Witness (Milligan book)
 | |
| Author | Louise Milligan |
|---|---|
| Genre | Non-Fiction |
| Publisher | Hachette Australia |
Publication date | 27 October 2020 |
| Publication place | Australia |
| Pages | 384 |
| ISBN | 9780733644634 |
Witness is a 2020 non-fiction book by investigative journalist Louise Milligan. The book explores the ways in which victims of crime, particularly victims of sexual assault and child sexual abuse, are mistreated by the legal system when appearing as witnesses in court. The book was inspired by Milligan's own experience testifying in the trial of George Pell, an Australian cardinal accused of sexual abuse.[1] Milligan later said in interviews that being cross-examined in Pell's trial was like being "hit by a truck" and that Pell's lawyer Robert Richter had consistently addressed her in a "sneering, sarcastic, bullying" tone.[2][3] The book was shortlisted for the 2021 Stella Prize and the 2021 Victorian Premier's Literary Award for Non-Fiction.[4]
Reception
[edit]Witness received positive reviews. A review in The Conversation labelled the book an "excoriating critique of the failures of the criminal justice system" and "a triumph of intellect and empathy".[5] In the Sydney Morning Herald, a reviewer called the book "lucid, scathing and, often, exceptionally moving".[6] In The Saturday Paper, legal academic Kieran Pender praised Milligan's ability to balance a structural critique of the criminal justice system with moving stories of individuals' experiences.[7] Beejax Silcox gave a positive review of the book in Australian Book Review, writing that Milligan's recounting of her cross-examination made for "riveting, rage-making reading".[8]
Awards
[edit]| Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Stella Prize | — | Shortlisted | [4] |
| Colin Roderick Award | — | Shortlisted | [9] | |
| Victorian Premier's Literary Awards | Victorian Premier's Prize for Nonfiction | Shortlisted | [10] | |
| People's Choice Award | Won | [10] |
References
[edit]- ^ "Witness". Hachette Australia. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
- ^ Wootton, Hannah (13 November 2020). "How to stop witnesses from being treated like criminals in court". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
- ^ Williams, Roy (12 February 2021). "Louise Milligan's Witness and the high price of seeking justice". The Australian. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
- ^ a b "Witness – Louise Milligan". Stella Prize. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
- ^ Mathews, Ben (27 October 2020). "Review: Louise Milligan's Witness is a devastating critique of the criminal trial process". The Conversation. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
- ^ Fry, Declan (12 February 2021). "Who'd want to be a witness when it just means more trauma?". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
- ^ Pender, Kieran (14 November 2020). "Witness". The Saturday Paper. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
- ^ Silcox, Beejay (January–February 2021). "Bearing witness". Australian Book Review. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
- ^ "Women and fiction dominate the 2021 Colin Roderick Literary Award Shortlist". James Cook University. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
- ^ a b "2021 Victorian Premier's Literary Awards". The Wheeler Centre. Retrieved 21 April 2025.