Kurve
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Current The Commission of Inquiry into Forensic DNA Testing in Queensland
Give me some time (or if someone is better informed please do so!) to source what the dates are and some further detail.
BFew
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The Commission inquiry is still live streaming today.
I just heard them discussing the Shandee Blackburn case when questioning Ms Allen.
Something about Ms Allen telling the DG/Minister that she was 1000% sure that all samples had been tested.
No doubt team Hedley will fill us in on this later tonight with his weekly podcast.
I just heard them discussing the Shandee Blackburn case when questioning Ms Allen.
Something about Ms Allen telling the DG/Minister that she was 1000% sure that all samples had been tested.
No doubt team Hedley will fill us in on this later tonight with his weekly podcast.
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This is QLD police media announcement on reassessing cases. No clear dates but from early 2018.
Taskforce Helix is overseeing the process involving a review of evidentiary samples which had been previously submitted to QFSS for DNA testing in criminal cases dating back to 2018.
In many cases, evidence will be re-examined and may be retested for DNA. However, given the volume of files, this process could take a considerable amount of time.
Police remain committed to ensuring DNA evidence is used effectively to identify offenders of serious crime, fully investigate offences and seek justice on behalf of victims.
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Been shaking my head in silence all through these... families must be so angry at the treatment of cases.. it’s not retail...
BFew
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I nearly fell out of bed this morning when I heard the Blowtorch podcast presenter say that Lara Keller had recently been offered and verbally accepted a new contract as head of QLD Health's Forensic and Scientific Services.
Her Linkedin has her as "Acting" in that job from Oct 2021 - present.
If it's a long term contract, with the Inquiry already reported to be likely recommending that QLD Health Forensic Services should be removed from under the responsibility of QLD Health, Keller could be looking a nice payout if they abolish her position soon. Although, she might have her contract quickly terminated without notice/cause anyway later this year or early next year as a consequence of the current Inquiry's findings, and still get a big payout.
She might have just been on a 1 year contract, that expires/expired Oct 2022), and just been offered a 6-12 months extension of that one, pending the result of the current inquiry.
After her performance this week at the inquiry and what it revealed about her actions and inactions, I'd be disgusted if Keller is still working anywhere for QLD Health, QLD Government, or any Australian Public Services in the very near future.
Shandee's Legacy Episode 5: Blowtorch - Shandee's Story
The big guns from the DNA lab - Lara Keller, Justin Howes and Cathie Allen - are rolled into the formal inquiry and subjected to withering questioning by a lawyer on top of his game over alleged cover-up, lies to police, and scientific fraud. The three insist they've been honest at all times...
omny.fm
BFew
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It's pretty obvious what is going on here with the self-defence tactics of those being blowtorched at this inquiry.
As we learned from the NSW Barillaro/Trade Commissioners appointments inquiry (still ongoing), if it's only mistakes, stuff ups, human error, lack of training, and there is no proven intent, those implicated/accused can likely avoid criminal or reduce the risk of misconduct, intention to mislead or deliberately cause harm (the "wilfully" test), or corruption charges or rulings. And potentially maximise their work contract termination payouts if/when terminated by their Government employer.
If it's only/mostly mistakes, stuff ups, human error and lack of training involved, without any "wilfully" involved, the QLD Government (Health/Police/Justice) can probably more easily attempt to minimise it's liability for the past and future consequences of legal cases and crimes affected by things related to this inquiry and adversely affected by it.
As we learned from the NSW Barillaro/Trade Commissioners appointments inquiry (still ongoing), if it's only mistakes, stuff ups, human error, lack of training, and there is no proven intent, those implicated/accused can likely avoid criminal or reduce the risk of misconduct, intention to mislead or deliberately cause harm (the "wilfully" test), or corruption charges or rulings. And potentially maximise their work contract termination payouts if/when terminated by their Government employer.
If it's only/mostly mistakes, stuff ups, human error and lack of training involved, without any "wilfully" involved, the QLD Government (Health/Police/Justice) can probably more easily attempt to minimise it's liability for the past and future consequences of legal cases and crimes affected by things related to this inquiry and adversely affected by it.
MSB ROYS
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Excuses, 'lack of understanding' and 'not my problem'. What a joke.
A primary school student knows the difference between 1.86% and 30%.
Maybe she can seek advice from the judge/the media as to where to source basic training on DNA before continuing her contract.I nearly fell out of bed this morning when I heard the Blowtorch podcast presenter say that Lara Keller had recently been offered and verbally accepted a new contract as head of QLD Health's Forensic and Scientific Services.
Her Linkedin has her as "Acting" in that job from Oct 2021 - present.
If it's a long term contract, with the Inquiry already reported to be likely recommending that QLD Health Forensic Services should be removed from under the responsibility of QLD Health, Keller could be looking a nice payout if they abolish her position soon. Although, she might have her contract quickly terminated without notice/cause anyway later this year or early next year as a consequence of the current Inquiry's findings, and still get a big payout.
She might have just been on a 1 year contract, that expires/expired Oct 2022), and just been offered a 6-12 months extension of that one, pending the result of the current inquiry.
After her performance this week at the inquiry and what it revealed about her actions and inactions, I'd be disgusted if Keller is still working anywhere for QLD Health, QLD Government, or any Australian Public Services in the very near future.
Shandee's Legacy Episode 5: Blowtorch - Shandee's Story
The big guns from the DNA lab - Lara Keller, Justin Howes and Cathie Allen - are rolled into the formal inquiry and subjected to withering questioning by a lawyer on top of his game over alleged cover-up, lies to police, and scientific fraud. The three insist they've been honest at all times...
Most new managers I see are keen to learn the business of what they are doing before they get too much in the job.
There is a balance of trust in your employees versus getting the wool pulled over your eyes. You have to have a bit of trust but not blind trust. Particularly if you are new in an organisation.
BFew
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Here's a 20 year old example directly involving QLD FSS and the 'dishonesty' or 'lacking impartiality' components required for an official misconduct offence.
Not sure if the QLD Government definition of official misconduct has changed since then.
'Findings related to the conduct of the forensic scientist The Commission investigated whether the conduct of the forensic scientist in not testing the bedsheet taken from the complainant’s bed, and in not initially identifying a DNA profile, could constitute official misconduct.
To constitute official misconduct, it would have to be established that the scientist’s conduct was dishonest or lacked impartiality. It is not sufficient merely to show that he failed to conduct tests that might have exculpated the accused.
It would have to be established that the failure to conduct these tests was done dishonestly, or lacked impartiality. Differences of professional opinion regarding the decisions the scientist made do not mean that he acted dishonestly or with partiality.
On the contrary, he went to great lengths to obtain the results that led to the quashing of the conviction. Those efforts are inconsistent with any notion that he had earlier acted dishonestly or with partiality, nor are they consistent with any notion that he was attempting to coverup perceived inadequacy in his work.
The evidence fails to give rise to a reasonable suspicion of official misconduct on the part of the forensic scientist.'
BFew
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I recall the Hedley media already suggested Google (and Youtube?)
Hopefully she listened to the Blowtorch podcast to hear this advice.
BFew
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Maybe Keller (unlike her Forensic Science experienced Ex-VIC Police Forensics specialist/executive predecessor John Doherty: Jan 2019-Oct 2021) was specifically hired because of her complete lack of Forensic Science knowledge.
Maybe easier to more credibly blame ignorance, by appointing someone with a lack of Forensic Science knowledge to be in charge of QLD Health Forensic Services.
I speculate that from what has been publicly revealed, it is much more likely that Doherty jumped rather than being pushed.
Has he been called to give evidence before this inquiry yet, or is that still to come?
His Linkedin says he's been working in TAS since May 2022 as CSIRO Research Operations Manager.
Not sure who was Doherty's predecessor prior to Jan 2019, during that critical 2018 period.
I have been considering this as well... the reporting scientists have come across intelligent, passionate and taking there job seriously. Wanting the best outcome for victims and the community. I’m not feeling this from the leadership.
BFew
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A common Dinosaur in the room raised it's head at yesterday's inquiry hearing.
How far behind other Australia States/Labs (and some of the rest of the world) the QLD lab was with the latest DNA testing methods/technologies.
It deserved a lot more press than it got.
Here's mention of it in one article today, buried in amongst all of the personal non-science related issues that made for a better headline
There's a fuller account of 'Dino' from the official transcript on pages 85-87, a small section of which I've posted far below.
'Queensland DNA lab boss Cathie Allen accused of ‘mad’ activities'
'5:35AM NOVEMBER 1, 2022'
'Cathie Allen has also been accused at a $6m public inquiry of the “completely mad” pursuit of scientists who challenged her, and of allowing her lab to fall a long way behind other states in DNA analysis methods.'
'The inquiry was also told that Queensland had been trying to validate Y-STR testing since 2015.
Y-STR analysis focuses on the male Y-chromosome and is useful in sexual assaults. It enables the detection of tiny amounts of male DNA in mixed profiles that might be masked by female DNA.
The technology was “available in almost every other lab in Australia”, Mr Hodge said.
Ms Allen hadn’t taken any staff offline from their usual duties or sought assistance from other labs to stand up Y-STR testing, he said.
Mr Hodge: “Do you regard that as a failing in your lab that you have fallen so far behind other labs around Australia?”
Ms Allen: “Yes, it’s very disappointing that we don’t have that technology.”
However, she denied it was a personal failing as the lab’s managing scientist.'
How far behind other Australia States/Labs (and some of the rest of the world) the QLD lab was with the latest DNA testing methods/technologies.
It deserved a lot more press than it got.
Here's mention of it in one article today, buried in amongst all of the personal non-science related issues that made for a better headline
There's a fuller account of 'Dino' from the official transcript on pages 85-87, a small section of which I've posted far below.
'Queensland DNA lab boss Cathie Allen accused of ‘mad’ activities'
'5:35AM NOVEMBER 1, 2022'
'Cathie Allen has also been accused at a $6m public inquiry of the “completely mad” pursuit of scientists who challenged her, and of allowing her lab to fall a long way behind other states in DNA analysis methods.'
'The inquiry was also told that Queensland had been trying to validate Y-STR testing since 2015.
Y-STR analysis focuses on the male Y-chromosome and is useful in sexual assaults. It enables the detection of tiny amounts of male DNA in mixed profiles that might be masked by female DNA.
The technology was “available in almost every other lab in Australia”, Mr Hodge said.
Ms Allen hadn’t taken any staff offline from their usual duties or sought assistance from other labs to stand up Y-STR testing, he said.
Mr Hodge: “Do you regard that as a failing in your lab that you have fallen so far behind other labs around Australia?”
Ms Allen: “Yes, it’s very disappointing that we don’t have that technology.”
However, she denied it was a personal failing as the lab’s managing scientist.'
BFew
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The Dinosaur roared a bit louder at yesterday's inquiry hearing.
Are current and previous QLD DPP's, Attorney Generals, Police Commissioner's, and Ministers responsible for Justice and Police going to be called to inform the inquiry why they think QLD got a decade behind on DNA test methods, under their Governance/watch.
They would have known (or should have known) how far QLD was behind, and that there was little ability to change this with the current level of resources.
Surely all the crime journos and crime writers around Australia have known this for years too.
And if they didn't, who was withholding info from them, or why were they not continually raising awareness of this?
'Queensland a decade behind on DNA test methods'
'6:33PM NOVEMBER 1, 2022''Queensland sexual assault victims have been denied access to DNA profiling techniques that have been offered in other jurisdictions for almost a decade and which give police a better chance of catching attackers.'
'the state had been trying to introduce Y-STR testing since 2015.
The method enables the detection of tiny amounts of male DNA in mixed profiles that might be masked by female DNA and has been “revolutionary” in sexual assault investigations.
Dr Kogios and Ms Baker said Y-STR testing has been available for more than a decade and used in every other Australian lab for at least the past five years.'
“Forensic testing can provide invaluable support in (sexual assault) cases, however this requires routine access to techniques over and above the standard DNA testing offered by Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services,” they wrote.
'“Ready access to in-house Y-STR testing would significantly improve QHFSS sexual assault investigation capabilities.”
Dr Kogios and Ms Baker found Queensland’s lab offers only standard DNA testing and does not have mixture-matching capability, enhanced detection methods for degraded samples, or the ability to interpret five-person mixtures. “Sub-contracting of samples to other (labs) for specialist forensic techniques also appears to be used very sparingly,” they said, noting police decide when to outsource testing.
Unlike other government-run labs in Australia, Queensland has no staff or funding for dedicated research, which makes it difficult to keep pace with forensic developments, they found.
Dr Kogios said the lab had been trying to introduce Y-STR testing for years but had been “hamstrung” by pressures to get results out the door and a lack of research funding.
Stood-down managing scientist Cathie Allen, who concluded four days of evidence on Tuesday, said she had been under sustained pressure from senior bureaucrats to cut costs and her previous requests for extra funding had not progressed.'
MSB ROYS
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Was very interesting watching online on and off over the last few days. Been a slow but steady teasing out of how to actually run this type of lab.
BFew
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Some free professional services for some DNA labs around the world (from the transcripts and audio replay from the hearings).
And some free training for any Police, Dept Justice or Dept Health managers/execs, Ministers and heads of State (i.e Premiers) that have any degree of responsibility in oversight of DNA and other forensics and the Justice System.
BFew
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No more hearings until the end of the month, when they return for the finale: The Shandee Blackburn case.
'Hearings have been suspended until late November, when the inquiry will investigate the handling of DNA evidence in the stabbing murder of 23-year-old Mackay woman Shandee Blackburn.'
'Accreditor missed Queensland forensics lab issues'
'NOVEMBER 2, 2022''Hearings have been suspended until late November, when the inquiry will investigate the handling of DNA evidence in the stabbing murder of 23-year-old Mackay woman Shandee Blackburn.'
From the podcast today. Troy O'Malley who was Cathie Allen's partner worked in the police area with DNA. He had DNA technical knowledge. The podcast raised some issues as to whether he knew the lack of knowledge of some of the colleagues and the conflict of interest. There has been nothing said as to whether this potential conflict had been flagged by Troy.
That is actually two emails. Can you bring up the
bottom email first. You will see the first email in time
is one that Cathie Allen sends to you and Troy O'Malley and
Ewen Taylor and copies to Paul Csoban on 30 January 2018,
so that's a week later, at 4:56 pm?
A. Yes.
Q. The subject is:
Options Paper for consideration.
And it says:
Please find attached an Options Paper
regarding concentration of major crime
samples that we have prepared for your
consideration?
That is actually two emails. Can you bring up the
bottom email first. You will see the first email in time
is one that Cathie Allen sends to you and Troy O'Malley and
Ewen Taylor and copies to Paul Csoban on 30 January 2018,
so that's a week later, at 4:56 pm?
A. Yes.
Q. The subject is:
Options Paper for consideration.
And it says:
Please find attached an Options Paper
regarding concentration of major crime
samples that we have prepared for your
consideration?
BFew
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Troy O'Malley is mentioned in 2 other inquiry transcripts.
BFew
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It's a bit concerning to hear at the inquiry that Cathie Allen sometimes acted in the position of her boss (Executive Director) and when she was, was in charge of the whole Lab Facility.
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BFew
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In Hedley's latest podcast on this inquiry, he thinks Cathie Allen probably had and still has a personality disorder (but that he was not qualified to comment on this).
Even though I'm also not qualified to comment on this, I tend to agree with hisdiagnosis opinion, on the evidence so far.
Even though I'm also not qualified to comment on this, I tend to agree with his
