Shandee’s Story: First police officer on scene says DNA ‘a top priority in murder probe’

The police sergeant who responded to Shandee Blackburn’s 2013 stabbing murder said it was vital that concerns about DNA testing in the case are investigated.

Shandee Blackburn.

The police sergeant who responded to Shandee Blackburn’s 2013 stabbing murder believed her killer’s DNA would be found at the crime scene and said it was vital that concerns about DNA testing in the case are investigated.

Police officer Peter Cowan said he made securing the Mackay street corner where Blackburn was assaulted in February 2013 a priority because he believed forensic experts could find enough DNA evidence there to catch her killer.

Sergeant Peter Cowan was the first police officer to be called to the scene of murder victim Shandee Blackburn in Mackay. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

“The ferociousness of the attack, so many stab wounds, what for me is a very close encounter … that was straight away an indicator there should be DNA every­where,” Sergeant Cowan said.

“I was confident if I could contain that environment … our forensic experts could get significant evidence out of there which should lead us to catch the offender.”

Leading forensic biologist Kirsty Wright reviewed hundreds of documents in Blackburn’s case and found multiple serious errors in the government-run lab’s testing of forensic samples.

The lab failed to detect DNA in a pool of blood at the crime scene, or the prime suspect’s DNA on any of the surfaces of his own vehicle, Dr Wright found.

Forensic scientist Kristy Wright. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian

Central Coroner David O’Connell reopened his investigation into Blackburn’s death in February this year. DNA samples in Blackburn’s case are being retested as part of the investigation.

“I think it’s vital that it comes to light so we can get a true representation of what evidence is available,” Sergeant Cowan said.

“I’m comfortable I did what I could, the detectives have done what they can, but I don’t know the best job has been put forward.”

Sergeant Cowan will appear on Shandee’s Story: The Search for Justice, a Sky News Australia documentary airing on June 7 that is re-examining Blackburn’s case and Dr Wright’s explosive findings into the government-run lab.

Sergeant Cowan reported to the police communications hub shortly after arriving at the scene that Blackburn would end up a murder victim and believed a cordon needed to be set up immediately to preserve potential DNA evidence.

“The injuries for me, and I’m not a medical expert, but in 20 years I’ve seen enough of trauma and previous stabbings and stuff, that was not going to be survivable,” he said.

The Mackay police station shift supervisor had just left the Mackay Base Hospital after dealing with the tragic aftermath of the drowning of a five-year old girl when the call about Shandee’s stabbing came through. In town, police officers patrolling Mackay’s nightclub strip were calling for backup to quell drunken fights.

“You just have to prioritise your resources with what you’ve got. And, for me, that was to try and preserve that DNA in that crime scene,” Sergeant Cowan said.

He said he had never forgotten the night he responded to Blackburn’s slaying. “By far that’s the most horrific thing I’ve seen, knowing that someone had the intent to do that to that young girl.”