Former FBI investigator Bruce Budowle joins DNA lab review

One of the world’s most eminent forensic experts has been hired to jointly conduct a review Queensland’s beleaguered criminal DNA testing system.

Former FBI forensics expert Bruce Budowle. Picture: Kelly Barnes

One of the world's most eminent forensic experts has been hired to jointly review Queensland’s beleaguered criminal DNA testing system.

Renowned US geneticist and former Federal Bureau of Investigation expert Bruce Budowle has been appointed alongside forensic scientist Kirsty Wright as part of a potential game-changer after years of controversy sparked by The Australian’s podcast, Shandee’s Story, over the state-run laboratories’ disastrous testing practices.

The review was launched within the first week of the Crisafulli government coming to power in October to examine progress on the historical review of more than 40,000 major crime cases dating back more than a ­decade.

A royal commission-style inquiry led by former judge Walter Sofronoff KC in 2022 found the testing of evidence from thousands of criminal cases had been compromised. Queensland Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said the partnership will leave “no stone unturned”.

“Dr Wright and Dr Budowle have unmatched expertise to provide recommendations that deliver faster justice for victims and restore public confidence in forensic testing,” she said.

Each will be given different areas of the review’s scope to investigate and will provide separate reports to the government in mid-2025. Dr Wright has been charged with examining the implementation of the 38 recommendations of the Sofronoff report that are still “in progress” and providing advice to the government on best practice to run the DNA labs in the future.

The focus of Dr Budowle’s work will be on victims, and suggesting methods and systems to work through the backlog of samples for testing.

“I have been closely following what has been happening in the forensic science area in Queensland,” Dr Budowle said.

“I am pleased to be asked to contribute and I look forward to sharing recommendations that not only support best practice in forensic science but also support victims.”

Dr Budowle gave evidence and was a pivotal part of the Sofronoff inquiry, with his work referenced extensively in the final report. He found that failures at the lab could have been preventable.

Ms Frecklington also announced $6m for the Director of Public Prosecutions to push cases backlogged by the lab debacle through the system to be finalised.