Monday, July 20, 2015

Bulletin: The Advertiser weighs in on the wave of criminal appeals challenging the evidence of former state chief forensic pathologist Dr Colin Manock, in a bid to clear their names. At least 20 potential appeals are being worked on in the wake of Henry Keogh's murder conviction being overturned and a retrial scheduled for next March. The majority of those appeals will rely heavily on perceived flaws in the forensic evidence of Dr Manock, which was a crucial element of the successful Keogh appeal. A lot of grist for this Blog's forensic mill! HL)

(Our thanks to Dr. Robert Moles for bringing to our attention  and providing the page setup for Bryan Littlely's exclusive story "Murderers lining up to appeal forensic evidence," published by the Advertiser  on July 21, 2015.) "Convicted murderers are poised to launch a wave of criminal appeals challenging the  evidence of former state chief forensic pathologist Dr Colin Manock, in a bid to clear their names. At least 20 potential appeals are being worked on in the wake of Henry Keogh's murder conviction being overturned and a retrial scheduled for next March. The majority of those appeals will rely heavily on perceived flaws in the forensic evidence of Dr Manock, which was a crucial element of the successful Keogh appeal. Former University of Adelaide law academic turned justice campaigner Dr. Robert Moles said convicted murderer Derek Bromley will lead the charge and is expected to lodge an appeal by the end of this month. He has spent 30 years behind bars and is now at Cadell Training Centre. He was convicted of the 1984 bashing murder of Stephen Docoza, 21, at the River Torrens and  has refused to admit guilt despite it meaning he could have been released from prison up to 10 years ago. Bromley's appeal case will centre on an argument that Docoza's body was immersed in water for five days and the injuries Dr Manock suggested led to his death could reasonably have happened post mortem and not as a result of an assault which caused his death. "Derek could, a couple of times, have admitted to the crime, said he's sorry and walked from prison," Dr Moles said. "But he does not wish to admit to a crime he maintains he did not commit and wants it proven he did not commit the crime.""