2 sides of a coin

Allow me to engage in some mindless trashy blogging. Some of the remarks below may shock you so if you wish to retain your impression of me (particularly for friends who have known me for so many years), please do not read further.

I am sure many of you have read about the deaths of a 33 year old married man and a 19 year old unmarried girl.

Have been reading bits and pieces of it in TNP. Yes, one of the perks of my job is we get trashy TNP in office.

In today's TNP, both families were, to call a spade a spade, slinging mud at each other. The male camp claimed that he was a family man, who would never cast a second look at girls even when its a boys night out. The female camp claimed that she was a lovely girl. Each camp insists or rather insinuated that this tragedy was the fault of the other.

The circumstances in which the bodies have been discovered will definitely lead to many office water cooler speculations that there was more to it than meets the eye. I am sure this has not escape the grieving family members. Hence it may explain why today they tried, perhaps in a desperate attempt, to preserve the image and character of their loved ones. Perhaps it may not have occurred to them that by doing so, they would cause the other victim to be seen in a negative light. And more importantly, cause readers to make judgements and take sides. This is to say, prior to any additional information, you would judge both to be either guilty or innocent. Now, you will judge ONE to be more guilty.

Presented with two sides of the story, who am I more likely to believe? My answer is the one put forward by the family and friends of Jerome Peck for the reasons listed below. This is my humble armchair superficial analysis, based on the articles in TNP, to give my brain some work to do. Allow me to state that it is not my intention to add to the grief of those related to Mr Peck and Ms Gian, nor to show any disrespect to the dead.

1. Contradictions

Between the 2, Mrs Peck maintained a more consistent story as compared to Linda's family. Linda had always been Jerome's friend. At the worst, she was someone who her late husband suspects to be having a crush on him. Her words were consistent with her actions - ie asking if the person murdered with her husband was the same Linda Gian.

Linda's family morphed Jerome from a casual office colleague whom they hardly saw or heard of from Linda to someone who was a 'love struck persistent suitor whom she had to turn down again and again'. Sister of Linda why then did you tell TNP the day before that your mother did not think the 2 were linked romantically only to have your mother say the very next day that she had 'expressed her concerns to the rest of the family'? Why then did you say that you were close to your sister and she only mentioned that he was a close colleague only to drastically change your story the next? Your sisters, father and yourself have also vehemently denied any suggestions that the two were linked only the day before! One day you claim that you had no idea who she was going to meet the night she died, only to suddenly remember it was Jerome Peck the next? I have heard of wonder cures for memory loss, but whichever pill your family takes is certainly worth every penny. If not, then either Linda or yourselves are accomplished liars, in which I would find it hard to believe your stories from henceforth.

2. Mother's reaction

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Monday's TNP distinctively gave the impression that the mother of the late Linda Gian had no idea that the late Jerome Peck was married until the day the wife came to id the body, contrary to what Mrs Gian claims. If not, will you wait till the wife walks past you to cry out 'He's married. He has a wife.'? Will these be the words and reaction of someone who knew that the man was a married man? I do not think so. Because that reaction was more spontaneous and immediate, I would think that is the one which is closer to the truth.

I find it strange that Mrs Gian, on one hand says that Linda has told her about the breakdown in Jerome Peck's marriage, yet on the other claims that Linda did not want to get involved in an office relationship as it would making working together uncomfortable. Shouldnt the main focus here be to NOT get involved with the man because he was MARRIED? At least that is what most sane people would think. It makes me feel that the mother did not know he was married, which effectively discredits her statements about troubled marriage etc. Also, consider the words of her brother in law, saying how they have told Linda to be careful of Jerome Peck since he did not want to meet the family. Do they sound like the words of a man who knows his sister in law is seeing a married man? A man who is dodgy perhaps, but married definitely no.

3. Authenticity of character witness

Did you notice that for Jerome Peck, TNP actually spoke to a colleague cum drinking buddy who declined to be named. It may be only one, but it was at least still a first hand information. It may be a good testimony because it came from a friend, but no one else has come forward with a contrary story. Remember the case of Liu Hong Mei where colleagueS came forth to say that they were suspected to be an item?

The story from Linda's family all appear to be second or third hand information - eg. ex colleague who told the sister Jerome Peck has a roving eye (so where are the testimonies from these female colleagues?), Brother in law saying that a close neighbour had to ask Peck to leave the house. (wah, so many of you present and you depend on a close neighbour to tell him to get out of YOUR house?!). Until the testimonies from this ex colleague and close neighbour becomes first hand, I'll have my reservations on their authenticity.

4. Inconsistencies

There have been too many inconsistencies in the story told by Linda's family. So please tell me explain to me, dear brother in law of Linda, why then did she find out the location of all your karaoke sessions so that she could inform Jerome? They do not strike me as being the actions of a girl actively resisting the advances of a man. Neither does that of a girl who would go out to meet him at night despite the discouragements of her family. And you let her go? Despite knowing that he is married? If a girl does not go out late at night, trust me, she will never have friends who will appear at the doorstep at 11 pm. You will also notice that her sister claims that Linda always brought her boyfriends home to meet the family. What caught my eye was the use of the plural term. Many thanks to Mrs Gian for reminding everyone that her daughter is only 19, a simple girl unable to handle such complicated matters. 19 years old who has had more than one boyfriend? It does not sound simple to me. It makes me wonder at what age did she start dating, and how long does a relationship last for her. If she has handled more than one relationship, such issues, logically speaking, would not be complicated for her.

Your side of the coin seems to be riddled with holes. Or could this be because while you all agreed on the story to present to the media, you did not remember to tally the small details?

It is small details like this that will trip you.

I believe it takes two to tango. There are many places to discuss matters and the carpark is not one that would immediately come to mind. Jerome Peck is definitely not an angel too. The point I am trying to make is that sometimes it is better not to say anything at all. Least said soonest mended. Why do you think Mrs Peck is stoically silent? How can you hurl mud at the man without dragging the poor girl's reputation through the mud as well?

I hope the two will find peace whereever they may be. And for the grieving families to move on, especially the two small children. When the next sensational news come, we will all forget about this.