Abandoned: The sad death of Dianne Brimble

On 24 September, 2002, Queensland mother Dianne Brimble was found dead on the floor of a cabin on the cruise ship Pacific Sky, less than 24 hours into what was to be the holiday of a lifetime. The cabin belonged to four men from Adelaide who were part of a group of eight colourful characters, whom the media would later describe as the most hated men in Australia.

Within hours of Dianne Brimble’s death it emerged that she had been showered and dressed before medical help was called. Soon there were rumours of drug use and group sex, which grew into allegations of rape and murder. P+O personnel failed to secure the cabin, allowing the men back in to collect their belongings thus making the truth even more difficult to determine. A police investigation, a high-profile inquest, a grieving family and a criminal trial probed what went on in those few crucial early morning hours ending in her death. This extraordinary case, which captivated Australia, highlights the lines between criminal and moral responsibility and how easily things can get out of hand when care is abandoned.