New inquiry launched into catastrophic failings of Qld’s DNA lab
A second inquiry will be held into the catastrophic failings of Queensland’s state-run forensic lab as cases needing review soar to 37,000.
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A new commission of inquiry will be launched into the catastrophic failings of Queensland’s state-run forensic laboratory as it was revealed the number of cases needing review had soared to 37,000.
The surge in cases sparked calls for the second inquiry, which Health Minister Shannon Fentiman is expected to announce on Thursday.
Retired Federal Court judge Annabelle Bennett SC will be appointed to conduct the short and sharp inquiry, which will include holding public hearings and calling witnesses to give evidence under oath.
“This new inquiry will ensure a transparent and comprehensive review of matters raised after the original inquiry and is in line with the Queensland government’s commitment to rebuilding the state’s forensic and DNA testing processes,” Ms Fentiman told The Australian.
The Courier-Mail revealed in June the number of serious cases was about 30,000 but this has since grown following revelations of a flawed extraction method used in cases as far back as 2007, including the horrific murder of Mackay woman Shandee Blackburn.
Dr Bennett’s final report and recommendations from the new DNA inquiry will be due November 17.
The inquiry’s terms of reference will include reviewing statements, documents and the sufficiency of recommendations from the previous inquiry.
The extraction method, which included the use of automation rather than scientists testing by hand to save time, was not publicly discussed during the initial commission of inquiry.
Documents with details of the method, included in a report known as Project 13, only surfaced when the inquiry has concluded in reports from The Australian. The automation testing process was found to routinely fail to detect DNA.
Queensland Health confirmed a review of records by the Queensland Police Service revealed about 7000 additional cases needed to be reviewed as a result of Project 13.
“Queensland Health has previously advised it will review all serious cases back to 2007, including those affected under Project 13, bringing the total number of cases to be reviewed to about 37,000,” a spokesman said in a statement.
Opposition health spokeswoman Ros Bates described the growing backlog of cases as a “bombshell admission” that compounded the urgency to reopen the inquiry.
“After repeatedly denying additional cases were impacted, they have now reluctantly admitted additional cases have been compromised,” she said.
“Queenslanders’ faith in the integrity of our justice system will be rocked by these new revelations.”
The commission of inquiry last year discovered the forensic lab had incorrectly reported samples collected from serious crimes had insufficient DNA for processing.
The revelations led to tens of thousands of cases being reviewed and the Queensland forensic lab being overhauled.
Last month, the opposition joined forces with Vicki Blackburn, whose daughter Shandee’s horrific murder in Mackay 10 years ago remains unsolved, to demand the government reopens the inquiry.
Ms Blackburn said revelations of Project 13 had left her “shattered completely”.
“I was re-devastated, not just for Shandee’s case but for everybody’s case,” she said. These samples don’t need just retesting. There needs to be a proper investigation and each one of these samples needs to be dealt with separately on its own merit to get any chance of justice for these people.”
Originally published as New inquiry launched into catastrophic failings of Qld’s DNA lab
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