brisbane nightclub operators as there were several other arsonist attacks on clubs in the area. 15 victims were killed when two 23-litre barrels of petrol were ignited in the foyer of a top-floor club ‘Whiskey Au Go Go’. Your help would be greatly appreciated. During their trial Finch and Stuart loudly protested their innocence, claiming they had been "verballed": convicted based on false confessions. Whisky a Go Go is a nightclub in West Hollywood, California, United States. Hopefully the inquest will help get justice for the 15 victims from the Whiskey Au Go Go arson, and however many more have been murdered to keep them quiet. The man claimed to have recruited a group of ‘idiot criminals’ to set fire to Chequers Nightclub in 1973, and another one two weeks later. Unfortunately, Stuart was right, and there wasn’t just one arson at Brisbane nightclubs around that time – there was an attack at the Torino’s Nightclub in Ann Street on February 23, 1973, Alice’s Cafe in Brunswick Street in December 1972, and two at Chequers Nightclub in Elizabeth Street in early 1973. Australian True Crime & Unsolved Mysteries is a website devoted to gathering information and evidence on current mysterious cold cases for amateur detectives to look over and potentially solve. The exclusive interview saw James Finch admit he and John Stuart had lied to their supporters. Despite the club having no sprinklers, no fire alarm, no staff training, no evacuation procedure, no fire exit sign and inadequate fire escapes covered by thick black curtains there were a number of survivors. The windows were all covered by black curtains which concealed the potential escape route for patrons. 1973. murder murder murder in Australian. Photo: James Finch (left) and John Stuart (right). These warnings, coupled with the ongoing attacks seemingly went ignored, and were not mentioned during the trial to convict Stuart for the crime that he had apparently been trying to stop. Convicted murderer James Finch served 15 years in prison for the 1973 deadly firebombing of the Whiskey Au Go Go nightclub in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley, which killed 15 people. If Monument Australia is useful to you, please make a donation to keep this historical and educational resource available. When she had told the owner about this call he had quickly left the club with his brother, his partner, and another man. Stuart ( right ) t utter one bloody word which concealed the potential route! Foyer, then ignited by a lit torch thrown through the open door from the.! Inquest into the foyer, then ignited by a lit torch thrown through the open.. Tommy Hamilton rode with Vincent O'Dempsey and Gary Dubois Premier of Queensland both were convicted of the buildings that! 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