DNA bungle: Forensic boss has no clue how long tests will take

Queensland’s forensic boss has spoken after startling revelations about the backlog of DNA testing.

Queensland’s forensic boss has revealed she has no idea how long it will take scientists to work through tens of thousands of compromised DNA cases identified in a historical lab bungle, amid fears murders and rapists would be left “walking the streets” if the backlog could not be cleared quickly.

It comes after the Courier-Mail revealed just 1 per cent of the identified 41,000 compromised case samples had been retested over the last 12 months, with whistleblower forensic biologist Dr Kirsty Wright declaring the lab was under too much pressure to review the historical cases on top of testing active cases currently before the court.

Queensland Forensic Science Queensland chief executive Linzi Wilson-Wild on Saturday sensationally claimed the backlog had already been “significantly” reduced due to the number of samples culled from the review and said that 440 retested cases actually showed a “dramatic increase in improvement” in the labs efficiency, when coupled with the some 9,500 active cases tested over the same period.

Forensic Science Queensland (FSQ) CEO Linzi Wilson-Wilde, Coopers Plains. Picture: Liam Kidston

“We are already seeing a significant reduction in the backlog of DNA samples requiring analysis and reassessment for the 40,000 cases dating back to 2007,” she said.

“We’ve improved scientific techniques and implemented new procedures with quality assurance processes, it means that they’re working.”

But when asked how long the apparent dwindling backlog would take to clear, Ms Wilson-Wild said that was a number she simply couldn’t conceive.

“It’s hard to put a finger on that number, to be honest,” she said.

“It will entirely depend on how many cases will require a review (by the Department of Prosecutions and police) … that will depend on how many resources are placed and how long that those reviews take.”

Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli during a news conference, Wishart. Picture: Liam Kidston

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli blasted the inaction, calling it “one of the greatest failings in modern judiciary history in the world”

and demanded the government release all data relating to the backlog.

“They have to release a strategy as to how they’re going to deal with this backlog,” he said.

“We want to know how bad the problem is, what resources have been put there.

“It could mean that innocent people are in jail, murderers and rapists could be walking the streets.”

Dr Wright backed the calls, saying progress reports, as well as any new charges, trials and offenders identified from the reviewed cases should be made public.

“Otherwise it will become this big black box,” she said.

“The lab has violated community trust – that hasn’t been restored. Transparency is key.”

Originally published as DNA bungle: Forensic boss has no clue how long tests will take