PCA Report paragraphs 209-210. Title from David and Goliath p63.

209. A major theme in Mr Karam's book is the fact that the prosecution established no motive for David to have killed members of his family. He contends that the Police acted prematurely in arresting David and became subjective in the way they dealt with evidence. In effect he declares as unbelievable that a young man should have callously murdered his parents and his brother and sisters without any apparent reason. He implies that if the Police wished to bring a case against David it was up to them to put forward a motive which could have been examined and debated .

210. The question of motive was well canvassed before the jury and it was explained that the prosecution has a duty to prove intent in a criminal case, but not motive. Mr Karam still thinks there was an obligation on the prosecution to show a convincing reason for the killings before David should have been charged or convicted. In his closing address to the jury, Mr Wright, the Crown Solicitor, said " ... you've heard evidence from the Crown indicating that the accused is a disturbed young man. In the weeks prior to 20^th of June his behaviour was bizarre. It is not my job to speculate on this. The accused's reasons, his motivation, are irrelevart." In his summing up, Justice Williamson said that the Crown had told the jury " ... that these events were so bizarre and abnormal that it was impossible for the human mind to conceive of any logical or reasonable explanation".