‘Fatally flawed’: Queensland’s DNA lab ‘failed’, 103k samples to be retested

A second review into the state’s scandal-plagued DNA lab labelled an extraction method “fatally flawed”, likely resulting in critical evidence for criminal trials being missed.

Thousands of samples tested by the Queensland Forensic and Scientific Services will be retested as a second review into the scandal-plagued agency labelled an automatic extraction method “fatally flawed”, which likely resulted in critical evidence for criminal trials being missed.

A second Commission of Inquiry report into the use of an automated DNA extraction system, known as Project 13, was released on Monday.

The review noted the automated process extracted “less DNA than comparable methods” and was not “scientifically validated for use”.

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said the DNA lab failed in its most basic responsibility.

“Samples that were subject to this method of extraction that recorded insufficient DNA for further testing may well have contained sufficient DNA for forensic purposes,” it said.

“It goes without saying that the evidence available for criminal trials may thus have been compromised and convictions that could have otherwise been secured did not occur.”

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said the DNA lab had failed in its most basic responsibility.

“The DNA lab really did away with scientifically sound methodology,” she said.

“They sacrificed that for speed.”

Ms Fentiman noted the second inquiry found no fault with any individual, but noted the “overall lack of governance within the lab” was to blame.

The state will rush through amendments in the next sitting of parliament next week to amend the law allowing it to keep forensic samples longer, owing to the “delay” inevitably caused by the retesting of 103,000 samples.

Ms Fentiman said the review and the work Dr Wilson-Wilde had undertaken would ensure Queensland had the “world’s best DNA lab”.

About 103,000 samples may need to be retested and they will form part of the historical review of cases – which now totals about 37,000.

The extraction method, known as Project 13, was the focus of a second Commission of Inquiry into the facility’s methods.

The review undertaken by Annabelle Bennett – which contains two recommendations – was released by Health Minister Shannon Fentiman and Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath on Monday after being presented at Cabinet.

It calls for samples tested by the Automated DNA IQ Method between October 29, 2007 and November 21, 2016 to be retested, noting “no faith can be placed in results”.

The review makes no finding against Forensic Science Queensland (formerly QHFSS) chief executive Linzi Wilson-Wilde and notes the latest Commission of Inquiry did not enable “a full examination of the roles of any of the individuals within the hierarchy of the QHFSS”.

Dr Wilson-Wilde admitted during the inquiry she “perhaps could have been clearer” in alerting the first commission of inquiry about the catastrophic failings of an extraction method that cast doubt over tens of thousands of rape and murder cases.

“There is no evidence to support concern for the online work of Forensic Services Queensland under her direction and under the internal supervision of the interim FSQ advisory Board and of Queensland Health,” it said