A State of Injustice

by Robert Moles

This is a book about bad science and a flawed criminal justice system … The challenge is how Australians as a community face up to the reality of serious miscarriages of justice. Derrick Pounder, Professor of Forensic Pathology, University of Dundee Most people presume that the legal system works pretty well at dispensing justice. As a community we tend to believe that the fairness, rigour and democratic principles inherent in our justice system means that the presumption of innocence is protected, that only the truly guilty are sent to prison. But this is not always the case.Drawing on painstaking research and insightful analysis, A State of Injustice examines various cases where forensic investigations were later found to be flawed. These cases have prompted calls for the establishment of a Criminal Cases Review Commission and raised doubts about the involvement of the former Chief of Forensic Pathology for South Australia, Dr Colin Manock, whose qualifications for the job have come into question. In view of the errors brought to light, author Robert Moles asks, have innocent people been wrongly imprisoned and have guilty parties literally gotten away with murder?A State of Injustice will make every reader If the system fails, who then will protect the innocent?This book deals with Criminal justice principles Police and forensic science proceduresAutopsy procedures and medical matters in cause and manner of death. It deals with the cases Frits Van Beelen 1972David Szach 1979 Niewdach and Ellis 1992Emily Perry 1981John Highfold 1983 and Kingsley Dixon 1987Terry Akritidis 1990 The Baby Deaths cases 1994 Henry Keogh 1995 Michael Penney 1996It also deals with some serious plea-bargaining cases where it was thought that prosecutors had arrived at unduly favourable outcomes. The book makes recommendations for reforms of the legal system, including the establishment of a Criminal Cases Review Commission.

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 30, 2012

Reviews

[Michael Madigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bob Moles book delves into the murky world of forensics. Moles opens the Pandora's box regarding the discredited Chief Pathologist Dr Mannock... watch this space!