From: summer@mamura.ee.mu.oz.au (Mark Summerfield)
Subject: Sn*ff references required, please!
Organization: University of Melbourne, Australia. 
Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1992 07:20:05 GMT

I am preparing an essay for a course I have been doing, and as part of this
(a small part, I might add) I wish to make mention of sn*ff movies. Now, I
am well aware that it is impossible to sway the true believers to a more
rational way of thinking, however for my purposes is is obviously sufficient
that I back up *my* point of view, and not necessary that I actually change
anybody's mind! :-)

I know what's in the FAQ, but I need more precise references. If you have any
of the information I ask for below, or if you can point me in the right
direction, please e-mail. Thanks to anybody who can help...

] SNUFF MOVIES
] Tb.The Feds, cops, CIA, etc. have never actually found a real snuff film.
] T. Scotland Yard has found no evidence of snuff films in the last 20 years.

Is there a reference to an official statement by Scotland Yard which backs
this claim up? If so, do you have it, or know how I can track it down from
here in Australia?

] F. "Snuff films" actually exist (Nope, tho' there are various wannabe fakes)
] T. Some psychotics have taped the murder of their victims.

Are there any really famous cases of this (ie have any of the better known
serial killers done it?) I am aware of this phenomenon in books and film
(eg "Red Dragon"/"Manhunter", "Henry, Portrait of a serial killer",
"American Psycho" -- others, anyone?)

] T. Search in WestLaw in 1991 showed no mention of cases on "snuff films".

Could someone please give me some information about WestLaw -- I gather
it's some sort of database? How complete and authoratative is it? Is there
an address for the company that runs it? If the person who did the search
is out there, perhaps they could let me know what terms they used, and how
complete they feel the search was?

] F. "Faces of Death" is a snuff film.
] F. "Snuff" was a real snuff film.

Does anybody have directors/producers/years of release for these films?
I've checked with my local video libraries, and they don't have them
(which shows remarkably good taste on their parts :-) What's "Snuff"
about? I've heard about a film which tells the story of people making
snuff movies, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't called "Snuff". 
 
] Paul Lanning, the FBI's chief researcher into child pornographers
] was quoted by "The Times" of London:
]       "In 20 years I have not seen any hard evidence that they have
]        commercially produced sexually explicit films of murders for the
]        gratification of other people.  Simulated snuff movies using
]        special effects are so realistic there is no point in risking life
]        in jail."

A tough one, I'm sure -- but can anybody put a date to this excerpt?

Thanks again for any assistance at all.

Mark.
          --------------------------------------------------------
              Mark Summerfield,  Photonics Research Laboratory
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Melbourne  
                ACSnet[AARN/Internet]: summer@ee.mu.oz[.au] 
          --------------------------------------------------------
   "This terminal is no more. It has ceased to be. It's expired and gone
    to meet its maker. This is a late terminal. It's a stiff. Bereft of
     life, it rests in peace. If you hadn't nailed it to the bench, it
      would be pushing up the daisies. It's run down the curtain and
            joined the choir invisible. This is an X-Terminal!"