ONE SPLIT SECOND The Death of David Hookes and the Trial of Zdravko Micevic

Softcover. The book opens with the sudden and violent death of cricket legend David Hookes outside a Melbourne bayside hotel, late one night in January 2004. From there it surveys all that flowed from that fateful event - the sometimes hysterical reaction of the public and the popular media, and the reaction of friends and family of the two protagonists, Hookes and the man charged with responsibility for his death, Zdravko Micevic. The author looks at the 'celebrity-event' funeral at the Adelaide Oval, the police investigation of the death, the alcohol-fuelled customs of the elite cricketers - and perhaps of Australia's sporting culture - and the trial and exoneration of Micevic. The author explores the collision of two worlds: that of a favourite Aussie son - and its attendant fame, celebrity and influence - and that of an outsider to the system. In examining these events, the book reveals a lot about Australian society today. The author's experience as a lawyer gave her the ideal background to pull together the strands of this compelling story. Through a combination of forensic research skills, a subtle and sympathetic interview style, a knowledge of the legal system and a blow-by-blow account of the drama-packed trial of Zdravko Micevic, she has created a balanced, multi-layered account of a tragic event and its aftermath that have established a critical place in Australia's popular memory. With Notes. 242pp. trade size softcover. From the library of true crime writer, Wilfred Gregg, with his personal b/plate. F. with no creasing to covers.