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A Witness of Fact: the peculiar case of chief forensic pathologist Colin Manock
SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2022 NED KELLY AWARD FOR BEST TRUE CRIME
The compelling story of South Australia’s disgraced former chief forensic pathologist and the legal scandals in which he became implicated.
For nearly three decades, Dr Colin Manock was in charge of South Australia’s forensic pathology services, and played a vital role within the state’s criminal justice in cases of unexpected or unexplained death, it was his job to determine when a person took their final breath and whether they had died naturally or as a result of something more sinister. Throughout his long career, he performed more than 10,000 autopsies and gave expert scientific evidence in court that helped secure approximately 400 criminal convictions.
But, remarkably, Manock, a self-described ‘witness of fact’, did not have the necessary training for such a senior, specialist role, and he made serious errors in several major cases — with tragic consequences, including the apparently wrongful imprisonment of innocent people. The full extent of his wrongdoing and the exact number of cases impacted by it remains a mystery more than twenty-five years after he retired, due to the continuing refusal of those in power to heed calls to launch a formal inquiry into his career.
In this book, Rooke examines several of Manock’s most controversial cases, and speaks with many of his former colleagues, people directly impacted by his flawed work, and legal experts. At its heart, A Witness of Fact is about how an entire legal system has failed badly, how unsafe verdicts have been swept under the carpet — and how forensic evidence that is admitted in courts of law in Australia and across the world is dubious more often than we would like to think.
The compelling story of South Australia’s disgraced former chief forensic pathologist and the legal scandals in which he became implicated.
For nearly three decades, Dr Colin Manock was in charge of South Australia’s forensic pathology services, and played a vital role within the state’s criminal justice in cases of unexpected or unexplained death, it was his job to determine when a person took their final breath and whether they had died naturally or as a result of something more sinister. Throughout his long career, he performed more than 10,000 autopsies and gave expert scientific evidence in court that helped secure approximately 400 criminal convictions.
But, remarkably, Manock, a self-described ‘witness of fact’, did not have the necessary training for such a senior, specialist role, and he made serious errors in several major cases — with tragic consequences, including the apparently wrongful imprisonment of innocent people. The full extent of his wrongdoing and the exact number of cases impacted by it remains a mystery more than twenty-five years after he retired, due to the continuing refusal of those in power to heed calls to launch a formal inquiry into his career.
In this book, Rooke examines several of Manock’s most controversial cases, and speaks with many of his former colleagues, people directly impacted by his flawed work, and legal experts. At its heart, A Witness of Fact is about how an entire legal system has failed badly, how unsafe verdicts have been swept under the carpet — and how forensic evidence that is admitted in courts of law in Australia and across the world is dubious more often than we would like to think.
201 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 1, 2022
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68 people want to read
About the author
Drew Rooke
3 books7 followersDrew Rooke is a freelance journalist and author whose work has been widely published, including in The Monthly, The Saturday Paper, Kill Your Darlings, and Overland. His first book, One Last Spin: the power and peril of the pokies, was published by Scribe in 2018. He is a 2021 Our Watch Fellow.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 14, 2022
‘I’m a witness of fact …’ (Dr Colin Manock)
Forensic pathology is the sub-specialty of pathology that focuses on medico-legal investigations of sudden or unexpected death. We rely on forensic pathologists to help determine whether a person died of natural causes or as a result of something more sinister. As a society we want to be confident that the findings of a forensic pathologist can be relied on to ensure that those who commit murder are brought to justice, and that those innocent of the crime of murder are exonerated.
As a reader it is discomfiting to learn that Dr Colin Manock, the man who oversaw South Australia’s forensic pathology service between 1968 and 1995, did not have the necessary training. But discomfit is nothing compared to the hardships suffered by those wrongly convicted because of Dr Manock’s flawed work or the lack of justice delivered to those who benefitted from his mistakes.
According to the book, Dr Manock performed more than 10,000 autopsies and gave expert scientific advice in court that helped secure approximately 400 criminal convictions. And still there has been no formal inquiry into his career. Outrageous.
I became aware of this book after reading about a couple of the miscarriages of justice which occurred as a result of his evidence.
The book is divided into three sections. The first concerns Manock’s background, his initial appointment in South Australia, and broad details of his career. Manock was educated in England and obtained a medical degree in 1966. In 1968 he applied for a job as the director of forensic pathology – a growing area at the time – at South Australia’s Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science (now known as SA Pathology).
The second and longest section examines examples of Manock’s mistakes which resulted in miscarriages of justice.
In the final section of the book, Mr Rooke provides examples of some other forensic pathologists who have been found to be inept, together with a more general critique of the weaknesses of forensic pathology.
A sobering read.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Forensic pathology is the sub-specialty of pathology that focuses on medico-legal investigations of sudden or unexpected death. We rely on forensic pathologists to help determine whether a person died of natural causes or as a result of something more sinister. As a society we want to be confident that the findings of a forensic pathologist can be relied on to ensure that those who commit murder are brought to justice, and that those innocent of the crime of murder are exonerated.
As a reader it is discomfiting to learn that Dr Colin Manock, the man who oversaw South Australia’s forensic pathology service between 1968 and 1995, did not have the necessary training. But discomfit is nothing compared to the hardships suffered by those wrongly convicted because of Dr Manock’s flawed work or the lack of justice delivered to those who benefitted from his mistakes.
According to the book, Dr Manock performed more than 10,000 autopsies and gave expert scientific advice in court that helped secure approximately 400 criminal convictions. And still there has been no formal inquiry into his career. Outrageous.
I became aware of this book after reading about a couple of the miscarriages of justice which occurred as a result of his evidence.
The book is divided into three sections. The first concerns Manock’s background, his initial appointment in South Australia, and broad details of his career. Manock was educated in England and obtained a medical degree in 1966. In 1968 he applied for a job as the director of forensic pathology – a growing area at the time – at South Australia’s Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science (now known as SA Pathology).
The second and longest section examines examples of Manock’s mistakes which resulted in miscarriages of justice.
In the final section of the book, Mr Rooke provides examples of some other forensic pathologists who have been found to be inept, together with a more general critique of the weaknesses of forensic pathology.
A sobering read.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
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September 14, 2021A Witness of Fact is the untold and downright bizarre true story of Colin Manock. Rooke has left no file or transcript unread, no stone unturned, and his work is a testimony to journalistic vigilance in the face of forensic science and an unquestioning legal system. Best of all, Rooke has done all the hard work for us, and in lieu of an inquiry, we have this careful and fascinating portrait of a man, his ego, and the danger between the two.
Anna Krien
Drew Rooke performs an unflinching autopsy on the 27-year career of Colin Manock, the disgraced chief forensic pathologist from South Australia who left a trail of questionable convictions and uninvestigated crimes in his wake. Rooke poses uncomfortable questions about the willingness of successive state governments to turn a blind eye to — and, in some cases, even enable — Manock’s malpractice, which became one of the worst scandals in Australian legal and medical history.
Paddy Manning
This reads like a thriller, but don't be misled. It is an important expose of how easily our system of justice goes wrong.
Margaret Simons, author of Six Square Metres
Anna Krien
Drew Rooke performs an unflinching autopsy on the 27-year career of Colin Manock, the disgraced chief forensic pathologist from South Australia who left a trail of questionable convictions and uninvestigated crimes in his wake. Rooke poses uncomfortable questions about the willingness of successive state governments to turn a blind eye to — and, in some cases, even enable — Manock’s malpractice, which became one of the worst scandals in Australian legal and medical history.
Paddy Manning
This reads like a thriller, but don't be misled. It is an important expose of how easily our system of justice goes wrong.
Margaret Simons, author of Six Square Metres
April 5, 2022
I was appalled and horrified when reading this book. Anybody who has been living in Adelaide over the past three or four decades will, of course, know the name of Colin Manock because of the scandals over certain murder cases he was involved in as chief forensic pathologist. They will also know, from the TV programmes focusing on his work, that he was a very arrogant man who never entertained the idea that he might ever possibly have got things wrong.
What I didn't know before was that he was not even qualified for the job. He was selected as what might be termed "the best of a bad bunch" of candidates when the position was advertised, even though he lacked adequate forensic training.
As I read the book, I couldn't help wondering who was protecting him and why. He was given a formal qualification several years after he had arrived in Adelaide, subjecting himself to a 20-minute oral "examination" instead of the four years of training and written papers that a medical practitioner would normally be required to undergo in order to obtain the relevant post-graduate certificate in forensic medicine.
His lackadaisical approach to autopsies (inadequate number of samples, inadequate testing, inadequate documentation etc.), his belief that "once you have a cause of death, there is no need to look any further" and his outright refusal to accept any contrary opinion from anybody else had led to a number of peer reviews of his work. All of them were negative. All of them highlighted his total incompetence. Yet he continued to hold his job for many years, at the end of which he received a substantial golden handshake on condition that he retire.
This is a sobering indictment of the medico-legal system of the time and nobody knows how many people have been wrongly incarcerated as a result of Manock. Nor, conversely, do we know how many killers have literally got away with murder because he was incapable of doing his job properly, or couldn't be bothered to do so.
I have a feeling that this book barely scratches the surface of Adelaide's well-concealed underbelly. It is definitely a must read.
What I didn't know before was that he was not even qualified for the job. He was selected as what might be termed "the best of a bad bunch" of candidates when the position was advertised, even though he lacked adequate forensic training.
As I read the book, I couldn't help wondering who was protecting him and why. He was given a formal qualification several years after he had arrived in Adelaide, subjecting himself to a 20-minute oral "examination" instead of the four years of training and written papers that a medical practitioner would normally be required to undergo in order to obtain the relevant post-graduate certificate in forensic medicine.
His lackadaisical approach to autopsies (inadequate number of samples, inadequate testing, inadequate documentation etc.), his belief that "once you have a cause of death, there is no need to look any further" and his outright refusal to accept any contrary opinion from anybody else had led to a number of peer reviews of his work. All of them were negative. All of them highlighted his total incompetence. Yet he continued to hold his job for many years, at the end of which he received a substantial golden handshake on condition that he retire.
This is a sobering indictment of the medico-legal system of the time and nobody knows how many people have been wrongly incarcerated as a result of Manock. Nor, conversely, do we know how many killers have literally got away with murder because he was incapable of doing his job properly, or couldn't be bothered to do so.
I have a feeling that this book barely scratches the surface of Adelaide's well-concealed underbelly. It is definitely a must read.
September 29, 2024
Bleak and disturbing
May 10, 2022
Well. That was disturbing.
June 10, 2022
This is why I'm glad we don't have the death penalty in Australia.
November 10, 2025
What an unusual man!
March 27, 2022
An interesting and well researched account of a forensic pathologist, Dr Colin Mannock. Under qualified and educated in England, he was appointed the director of forensic pathology in South Australia at the IMVS on the 1st December 1968 and remained in this position for 37 years. By this account, the man appears to have been supremely arrogant, difficult to communicate with, and very disinterested in keeping up to date with medical advances. He made a good few blunders which deeply affected the families concerned and his superiors and colleagues appeared reluctant and unwilling to take him to task. He is still alive and living in Adelaide , untouched and unaffected. He is a good example of peers in the medical profession who prefer not to lock horns to the detriment of society.
January 14, 2024
This is a well researched book which once again demonstrates how 'expertise' is deferred too even when it doesn't deserve it. An arrogant man, Colin Mannock, showed through his actions that through bluff and bluster he was able to ensure that innocent men were put behind bars and guilty men when free. The SA Government badly let down the public by not ensuring Mannock was drummed out of the pathology service of SA. His colleagues also let down the public by not calling out his behaviour. For these reasons this is an important book. What it was missing was a more engaging structure. At times it felt like reading a government document rather than a journalistic narrative. Nevertheless, bravo to Drew Rooke for highlighting the failures of the justice system in SA.
October 5, 2022
A terrifying and barefaced dive into the questionable and tumultuous history of forensic science and the legal system, in South Australia specifically, which raises questions and doubts for the nation as a whole.
“A Witness of Fact” is a compelling and directly told tale of deceit, incompetence, and politics, which refuses to pull punches and does not shy away from courting controversy or accusing wrongful action.
A fascinating, if disheartening and at times quite dense read, for anyone with an interest in true crime or the justice system.
“A Witness of Fact” is a compelling and directly told tale of deceit, incompetence, and politics, which refuses to pull punches and does not shy away from courting controversy or accusing wrongful action.
A fascinating, if disheartening and at times quite dense read, for anyone with an interest in true crime or the justice system.
May 28, 2022
Well researched, and how disturbing. Manock the man, whilst not participating, you get an insight into his character. And it's pretty scary. Also scary is the institutions that supported (and continue) to support him. There SHOULD be an enquiry into his work, the authorities KNEW he wasn't qualified, yet continued to 'entertain' him. And like many perpetrators, in interviews he has given he claims HE is the victim. Yeah nah.
September 10, 2025
honestly tea
covers numerous cases following the thread of Manock’s work. All as shocking as the one before it.
Raises important issues regarding the faith that judges, juries and the public have in experts in the criminal justice system. How unchecked experts can be due to an imposing title. The blatant incompetencies in some of these cases is unbelievable, even to a person w/o a forensic background.
Shocking that this isn’t even more well known!!
covers numerous cases following the thread of Manock’s work. All as shocking as the one before it.
Raises important issues regarding the faith that judges, juries and the public have in experts in the criminal justice system. How unchecked experts can be due to an imposing title. The blatant incompetencies in some of these cases is unbelievable, even to a person w/o a forensic background.
Shocking that this isn’t even more well known!!
January 4, 2023
It helped that I knew several people in the book and that I now work closely with the current team at Forensics in my role at the Coroner’s Court. I love a book where you are that close to the story. This is a dark and still very raw episode in South Australian history. It’s little wonder it isn’t talked about much! I enjoyed this immensely.
March 29, 2024
This was the greatest and most captivating book I’ve read. I’m sure that it may not be for everyone but I love it so much and I just couldn’t put it down. I read about 100 pages in a matter of hours just so I could see the next case or next interview. If you like true crime then you’ll love this! I loved it, THANK YOU DREW!!
February 6, 2022
This is an important and timely book. I reviewed it for the Saturday Paper here: https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/c...
February 11, 2024
An interesting read that highlights how miscarriages of justice can occur when arrogance and self-righteousness get in the way of truth and justice.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews