There will be an inquiry into Queensland's state-run forensic testing lab. Here's what the outcomes could be
2 years, 9 months ago

There will be an inquiry into Queensland's state-run forensic testing lab. Here's what the outcomes could be

ABC  

After mounting concerns about DNA testing at the state-run forensics lab, the Queensland government has announced a commission of inquiry. But Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said revelations last week about police concerns about DNA testing thresholds "changed everything", prompting the need for a full commission of inquiry. The submission from police revealed that not all samples were being fully tested at the state-run forensics lab due to a "testing threshold", but results may have been possible through additional testing. Defence lawyer Bill Potts, who has been practising criminal law for 40 years, said it "may well be that juries are not being provided with the best possible evidence, or indeed all of the evidence". Mr Potts said the law was designed to "reflect changes in science" and agreed DNA evidence could potentially fall within it.

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History of this topic

Second inquiry into Queensland forensic DNA lab finds Project 13 was 'fundamentally flawed'
1 year, 4 months ago

Second inquiry into Queensland forensic DNA lab finds Project 13 was 'fundamentally flawed'

ABC  

A report into practices at Queensland's trouble-plagued forensics lab has found a controversial DNA method was fundamentally flawed and may have resulted in offenders escaping conviction over a period of nine years. Key points: Findings from a second report into Queensland's state-run DNA lab have been revealed Up to 103,000 samples may be retested at the discretion of police and …

Forensic and Scientific Services facing second commission of inquiry in 17 months as automated DNA extraction method questioned
1 year, 4 months ago

Forensic and Scientific Services facing second commission of inquiry in 17 months as automated DNA extraction method questioned

ABC  

Scientists persisted with an automated extraction method despite concerns it yielded 90 per cent less DNA, a commission into a state-run lab has heard. Key points: An inquiry is looking at Forensic and Scientific Services' move from a manual to automated system The two methods yield a difference of more than 90 per cent of DNA extracted Scientists have told …

Queensland's forensic DNA lab inquiry finds 'serious' failures reduced prospect of conviction, thousands of samples may be retested
2 years, 3 months ago

Queensland's forensic DNA lab inquiry finds 'serious' failures reduced prospect of conviction, thousands of samples may be retested

ABC  

A report into forensic DNA testing in Queensland has found "serious" failures at a state-run lab, caused by a series of factors including "mismanagement" and "dishonesty by senior managers". Key points: Commissioner Walter Sofronoff said the number of criminal cases impacted by "grave maladministration" at the lab "cannot be quantified" Failures include a culture that was "ineffective at allowing scientific …

Inquiry into Queensland's forensic DNA lab that unearthed 'bin-gate', leadership failures and a 'toxic' workplace resumes today
2 years, 4 months ago

Inquiry into Queensland's forensic DNA lab that unearthed 'bin-gate', leadership failures and a 'toxic' workplace resumes today

ABC  

An inquiry into Queensland's forensic DNA lab that has so far revealed details of document shredding, leadership failures and a toxic work environment is due to kick-off again today. The Commission of Inquiry into Queensland's forensic DNA lab will resume public hearings for two more days, with its final report due within weeks. Scientists said they raised concerns about testing …

Demand grows, but DNA tests fall under a grey area
2 years, 4 months ago

Demand grows, but DNA tests fall under a grey area

The Hindu  

Deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA tests occupy a grey area in the quest for justice, vacillating between the dangers of slipping into self-incrimination and encroachment of individual privacy and the ‘eminent need’ to unearth the truth, be in the form of evidence in a criminal case, a claim of marital infidelity or proving paternity. The Supreme Court has recently held — …

Acting head of Queensland forensics lab says she had no experience in DNA profiling, did not understand 'urgent' police concerns
2 years, 5 months ago

Acting head of Queensland forensics lab says she had no experience in DNA profiling, did not understand 'urgent' police concerns

ABC  

A senior Queensland Health manager was warned by a forensic scientist in a private meeting that it was "possible criminals are getting off scot-free in Queensland", an inquiry into DNA testing has heard. Key points: Lara Keller said she first became aware of problems with DNA testing of major crime scene samples in December last year when she was copied …

Inquiry reveals alarm among scientists over Queensland forensics lab's new DNA procedure
2 years, 5 months ago

Inquiry reveals alarm among scientists over Queensland forensics lab's new DNA procedure

ABC  

Multiple scientists at Queensland's state-run forensics laboratory have detailed their alarm and confusion over a DNA testing procedure, which was introduced after major concerns were raised about the previous process. Key points: The new process was introduced to replace the contentious testing threshold, which initially sparked the inquiry The hearings heard the change made "no scientific sense" and scientists are …

Quality manager at Queensland forensic labs not consulted over change in DNA testing protocols, inquiry hears
2 years, 5 months ago

Quality manager at Queensland forensic labs not consulted over change in DNA testing protocols, inquiry hears

ABC  

A woman overseeing quality management at Queensland's forensic laboratories was never asked for her advice over a controversial change in DNA testing protocols that may have prevented crimes from being solved, an inquiry has been told. Key points: Queensland Health quality manager Helen Gregg says she only became aware of the change this year Acting director-general Shaun Drummond says he …

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk 'shocked' by interim findings of inquiry into Queensland's state-run forensic testing lab
2 years, 6 months ago

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk 'shocked' by interim findings of inquiry into Queensland's state-run forensic testing lab

ABC  

Queensland authorities are set to review every DNA sample connected to a major crime since early 2018 where testing showed insufficient or no DNA after a report found there was a potential for the miscarriage of justice. Key points: Thousands of cases could potentially be investigated where DNA samples had not met the lab's testing thresholds Public hearings for the …

Calls for independent inquiry into Queensland forensic lab as DNA testing failures prompt criminal cases to be reviewed
2 years, 9 months ago

Calls for independent inquiry into Queensland forensic lab as DNA testing failures prompt criminal cases to be reviewed

ABC  

A government review into DNA testing at a state-run forensics laboratory has been labelled "manifestly inadequate" by a former employee after Queensland police revealed they were re-examining cases dating back to the start of 2018. Key points: Queensland Health's internal review into the lab's testing has been described as "manifestly inadequate" Forensic biologist Dr Kirsty Wright says further testing on …

If DNA Profiling Isn’t Done Or Held Back In Rape Cases, Adverse Consequence Would Follow For The Prosecution: SC [Read Judgment]
6 years, 3 months ago

If DNA Profiling Isn’t Done Or Held Back In Rape Cases, Adverse Consequence Would Follow For The Prosecution: SC [Read Judgment]

Live Law  

“We are not going to the extent of suggesting that if there is no DNA profiling, the prosecution case cannot be proved but we are certainly of the view that where DNA profiling has not been done or it is held back from the Trial Court, an adverse consequence would follow for the prosecution.”In an important ruling, the Supreme Court …

Sheriff has huge DNA backlog too
16 years, 4 months ago

Sheriff has huge DNA backlog too

LA Times  

Rubin is a staff writer. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, under pressure from county supervisors and watchdog groups to account for its handling of DNA evidence from sexual assault cases, acknowledged Wednesday it did not know whether genetic evidence from more than 5,600 rape cases had been examined. In response to an inquiry by the Board of Supervisors last …

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