John McKechnie’s name would be instantly recognisable to Western Australians who follow the news, and over the last few decades he’s regularly been in the papers — first as a prosecutor, later a judge, and finally as the head of the Western Australian Corruption and Crime Commission.
Recently retired, McKechnie has shared his decades of legal experience in a book that is part autobiography, part reflection on the legal system, and part a selection of interesting cases from across the decades.
Put out by local publishing house Upswell, this book will satisfy the true‑crime enthusiast, potentially inspire some to embark on a career in the legal profession, while also giving us an insight into Perth society and life from decades past — history buffs will find interest here too.
McKechnie grew up in Dalkeith in the 1950s, which today is one of Perth’s most affluent suburbs, filled with mansions, billionaires, mining magnates and exclusive private schools. McKechnie recalls a house built at a time when, in the post‑war years, supplies were short, and he and his older brother slept in a bunk bed on the enclosed verandah of a simple home.
His life was filled with holidays in Rottnest or Walpole, Sundays were spent at church, and young boys were members of the Scouts, spending their time swimming in the Swan River. McKechnie wasn’t the greatest school student, but managed to pass his exams and head to university.
Before starting his studies he travelled to the USA as an exchange student. Nineteen sixty‑eight was a time of political upheaval and cultural change, giving the young man a broader view of the world than he was exposed to in isolated Western Australia.
He continues his story with the decision to study law over medicine, and his early adventures in the legal profession at a time when Australia was undergoing its own political change with the arrival of the Whitlam government. We follow the prominent legal mind as he progresses to the highest ranks of the judiciary, along the way being involved in some of Western Australia’s most significant and memorable cases. Every step is a journey through modern history.
The next section of the book focuses on some significant cases in Western Australia’s history — those that brought about big changes to our laws. The final section of the book gives brief recollections of a wide number of interesting cases, each wrapped up in just a few pages.
This final section is the larger part of the work, and it’s something you can read in full or just dip into when you feel like a hit of true crime. These are cases that McKechnie delivers as a presentation of the diverse range of issues the law intersects. Some are cases he worked on, others are included simply because they are very interesting or quirky.
From the days of Alan Bond and Laurie Connell to drug deals gone wrong leading to murders, robberies, domestic violence, frauds and scams, abductions, and hijinks that lead to unintended outcomes, John McKechnie takes us on a tour of them all.
