This thirty minute documentary covers in fascinating minute detail a sensational crime that occurred in Australia in 1934: The mutilated body of a young woman was discovered on a stretch of road. Mangled beyond recognition, the police had the body preserved and allowed the public to look at it in an attempt to identify the victim. The authorities eventually believed that the victim was a British immigrant named Linda Agostini, who was married to an Italian man, Antonio Agostini. Although Antonio confessed to killing his wife, he was nonetheless acquitted of murder by the jury in the resultant trial and found guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter instead. However, Pyjama Girl murder case expert Richard Evans believes that Linda wasn't the famous Pyjama Girl victim (so called because threads of silk believed to be pajamas were discovered on the body) due to discrepancies in Antonio's confession and the fact that Linda wasn't an exact physical match for the body. Eccentric doctor Dr. Benbow came up with an alternate theory that another woman named Anna Philomena Morgan was the Pyjama Girl, but his theories were dismissed because he heavily doctored the evidence in an attempt to make his claims stick. Moreover, the 1977 giallo inspired by the case is also discussed. Both black and white newsreel clips and some graphic photos are presented throughout. Fortunately, director Mark Hartley avoids lurid sensationalism and keeps the tone matter of fact from start to finish. An absorbing and informative short.
User Reviews
Review this titleSee also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews