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Chopper Read's death 'offers lesson'
Updated: 06:21, Thursday October 10, 2013
Chopper Read's death 'offers lesson'
Mark 'Chopper' Read was no hero, but there are lessons to be learned from his violent life, a former prison chaplain says.

The best-selling crime author who spent almost half his life in jail died on Wednesday after a battle with liver cancer, aged 58.

Read's crimes included armed robbery, assault and kidnapping, even trying to abduct a County Court judge at gunpoint.

He also claimed involvement in killing 19 people and the attempted murder of 11 others.

Former prison chaplain Peter Norden says there are lessons to be learnt from Read's life and 'warehousing' people in jail.

'He's no hero but I think you look at his life and there's lessons to be learnt,' he said.

'You wonder whether there must be a better way than putting people in prison.

'o we want to try and prevent creating characters like this one?

'If we want to do that, we've got to get in early.

'We've got to start when they're kids and young and make sure they get a good education and access to jobs.

Mr Norden describes Read as a complex character who was a loner in jail.

'He was unpredictable,' he said.

'He came through the school where you had to fight to survive.'

But Mr Norden said Read's life changed for the better when he met wife Margaret.

'She stuck by him and helped him settle and have a reasonable life in the end,' he said.

'If only he had've met someone like her much earlier in life.

'It might have been a bit more peaceful life, without so much violence.'

Read's books made him Australia's best selling true crime author and he was immortalised in the movie Chopper, which was released in 2000.

He leaves behind wife Margaret Cassar and sons, Roy and Charlie.

if u lived in australia u would think different i think chopper was a fkn legend so many ppl wanted him dead my uncle did time in prison with him and he said chopper was a staunch person no1 could get too him no matter what cause uncle chop chop was allways too smart UNCLE CHOP CHOP

if u lived in australia u would think different? what the fuck are u saying that to me? I live in Australia M8 been here for 35 years, I'm not saying he was not a hero

my bad i miss read :vince:

noprob m8:y:

What a strong women helping him turn his life around
Amazing story, may have to read some of his books now.

Chop. Where's that Jimmy Loughnan!!!

I lived about an hours drive from Chopper, R.I.P M8

Watch His vid m8:y::y:

R.I.P Chopper, big lost