Latest news with #Cull
The Advertiser
30-07-2025
- The Advertiser
Jailed for a murder he didn't commit: Aussie author pens innocent man's story
Calvin Duncan served more than 28 years in jail for a murder he did not commit. Now, Australian author Sophie Cull has teamed with him to co-author The Jailhouse Lawyer, a memoir recounting his life and exoneration. "It's shocking-and frankly hard to fathom-that anyone could spend 28 years in prison for a crime they didn't commit," Ms Cull said. "There are people who've spent 40 or 50 years in prison after being convicted in trials that lasted less than a day, often with lawyers who never visited them beforehand." Calvin was 19 when he was arrested for a murder-robbery in 1982 and almost faced the death penalty himself. With no one coming to his rescue, Mr Duncan taught himself law to fight his own incarceration, while helping hundreds of other inmates. "Cases like Calvin's are a powerful reminder of why, even in Australia, we should be cautious about placing blind trust in an institution as fallible as the criminal justice system," Ms Cull said. Since his release, Mr Duncan has completed his law degree and now continues his advocacy to get people better access to the court system. "Calvin inspires the rest of us every day with his advocacy on behalf of men and women in prison," Ms Cull said. One man who did support Mr Duncan 40 years ago was Mack Ferrick, the then-director of an Oregon job corps campus where Mr Duncan was living. He witnessed the arrest and even flew to New Orleans to support Mr Duncan during the trial. Mr Ferrick recently reconnected with Mr Duncan via Facebook: "He told us he always believed Calvin was innocent and was appalled by how the system treated him. We were thrilled to be able to send him a signed copy of the book, it was a powerful full-circle moment," Ms Cull said. Growing up in Armidale, NSW, with her mum as a solicitor and her Dad a member of an international human rights organisation, Ms Cull said conversations about justice "were part of everyday life". "When I was about 15, I read Dead Man Walking by Sister Helen Prejean, and it had a profound impact on me. As Helen would say, it lit a fire and made me want to work against the death penalty." Ms Cull studied criminology and focused on Indigenous Justice, but heard a talk from Sunny Jacobs, who had spent time on death row in Florida. Through that talk, she learned of student internships in the US and was accepted to a placement in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 2008. It was there, working as an advocate in Capital Cases, that she met Mr Duncan, who was released in 2011. "He was already well-known in the criminal defence community for his legal work on behalf of others while incarcerated," she said. "At Angola, he had served as a jailhouse lawyer, known officially as an 'inmate counsel substitute'. Within a week of his release, he was working in our office as a paralegal, just across the hall from me." The pair struck up conversations over strolls to get coffee and soon over lengthy roadtrips to the northwest of Louisiana for case work. "It was about six hours each way, and during those long drives, I'd ask Calvin about his life, and he would share stories from his time inside." About five years later, the duo started to record interviews, and those became the basis for writing the book. "Calvin will be the first to tell you that nearly all of his friends from that generation at Angola Prison who've come home are still doing the same work on the outside that they did on the inside," Ms Cull said. "His friends who organised politically behind bars are now working on voter education and legislative reform." People who ran the prison's award-winning newspaper, The Angolite, are now writing books and articles about the criminal justice system. "They're still playing their roles, trying to make the world better for those who come after them." Ms Cull said there was a depth of human potential locked behind prison walls that society was quick to dismiss. "That's a profound loss," she said. As a young advocate fresh-faced out of Uni, Ms Cull was ready to take on the justice system, but said her work, particularly with Mr Duncan, made her realise she was better placed amplifying the voices of people with lived experience who know what needs to change. "What has meant the most to me is learning to listen and to join the work others are already doing. That shift in perspective has helped me be a better advocate," she said. Ms Cull said it was at times challenging to capture the anguish and depth of emotion of Mr Duncan's journey through the court and prison systems in the book, as it was "hard for him to go back there". "One of the greatest challenges was ensuring I found a way to portray Calvin's emotional life with the honesty and depth it deserved ... [other] accounts brushed past the mental and emotional anguish because those things are hard to dwell on. "Calvin says that when he reads the book, he sees himself as he is. Hearing that means more to me than anything." Initial reactions to the launch have been overwhelming, as well. Ms Cull and Mr Duncan were blown away when around three times more people showed up to the launch than they expected. Mr Duncan has even given a clear indication of his preference should his story be immortalised in film. "When a film producer asked Calvin who he'd want to portray him, he didn't hesitate: Denzel Washington," Ms Cull said. "Calvin never forgets to bring a sense of fun to whatever he's doing, even in the midst of serious work." Ms Cull is looking forward to a visit home in November to promote the book. "I always love coming back to Armidale when I visit Australia. It's a special place, and the longer I've been away, the more I appreciate what it meant to grow up here, and what it means to return," she said. "I'm really looking forward to sharing the book closer to home. Even though Calvin's story unfolded a world away, I think it will resonate with anyone who has witnessed injustice in their community and felt moved to act." Australian book sellers can order copies of The Jailhouse Lawyer, but Ms Cull warned that international shipping can be pricey. The book is otherwise available through US retailers or as an e-book and audiobook from Amazon. Calvin Duncan served more than 28 years in jail for a murder he did not commit. Now, Australian author Sophie Cull has teamed with him to co-author The Jailhouse Lawyer, a memoir recounting his life and exoneration. "It's shocking-and frankly hard to fathom-that anyone could spend 28 years in prison for a crime they didn't commit," Ms Cull said. "There are people who've spent 40 or 50 years in prison after being convicted in trials that lasted less than a day, often with lawyers who never visited them beforehand." Calvin was 19 when he was arrested for a murder-robbery in 1982 and almost faced the death penalty himself. With no one coming to his rescue, Mr Duncan taught himself law to fight his own incarceration, while helping hundreds of other inmates. "Cases like Calvin's are a powerful reminder of why, even in Australia, we should be cautious about placing blind trust in an institution as fallible as the criminal justice system," Ms Cull said. Since his release, Mr Duncan has completed his law degree and now continues his advocacy to get people better access to the court system. "Calvin inspires the rest of us every day with his advocacy on behalf of men and women in prison," Ms Cull said. One man who did support Mr Duncan 40 years ago was Mack Ferrick, the then-director of an Oregon job corps campus where Mr Duncan was living. He witnessed the arrest and even flew to New Orleans to support Mr Duncan during the trial. Mr Ferrick recently reconnected with Mr Duncan via Facebook: "He told us he always believed Calvin was innocent and was appalled by how the system treated him. We were thrilled to be able to send him a signed copy of the book, it was a powerful full-circle moment," Ms Cull said. Growing up in Armidale, NSW, with her mum as a solicitor and her Dad a member of an international human rights organisation, Ms Cull said conversations about justice "were part of everyday life". "When I was about 15, I read Dead Man Walking by Sister Helen Prejean, and it had a profound impact on me. As Helen would say, it lit a fire and made me want to work against the death penalty." Ms Cull studied criminology and focused on Indigenous Justice, but heard a talk from Sunny Jacobs, who had spent time on death row in Florida. Through that talk, she learned of student internships in the US and was accepted to a placement in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 2008. It was there, working as an advocate in Capital Cases, that she met Mr Duncan, who was released in 2011. "He was already well-known in the criminal defence community for his legal work on behalf of others while incarcerated," she said. "At Angola, he had served as a jailhouse lawyer, known officially as an 'inmate counsel substitute'. Within a week of his release, he was working in our office as a paralegal, just across the hall from me." The pair struck up conversations over strolls to get coffee and soon over lengthy roadtrips to the northwest of Louisiana for case work. "It was about six hours each way, and during those long drives, I'd ask Calvin about his life, and he would share stories from his time inside." About five years later, the duo started to record interviews, and those became the basis for writing the book. "Calvin will be the first to tell you that nearly all of his friends from that generation at Angola Prison who've come home are still doing the same work on the outside that they did on the inside," Ms Cull said. "His friends who organised politically behind bars are now working on voter education and legislative reform." People who ran the prison's award-winning newspaper, The Angolite, are now writing books and articles about the criminal justice system. "They're still playing their roles, trying to make the world better for those who come after them." Ms Cull said there was a depth of human potential locked behind prison walls that society was quick to dismiss. "That's a profound loss," she said. As a young advocate fresh-faced out of Uni, Ms Cull was ready to take on the justice system, but said her work, particularly with Mr Duncan, made her realise she was better placed amplifying the voices of people with lived experience who know what needs to change. "What has meant the most to me is learning to listen and to join the work others are already doing. That shift in perspective has helped me be a better advocate," she said. Ms Cull said it was at times challenging to capture the anguish and depth of emotion of Mr Duncan's journey through the court and prison systems in the book, as it was "hard for him to go back there". "One of the greatest challenges was ensuring I found a way to portray Calvin's emotional life with the honesty and depth it deserved ... [other] accounts brushed past the mental and emotional anguish because those things are hard to dwell on. "Calvin says that when he reads the book, he sees himself as he is. Hearing that means more to me than anything." Initial reactions to the launch have been overwhelming, as well. Ms Cull and Mr Duncan were blown away when around three times more people showed up to the launch than they expected. Mr Duncan has even given a clear indication of his preference should his story be immortalised in film. "When a film producer asked Calvin who he'd want to portray him, he didn't hesitate: Denzel Washington," Ms Cull said. "Calvin never forgets to bring a sense of fun to whatever he's doing, even in the midst of serious work." Ms Cull is looking forward to a visit home in November to promote the book. "I always love coming back to Armidale when I visit Australia. It's a special place, and the longer I've been away, the more I appreciate what it meant to grow up here, and what it means to return," she said. "I'm really looking forward to sharing the book closer to home. Even though Calvin's story unfolded a world away, I think it will resonate with anyone who has witnessed injustice in their community and felt moved to act." Australian book sellers can order copies of The Jailhouse Lawyer, but Ms Cull warned that international shipping can be pricey. The book is otherwise available through US retailers or as an e-book and audiobook from Amazon. Calvin Duncan served more than 28 years in jail for a murder he did not commit. Now, Australian author Sophie Cull has teamed with him to co-author The Jailhouse Lawyer, a memoir recounting his life and exoneration. "It's shocking-and frankly hard to fathom-that anyone could spend 28 years in prison for a crime they didn't commit," Ms Cull said. "There are people who've spent 40 or 50 years in prison after being convicted in trials that lasted less than a day, often with lawyers who never visited them beforehand." Calvin was 19 when he was arrested for a murder-robbery in 1982 and almost faced the death penalty himself. With no one coming to his rescue, Mr Duncan taught himself law to fight his own incarceration, while helping hundreds of other inmates. "Cases like Calvin's are a powerful reminder of why, even in Australia, we should be cautious about placing blind trust in an institution as fallible as the criminal justice system," Ms Cull said. Since his release, Mr Duncan has completed his law degree and now continues his advocacy to get people better access to the court system. "Calvin inspires the rest of us every day with his advocacy on behalf of men and women in prison," Ms Cull said. One man who did support Mr Duncan 40 years ago was Mack Ferrick, the then-director of an Oregon job corps campus where Mr Duncan was living. He witnessed the arrest and even flew to New Orleans to support Mr Duncan during the trial. Mr Ferrick recently reconnected with Mr Duncan via Facebook: "He told us he always believed Calvin was innocent and was appalled by how the system treated him. We were thrilled to be able to send him a signed copy of the book, it was a powerful full-circle moment," Ms Cull said. Growing up in Armidale, NSW, with her mum as a solicitor and her Dad a member of an international human rights organisation, Ms Cull said conversations about justice "were part of everyday life". "When I was about 15, I read Dead Man Walking by Sister Helen Prejean, and it had a profound impact on me. As Helen would say, it lit a fire and made me want to work against the death penalty." Ms Cull studied criminology and focused on Indigenous Justice, but heard a talk from Sunny Jacobs, who had spent time on death row in Florida. Through that talk, she learned of student internships in the US and was accepted to a placement in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 2008. It was there, working as an advocate in Capital Cases, that she met Mr Duncan, who was released in 2011. "He was already well-known in the criminal defence community for his legal work on behalf of others while incarcerated," she said. "At Angola, he had served as a jailhouse lawyer, known officially as an 'inmate counsel substitute'. Within a week of his release, he was working in our office as a paralegal, just across the hall from me." The pair struck up conversations over strolls to get coffee and soon over lengthy roadtrips to the northwest of Louisiana for case work. "It was about six hours each way, and during those long drives, I'd ask Calvin about his life, and he would share stories from his time inside." About five years later, the duo started to record interviews, and those became the basis for writing the book. "Calvin will be the first to tell you that nearly all of his friends from that generation at Angola Prison who've come home are still doing the same work on the outside that they did on the inside," Ms Cull said. "His friends who organised politically behind bars are now working on voter education and legislative reform." People who ran the prison's award-winning newspaper, The Angolite, are now writing books and articles about the criminal justice system. "They're still playing their roles, trying to make the world better for those who come after them." Ms Cull said there was a depth of human potential locked behind prison walls that society was quick to dismiss. "That's a profound loss," she said. As a young advocate fresh-faced out of Uni, Ms Cull was ready to take on the justice system, but said her work, particularly with Mr Duncan, made her realise she was better placed amplifying the voices of people with lived experience who know what needs to change. "What has meant the most to me is learning to listen and to join the work others are already doing. That shift in perspective has helped me be a better advocate," she said. Ms Cull said it was at times challenging to capture the anguish and depth of emotion of Mr Duncan's journey through the court and prison systems in the book, as it was "hard for him to go back there". "One of the greatest challenges was ensuring I found a way to portray Calvin's emotional life with the honesty and depth it deserved ... [other] accounts brushed past the mental and emotional anguish because those things are hard to dwell on. "Calvin says that when he reads the book, he sees himself as he is. Hearing that means more to me than anything." Initial reactions to the launch have been overwhelming, as well. Ms Cull and Mr Duncan were blown away when around three times more people showed up to the launch than they expected. Mr Duncan has even given a clear indication of his preference should his story be immortalised in film. "When a film producer asked Calvin who he'd want to portray him, he didn't hesitate: Denzel Washington," Ms Cull said. "Calvin never forgets to bring a sense of fun to whatever he's doing, even in the midst of serious work." Ms Cull is looking forward to a visit home in November to promote the book. "I always love coming back to Armidale when I visit Australia. It's a special place, and the longer I've been away, the more I appreciate what it meant to grow up here, and what it means to return," she said. "I'm really looking forward to sharing the book closer to home. Even though Calvin's story unfolded a world away, I think it will resonate with anyone who has witnessed injustice in their community and felt moved to act." Australian book sellers can order copies of The Jailhouse Lawyer, but Ms Cull warned that international shipping can be pricey. The book is otherwise available through US retailers or as an e-book and audiobook from Amazon. Calvin Duncan served more than 28 years in jail for a murder he did not commit. Now, Australian author Sophie Cull has teamed with him to co-author The Jailhouse Lawyer, a memoir recounting his life and exoneration. "It's shocking-and frankly hard to fathom-that anyone could spend 28 years in prison for a crime they didn't commit," Ms Cull said. "There are people who've spent 40 or 50 years in prison after being convicted in trials that lasted less than a day, often with lawyers who never visited them beforehand." Calvin was 19 when he was arrested for a murder-robbery in 1982 and almost faced the death penalty himself. With no one coming to his rescue, Mr Duncan taught himself law to fight his own incarceration, while helping hundreds of other inmates. "Cases like Calvin's are a powerful reminder of why, even in Australia, we should be cautious about placing blind trust in an institution as fallible as the criminal justice system," Ms Cull said. Since his release, Mr Duncan has completed his law degree and now continues his advocacy to get people better access to the court system. "Calvin inspires the rest of us every day with his advocacy on behalf of men and women in prison," Ms Cull said. One man who did support Mr Duncan 40 years ago was Mack Ferrick, the then-director of an Oregon job corps campus where Mr Duncan was living. He witnessed the arrest and even flew to New Orleans to support Mr Duncan during the trial. Mr Ferrick recently reconnected with Mr Duncan via Facebook: "He told us he always believed Calvin was innocent and was appalled by how the system treated him. We were thrilled to be able to send him a signed copy of the book, it was a powerful full-circle moment," Ms Cull said. Growing up in Armidale, NSW, with her mum as a solicitor and her Dad a member of an international human rights organisation, Ms Cull said conversations about justice "were part of everyday life". "When I was about 15, I read Dead Man Walking by Sister Helen Prejean, and it had a profound impact on me. As Helen would say, it lit a fire and made me want to work against the death penalty." Ms Cull studied criminology and focused on Indigenous Justice, but heard a talk from Sunny Jacobs, who had spent time on death row in Florida. Through that talk, she learned of student internships in the US and was accepted to a placement in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 2008. It was there, working as an advocate in Capital Cases, that she met Mr Duncan, who was released in 2011. "He was already well-known in the criminal defence community for his legal work on behalf of others while incarcerated," she said. "At Angola, he had served as a jailhouse lawyer, known officially as an 'inmate counsel substitute'. Within a week of his release, he was working in our office as a paralegal, just across the hall from me." The pair struck up conversations over strolls to get coffee and soon over lengthy roadtrips to the northwest of Louisiana for case work. "It was about six hours each way, and during those long drives, I'd ask Calvin about his life, and he would share stories from his time inside." About five years later, the duo started to record interviews, and those became the basis for writing the book. "Calvin will be the first to tell you that nearly all of his friends from that generation at Angola Prison who've come home are still doing the same work on the outside that they did on the inside," Ms Cull said. "His friends who organised politically behind bars are now working on voter education and legislative reform." People who ran the prison's award-winning newspaper, The Angolite, are now writing books and articles about the criminal justice system. "They're still playing their roles, trying to make the world better for those who come after them." Ms Cull said there was a depth of human potential locked behind prison walls that society was quick to dismiss. "That's a profound loss," she said. As a young advocate fresh-faced out of Uni, Ms Cull was ready to take on the justice system, but said her work, particularly with Mr Duncan, made her realise she was better placed amplifying the voices of people with lived experience who know what needs to change. "What has meant the most to me is learning to listen and to join the work others are already doing. That shift in perspective has helped me be a better advocate," she said. Ms Cull said it was at times challenging to capture the anguish and depth of emotion of Mr Duncan's journey through the court and prison systems in the book, as it was "hard for him to go back there". "One of the greatest challenges was ensuring I found a way to portray Calvin's emotional life with the honesty and depth it deserved ... [other] accounts brushed past the mental and emotional anguish because those things are hard to dwell on. "Calvin says that when he reads the book, he sees himself as he is. Hearing that means more to me than anything." Initial reactions to the launch have been overwhelming, as well. Ms Cull and Mr Duncan were blown away when around three times more people showed up to the launch than they expected. Mr Duncan has even given a clear indication of his preference should his story be immortalised in film. "When a film producer asked Calvin who he'd want to portray him, he didn't hesitate: Denzel Washington," Ms Cull said. "Calvin never forgets to bring a sense of fun to whatever he's doing, even in the midst of serious work." Ms Cull is looking forward to a visit home in November to promote the book. "I always love coming back to Armidale when I visit Australia. It's a special place, and the longer I've been away, the more I appreciate what it meant to grow up here, and what it means to return," she said. "I'm really looking forward to sharing the book closer to home. Even though Calvin's story unfolded a world away, I think it will resonate with anyone who has witnessed injustice in their community and felt moved to act." Australian book sellers can order copies of The Jailhouse Lawyer, but Ms Cull warned that international shipping can be pricey. The book is otherwise available through US retailers or as an e-book and audiobook from Amazon.
Scoop
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Whāia Te Taniwha, A New Exhibition At Christchurch Art Gallery, Explores The Enduring Presence Of Taniwha In Aotearoa
Opening 20 September, this exhibition of work by Māori artists offers a window into the rich narratives of taniwha that tāngata whenua have held for generations. Co-curator Chloe Cull says that while many people in Aotearoa are familiar with the idea of taniwha, post-colonial, Western representations of taniwha have often been one-dimensional or inaccurate. 'This exhibition celebrates the diversity of taniwha. They are shapeshifters, oceanic guides, leaders, adversaries, guardians and tricksters who have left their marks on the Aotearoa landscape. ' Whāia te Taniwha also responds to the impact of colonisation on Māori knowledge systems by celebrating the deep and varied presence of taniwha within te ao Māori,' says Cull. The exhibition includes new major commissions from renowned Aotearoa artists such as Lisa Reihana and Maungarongo Te Kawa. Ngāi Tahu artists will also be well represented in the exhibition, with new work being developed by Jennifer Rendall, Fran Spencer, Kommi Tamati-Elliffe, Turumeke Harrington, Piri Cowie and Madison Kelly. These new works will be shown alongside existing works on loan to the Gallery. 'With the bulk of the exhibition comprising new commissions and loans, it'll be the first opportunity to see many of these works in Christchurch,' says Cull. The exhibition was inspired by Taniwha: A cultural history – a Marsden Fund supported research project by exhibition co-curators Dr Kirsty Dunn and Dr Madi Williams. Dunn explains that the inability to categorise or define taniwha are part of their enduring power. 'Many of the artists consider how ancestral knowledge within taniwha narratives provide potential pathways through contemporary challenges; these pathways are powerful, sometimes playful, sometimes confronting, and sometimes they reveal themselves in unexpected ways. Audiences might have some of their expectations challenged in this exhibition.' For those who enjoy interactive experiences, there will be a few things on offer – including an augmented reality sculpture and a video game that invites players to search for items that can uplift the wellbeing of a taniwha. Williams adds, 'Just as taniwha take many shapes and forms, the exhibition includes a multitude of disciplines – from painting and sculpture to textiles, video poetry and photography. 'Visitors will be invited to consider who, rather than what, taniwha are – and how taniwha stories can help us understand and navigate the world around us.' Whāia te Taniwha opens Saturday 20 September 2025 and closes on 15 February 2026.
Scoop
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
20 September 2025 To 15 February 2026
Whāia te Taniwha, a new major exhibition at Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, explores the enduring presence of taniwha in Aotearoa. Opening 20 September, this exhibition of work by Māori artists offers a window into the rich narratives of taniwha that tāngata whenua have held for generations. Co-curator Chloe Cull says that while many people in Aotearoa are familiar with the idea of taniwha, post-colonial, Western representations of taniwha have often been one-dimensional or inaccurate. 'This exhibition celebrates the diversity of taniwha. They are shapeshifters, oceanic guides, leaders, adversaries, guardians and tricksters who have left their marks on the Aotearoa landscape. ' Whāia te Taniwha also responds to the impact of colonisation on Māori knowledge systems by celebrating the deep and varied presence of taniwha within te ao Māori,' says Cull. The exhibition includes new major commissions from renowned Aotearoa artists such as Lisa Reihana and Maungarongo Te Kawa. Ngāi Tahu artists will also be well represented in the exhibition, with new work being developed by Jennifer Rendall, Fran Spencer, Kommi Tamati-Elliffe, Turumeke Harrington, Piri Cowie and Madison Kelly. These new works will be shown alongside existing works on loan to the Gallery. 'With the bulk of the exhibition comprising new commissions and loans, it'll be the first opportunity to see many of these works in Christchurch,' says Cull. The exhibition was inspired by Taniwha: A cultural history – a Marsden Fund supported research project by exhibition co-curators Dr Kirsty Dunn and Dr Madi Williams. Dunn explains that the inability to categorise or define taniwha are part of their enduring power. 'Many of the artists consider how ancestral knowledge within taniwha narratives provide potential pathways through contemporary challenges; these pathways are powerful, sometimes playful, sometimes confronting, and sometimes they reveal themselves in unexpected ways. Audiences might have some of their expectations challenged in this exhibition.' For those who enjoy interactive experiences, there will be a few things on offer – including an augmented reality sculpture and a video game that invites players to search for items that can uplift the wellbeing of a taniwha. Williams adds, 'Just as taniwha take many shapes and forms, the exhibition includes a multitude of disciplines – from painting and sculpture to textiles, video poetry and photography. 'Visitors will be invited to consider who, rather than what, taniwha are – and how taniwha stories can help us understand and navigate the world around us.' Whāia te Taniwha opens Saturday 20 September 2025 and closes on 15 February 2026.
