Qld DNA lab inquiry: Cops kept in dark over catastrophic detection failures

In a stunning admission to the inquiry into the catastrophic failings of Queensland’s state-run forensic laboratory, police say they were never told about a flawed process for testing crime scene evidence, even after numerous officers complained.

Queensland’s forensic laboratory never told police about a flawed process for testing crime scene evidence even after numerous officers complained about blood samples failing to yield DNA profiles, a statement provided to an inquiry says.

A second commission of inquiry into the catastrophic bungles at the state-run lab this week heard how forensic scientists knew an automated testing system was yielding low DNA results.

Following the stunning admission, a senior forensic officer at Queensland Police Service was asked to provide a statement to the inquiry about the implementation of the flawed extraction method in 2007, known as Project 13.

Acting Superintendent David Neville said he became concerned following a “spike” in blood samples not yielding DNA – a particular concern given blood is a rich source for profiling.

Acting Superintendent David Neville. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Numerous complaints from forensic officers within QPS prompted him to request data which showed the percentage of blood samples that did not yield a profile doubled between 2005/06 and 2010.

A meeting was held between QPS and the lab, known then as the Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services, but acting Supt Neville said there were no details provided about “problems or concerns with the efficacy of extraction using robotics”.

“I have checked the correspondence register which revealed no correspondence between QHFSS and QPS on this issue,” he said in the statement.

The extraordinary revelation prompted Commissioner Annabelle Bennett to recall scientists who worked in the lab at the time to be grilled in the expert witness box.

She asked three scientists: “Did that ring bells for anybody?”

“There was no methodology of record keeping or tracking in the laboratory that revealed this marked increase in samples failing to produce a profile? There was just no way it was tracked or recognised or even, I assume, if it tripled, nobody would have picked it (up)?”

Tom Nurthen was grilled at the DNA inquiry. Picture: NCA NewsWIRE / John Gass

Reporting scientist Allan McNevin said: “I don’t believe there was a systematic review of success rates that we were carrying out on a regular basis”.

Dr Bennett repeatedly asked if there were any alarm bells ringing within the lab about this noted failure to find DNA profiles in samples from murder and rape cases.

Thomas Nurthen, a former reporting scientist who was leading the team examining the automated process in 2007, said: “personally, I don’t recall any alerts.”

“But it may well have been in some of the management team meetings that it was discussed,” he told the inquiry.

Acting Supt Neville also said QPS was not provided with a copy of Project 13 – the shambolic report used as validation for the flawed extraction method which is the focus of the second commission of inquiry.

“I have checked the correspondence record to confirm this,” he said in his statement. “I am not aware of any discussions involving the QPS about the project.”

Closing submissions for the inquiry are expected on Friday with the final report from Dr Bennett due on November 17.