Drew Rooke Knihy

The story of South Australia's former chief forensic pathologist reveals a troubling narrative of legal scandals and professional misconduct. Dr. Colin Manock oversaw forensic pathology services for nearly three decades, determining the causes of unexpected deaths and contributing to the criminal justice system. He conducted over 10,000 autopsies and provided expert testimony that led to around 400 convictions. However, Manock lacked the necessary training for his role and made significant errors in several high-profile cases, resulting in tragic outcomes, including the wrongful imprisonment of innocent individuals. Despite his retirement over twenty-five years ago, the full scope of his mistakes and the number of affected cases remain unclear, as calls for a formal inquiry have been ignored by those in power. This examination delves into some of Manock's most contentious cases, featuring insights from former colleagues, victims of his errors, and legal experts. At its core, the narrative highlights the failures of an entire legal system, the concealment of unsafe verdicts, and the troubling reliability of forensic evidence used in courts in Australia and beyond.