14 – Never a man to run from a camera
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Question everything….
Being read
The Somerton Man .. 
Pete …It’s hard to stay silent when it comes to Derek Abbot. His aim was to destroy anyone that might contradict his theory, and he used his title to intimidate those he considered beneath his status. He failed to declared his conflict of interest, and chose instead to keep his marriage to Ms. Egan and his 3 children a secret. He was a bully determined to win at any cost, and he’s never apologised for his unprofessional behaviour, or explained lying to the public re-“60 Minutes”, where he and his wife (and mother -in-law) pretend to be strangers drawn together in pursuit the same noble quest. It all seemed more about self promotion, than seeking the truth, or caring for the deceased.
While I commend DA’s persistence and hope his findings are correct. I question why he hasn’t engaged other professionals for comparative facial analysis by now. It’s what I did, and I’ve no degrees or titles to boast. Any doubts I have relate directly to DA, because he failed in matters of honour and trust in the past, so like you Pete, I’d like to see more evidence. All those things DA previously raised as evidence to convince us that SM fathered Robyn Thomson, must now be revisited, e.g. the teeth…the ears etc.; they must all line up for Charlie Webb… and that includes the facial mole that DA claimed was not a unique identifier, but quite common, I’d like to trust that SM’s identity has been resolved. I just don’t trust Prof. Abbott.
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He seems to be in need constant,attention type!
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He had an anthropologist (anthropological anatomy?) from Adelaide Uni affirm that SM was HC Reynolds – and we saw how that ended up. I always assumed that there was some railroading and/or “favour for a friend” stuff that started it, but ultimately made people question the anthropologist’s credibility – I wonder if DA has been forgiven for it….or if he ever even apologised.
NB: I’ve long disliked DA – mainly because (like many academics, it seems) he tries to use his title to imply expertise across countless disciplines – including ones not even remotely related to Electrical Engineering (or Physics, which I think was his original Bachelor degree). I’ve known similar academics, and I’m never sure whether it’s that sort of ego that drives their success in academia, or is a result of them being exulted in their fields and them naturally expanding that to the broader world….
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Prof. Abbott was not involved with the Reynolds I.D.. This was done via myself, Adelaide Major Crime and Maciej Henneberg. Maciej was a colleague of DA’s at the same University. DA had him examine SM’s ear configuration separately as he was the expert in comparative analysis. Maciej has since retired. Remember also that Flinders University Dr. of Forensics Rene Blackie also gained permission from Major Crime to take hair and swab samples from SM’s plaster bust, and these were taken to FSSA for DNA analysis (under chain of evidence guidelines). This all happened long before SM was exhumed, and DA raised his concerns that Rene might beat him to it. We’re still waiting on Rene Blackie’s test outcome. Since then, FSSA (and SAPOL)have SM’s remains in their possession. This whole case has been odd from beginning, and SM’s identity still remains unconfirmed by FSSA and SAPOL. Spare a thought for those young students drawn in to DA’s family project, and now left to pay off big HECS debts. I wonder what life lessons they took from that experience.
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Thanks for that Ruth.
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Oh, and I forgot to add – possibly because it’s been mentioned somewhere before – he has a peculiar propensity to jump to conclusions. A peculiar trait in a man from scientific disciplines where proof is everything, and everything not conclusively proven is simply a theory.
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aye to that
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Years ago I read on Abbott’s UoA website where he stated that the Somerton Man’s lividity was ‘explainable’ – full stop. Later, upon reading a transcript of the inquest I came upon Prof. Cleland’s deposition where he stated the lividity was ‘explainable’ in that it indicated the Somerton Man may have died with his head supported by a pillow. Then, in a later video Abbott told a roomful of listeners that SM was found wearing a cardigan which in itself indicated he was of a better class than most Adeladians.
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A classic collection of images, so inspiring in every way! I get the feeling that the Professor has a book in the works chronicling his journey with the SM case and claims he cracked it! … as an academic you publish or perish, even if this subject matter is miles away from his trained profession and more like his non-scientific, subjective, publicity fodder pet project! He probably has Stuart Webb under a non disclosure agreement to keep any new details under wraps – like all other family photos, etc.. all hunkered down thinking about the royalties that will roll in!
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Well, if DA has a book in the works, It will, I’m sure be full of his own discoveries etc. And, no mention of anyone else contributing and finding information in this mystery. I can see the title now: “The Somerton Man and I”.
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I’m betting there won’t be a chapter on ears
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So many possible DA centric book titles… Definitely a chapter on ears – all part of the mysterious fabric: twists and turns, false starts, dead ends he has encountered along the way to make for a riveting read!
Also, just for Pete, a chapter on lack of socks ! Bamboozle readers with so much info they will just lap up any conclusions!
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Nothing on ears? I think that will turn out to be just a Roma.
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Clive…There’s no Roma. According to ABC podcast, mother and daughter are now estranged. I think that’s sad. To loose your mother twice. Either DA and Rachel’s union, brought together by SM, is the happy fairy tail we see on public display …or it represents the extremes of coercive control…and instead of Rachel being told to run, it’s been celebrated and captured on film as evidence re-ABC’s ‘Dancing with the Dead’. Whatever the outcome. I wish them well.
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Hi Ruth, On my last post l was “trying” a play on words I.e. not Roma but, Ruma (rumour)! Sorry about that, I’ll try to do better next time.
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It was hilarious Clive. I did get your meaning, and thought it very clever. It just reminded me of all the pain SM’s case has caused to ‘real’ people’s lives, and that includes me. Roma, Rachel and the Thomson family had their lives turned upside down, only to find, they’ve no genetic link to SM. It should also be remembered that SM’s identity and cause of death had been raked over for decades by others; long before DA immigrated to Australia.
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One thing Ruth, Clive is not hilarious, his blasted puns are infuriating and despite that I’ve threatened to find out where he lives and cure him of this wretched habit he persists .. the man is a menace to polite society.
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Well, I’m in Sydney next week, hope the locals are “polite”!
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