DNA disaster sees test delays blow out to two and a half years
A growing 38,000-case backlog has seen delays of critical crime scene DNA blow out to an estimated two and a half years, a court has heard.
Delays in the testing of DNA recovered from Queensland crime scenes has blown out to an estimated two and a half years, a court has heard.
Forensic Science Queensland, the lab responsible for processing DNA evidence for major crimes of rape, murder and sexual assault, has been plagued by poor management and contamination issues for years.
The lab is now facing a testing backlog of more than 38,000 DNA samples: 25,347 from historical cases and 13,000 from current crimes.
A review released in August discovered incorrect testing standards had been applied for the second time in two years, meaning thousands of DNA samples from murder, rape and sexual assault cases must be retested.
Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday heard the scope of the subsequent delays could be years long in some cases.
“It’s estimated there’s up to a two and a half year delay for DNA test …” Legal Aid duty lawyer Ollie Labone, representing a man charged with a property offence where police had taken a swab of DNA, said.
“They’re sending them to America Mr Labone,” Magistrate Ross Mack interjected.
“It’s ludicrous, it’s crazy, why they (police) even thought of taking a DNA sample is beyond me.”
Earlier this year the State Government announced it would be sending DNA samples to the United States for testing as part of a $50 million outsourcing program to address the backlog.
The 171 DNA samples from 53 cases landed with the US based Bode Technology in late August.
Former NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller was announced as the new director of FSQ following the exit of former director Linzi Wilson-Wide in June.
