Lab boss suspended in latest DNA contamination scandal
It follows a pause in testing sparked by the identification of contamination issues at Forensic Science Queensland, Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said on Friday.
"This action was taken following advice I received today that (Forensic Science Queensland) was placing a general pause on routine DNA testing after contamination issues were identified," she said.
The pause will be reviewed after seven days as the lab determines next steps.
Urgent matters will progress in a limited capacity with appropriate controls, Ms Frecklington said.
Forensic Science Queensland was established in 2023 following multiple inquiries, one of which revealed a "fundamentally flawed" automated DNA extraction method might have led to offenders potentially escaping conviction for nine years from 2007.
Many samples went untested while others were incorrectly ruled insufficient, an earlier inquiry found.
The inquiries also elicited characterisations of a "toxic" culture at the state-run forensic lab.
More than 40,000 samples fell within the scope of a historical review process, of which close to 10,000 had been reviewed as of May.
Linzi Wilson-Wilde was appointed director in September after serving as interim chief executive.
Dr Wilson-Wilde was stepping into "what will undoubtedly be a very challenging role", Ms Frecklington said at the time.
Following news of the testing pause, Ms Frecklington moved to immediately suspend her, pending a show cause notice for removal.
"I want to assure Queenslanders the Crisafulli government remains firmly committed to fixing the long-standing issues at Forensic Science Queensland," she said.
The director of a state-run forensic testing lab has been suspended and will be asked to explain why they should not be removed in the latest scandal over botched DNA sampling.
It follows a pause in testing sparked by the identification of contamination issues at Forensic Science Queensland, Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said on Friday.
"This action was taken following advice I received today that (Forensic Science Queensland) was placing a general pause on routine DNA testing after contamination issues were identified," she said.
The pause will be reviewed after seven days as the lab determines next steps.
Urgent matters will progress in a limited capacity with appropriate controls, Ms Frecklington said.
Forensic Science Queensland was established in 2023 following multiple inquiries, one of which revealed a "fundamentally flawed" automated DNA extraction method might have led to offenders potentially escaping conviction for nine years from 2007.
Many samples went untested while others were incorrectly ruled insufficient, an earlier inquiry found.
The inquiries also elicited characterisations of a "toxic" culture at the state-run forensic lab.
More than 40,000 samples fell within the scope of a historical review process, of which close to 10,000 had been reviewed as of May.
Linzi Wilson-Wilde was appointed director in September after serving as interim chief executive.
Dr Wilson-Wilde was stepping into "what will undoubtedly be a very challenging role", Ms Frecklington said at the time.
Following news of the testing pause, Ms Frecklington moved to immediately suspend her, pending a show cause notice for removal.
"I want to assure Queenslanders the Crisafulli government remains firmly committed to fixing the long-standing issues at Forensic Science Queensland," she said.
The director of a state-run forensic testing lab has been suspended and will be asked to explain why they should not be removed in the latest scandal over botched DNA sampling.
It follows a pause in testing sparked by the identification of contamination issues at Forensic Science Queensland, Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said on Friday.
"This action was taken following advice I received today that (Forensic Science Queensland) was placing a general pause on routine DNA testing after contamination issues were identified," she said.
The pause will be reviewed after seven days as the lab determines next steps.
Urgent matters will progress in a limited capacity with appropriate controls, Ms Frecklington said.
Forensic Science Queensland was established in 2023 following multiple inquiries, one of which revealed a "fundamentally flawed" automated DNA extraction method might have led to offenders potentially escaping conviction for nine years from 2007.
Many samples went untested while others were incorrectly ruled insufficient, an earlier inquiry found.
The inquiries also elicited characterisations of a "toxic" culture at the state-run forensic lab.
More than 40,000 samples fell within the scope of a historical review process, of which close to 10,000 had been reviewed as of May.
Linzi Wilson-Wilde was appointed director in September after serving as interim chief executive.
Dr Wilson-Wilde was stepping into "what will undoubtedly be a very challenging role", Ms Frecklington said at the time.
Following news of the testing pause, Ms Frecklington moved to immediately suspend her, pending a show cause notice for removal.
"I want to assure Queenslanders the Crisafulli government remains firmly committed to fixing the long-standing issues at Forensic Science Queensland," she said.
The director of a state-run forensic testing lab has been suspended and will be asked to explain why they should not be removed in the latest scandal over botched DNA sampling.
It follows a pause in testing sparked by the identification of contamination issues at Forensic Science Queensland, Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said on Friday.
"This action was taken following advice I received today that (Forensic Science Queensland) was placing a general pause on routine DNA testing after contamination issues were identified," she said.
The pause will be reviewed after seven days as the lab determines next steps.
Urgent matters will progress in a limited capacity with appropriate controls, Ms Frecklington said.
Forensic Science Queensland was established in 2023 following multiple inquiries, one of which revealed a "fundamentally flawed" automated DNA extraction method might have led to offenders potentially escaping conviction for nine years from 2007.
Many samples went untested while others were incorrectly ruled insufficient, an earlier inquiry found.
The inquiries also elicited characterisations of a "toxic" culture at the state-run forensic lab.
More than 40,000 samples fell within the scope of a historical review process, of which close to 10,000 had been reviewed as of May.
Linzi Wilson-Wilde was appointed director in September after serving as interim chief executive.
Dr Wilson-Wilde was stepping into "what will undoubtedly be a very challenging role", Ms Frecklington said at the time.
Following news of the testing pause, Ms Frecklington moved to immediately suspend her, pending a show cause notice for removal.
"I want to assure Queenslanders the Crisafulli government remains firmly committed to fixing the long-standing issues at Forensic Science Queensland," she said.
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The Advertiser
2 days ago
- The Advertiser
Family 'broken' by teen killer's sentence reduction
The family of a woman murdered during a home invasion have been left "broken" by the teen killer's sentence being reduced by almost 18 months on appeal. The boy, who cannot be named as he was aged 17 at the time of the offences, fatally stabbed Emma Lovell in the heart after he broke into her family's house north of Brisbane about 11.30pm on Boxing Day in 2022. Following a successful appeal on Friday, the teen will now serve a minimum of about eight years and four months in detention instead of about nine years and nine months before he is released under supervision. Victims of youth crime ambassador Lyndy Atkinson, who had worked with the Lovells since before the original sentencing, said the family now felt additional trauma. "They are a broken family ... (the teen defendant) will be able to get out and live his best life," she said. "Lee Lovell has lost a wife, his two girls have lost a mother. To me, it is still on the side of the offender and victims are continually being left behind." Queensland Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said the appeal was an unacceptable outcome and claimed it was caused by the previous Labor government's "weak laws". "I am now looking at my options to make an appeal to the High Court," she said. Queensland opposition leader Steven Miles said he did not want to "score cheap political points" but was shocked by the decision and thinking of the family. Mrs Lovell's husband Lee, who was wounded during the home invasion, was unable to attend court on Friday when the appeal decision was handed down. The home invasion led to "adult crime, adult time"' changes in Queensland law that allow for youth offenders to face a mandatory life sentence for murder with a minimum 20 years before parole. "The murder of Emma Lovell rocked the state and Queenslanders made it very clear enough is enough and change needed to occur," Ms Frecklington said. "The community and Emma's family will be devastated by this outcome and our thoughts are with them on another very difficult day they should never have had to endure." Justice Tom Sullivan in May 2024 sentenced the teen, then aged 19, to a maximum of 14 years with a requirement to serve 70 per cent of that time in detention, after he found the crime to be "particularly heinous". The Court of Appeal on Friday allowed the teen's appeal against the length of his sentence, with two of the three judges agreeing it was "manifestly excessive". In his dissenting opinion, Justice John Bond stated he was "respectfully" not able to find the sentence unjust or plainly unreasonable. Justice David Boddice found the 14-year sentence should stand but reduced the detention period to 60 per cent. He cited the teen's guilty plea, "genuine remorse and prospects of rehabilitation" as special circumstances justifying his release from detention after serving less than the statutory 70 per cent. The teen had appealed Justice Sullivan's "particularly heinous" finding in a bid to get his overall sentence reduced to 10 years. However, Justice Boddice found Justice Sullivan's decision to impose the maximum overall sentence available at the time was correct as the offences were "properly described as provoking a sense of outrage". The teen now has five years left to serve in detention after 500 days of pre-sentence custody in May 2024 were recognised as time served. The teen's male co-offender, also a juvenile, was acquitted of murder at a judge-only trial in October. He was found guilty of burglary and assaulting Mr Lovell, and in December he was sentenced to 18 months' detention - time he has served. The family of a woman murdered during a home invasion have been left "broken" by the teen killer's sentence being reduced by almost 18 months on appeal. The boy, who cannot be named as he was aged 17 at the time of the offences, fatally stabbed Emma Lovell in the heart after he broke into her family's house north of Brisbane about 11.30pm on Boxing Day in 2022. Following a successful appeal on Friday, the teen will now serve a minimum of about eight years and four months in detention instead of about nine years and nine months before he is released under supervision. Victims of youth crime ambassador Lyndy Atkinson, who had worked with the Lovells since before the original sentencing, said the family now felt additional trauma. "They are a broken family ... (the teen defendant) will be able to get out and live his best life," she said. "Lee Lovell has lost a wife, his two girls have lost a mother. To me, it is still on the side of the offender and victims are continually being left behind." Queensland Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said the appeal was an unacceptable outcome and claimed it was caused by the previous Labor government's "weak laws". "I am now looking at my options to make an appeal to the High Court," she said. Queensland opposition leader Steven Miles said he did not want to "score cheap political points" but was shocked by the decision and thinking of the family. Mrs Lovell's husband Lee, who was wounded during the home invasion, was unable to attend court on Friday when the appeal decision was handed down. The home invasion led to "adult crime, adult time"' changes in Queensland law that allow for youth offenders to face a mandatory life sentence for murder with a minimum 20 years before parole. "The murder of Emma Lovell rocked the state and Queenslanders made it very clear enough is enough and change needed to occur," Ms Frecklington said. "The community and Emma's family will be devastated by this outcome and our thoughts are with them on another very difficult day they should never have had to endure." Justice Tom Sullivan in May 2024 sentenced the teen, then aged 19, to a maximum of 14 years with a requirement to serve 70 per cent of that time in detention, after he found the crime to be "particularly heinous". The Court of Appeal on Friday allowed the teen's appeal against the length of his sentence, with two of the three judges agreeing it was "manifestly excessive". In his dissenting opinion, Justice John Bond stated he was "respectfully" not able to find the sentence unjust or plainly unreasonable. Justice David Boddice found the 14-year sentence should stand but reduced the detention period to 60 per cent. He cited the teen's guilty plea, "genuine remorse and prospects of rehabilitation" as special circumstances justifying his release from detention after serving less than the statutory 70 per cent. The teen had appealed Justice Sullivan's "particularly heinous" finding in a bid to get his overall sentence reduced to 10 years. However, Justice Boddice found Justice Sullivan's decision to impose the maximum overall sentence available at the time was correct as the offences were "properly described as provoking a sense of outrage". The teen now has five years left to serve in detention after 500 days of pre-sentence custody in May 2024 were recognised as time served. The teen's male co-offender, also a juvenile, was acquitted of murder at a judge-only trial in October. He was found guilty of burglary and assaulting Mr Lovell, and in December he was sentenced to 18 months' detention - time he has served. The family of a woman murdered during a home invasion have been left "broken" by the teen killer's sentence being reduced by almost 18 months on appeal. The boy, who cannot be named as he was aged 17 at the time of the offences, fatally stabbed Emma Lovell in the heart after he broke into her family's house north of Brisbane about 11.30pm on Boxing Day in 2022. Following a successful appeal on Friday, the teen will now serve a minimum of about eight years and four months in detention instead of about nine years and nine months before he is released under supervision. Victims of youth crime ambassador Lyndy Atkinson, who had worked with the Lovells since before the original sentencing, said the family now felt additional trauma. "They are a broken family ... (the teen defendant) will be able to get out and live his best life," she said. "Lee Lovell has lost a wife, his two girls have lost a mother. To me, it is still on the side of the offender and victims are continually being left behind." Queensland Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said the appeal was an unacceptable outcome and claimed it was caused by the previous Labor government's "weak laws". "I am now looking at my options to make an appeal to the High Court," she said. Queensland opposition leader Steven Miles said he did not want to "score cheap political points" but was shocked by the decision and thinking of the family. Mrs Lovell's husband Lee, who was wounded during the home invasion, was unable to attend court on Friday when the appeal decision was handed down. The home invasion led to "adult crime, adult time"' changes in Queensland law that allow for youth offenders to face a mandatory life sentence for murder with a minimum 20 years before parole. "The murder of Emma Lovell rocked the state and Queenslanders made it very clear enough is enough and change needed to occur," Ms Frecklington said. "The community and Emma's family will be devastated by this outcome and our thoughts are with them on another very difficult day they should never have had to endure." Justice Tom Sullivan in May 2024 sentenced the teen, then aged 19, to a maximum of 14 years with a requirement to serve 70 per cent of that time in detention, after he found the crime to be "particularly heinous". The Court of Appeal on Friday allowed the teen's appeal against the length of his sentence, with two of the three judges agreeing it was "manifestly excessive". In his dissenting opinion, Justice John Bond stated he was "respectfully" not able to find the sentence unjust or plainly unreasonable. Justice David Boddice found the 14-year sentence should stand but reduced the detention period to 60 per cent. He cited the teen's guilty plea, "genuine remorse and prospects of rehabilitation" as special circumstances justifying his release from detention after serving less than the statutory 70 per cent. The teen had appealed Justice Sullivan's "particularly heinous" finding in a bid to get his overall sentence reduced to 10 years. However, Justice Boddice found Justice Sullivan's decision to impose the maximum overall sentence available at the time was correct as the offences were "properly described as provoking a sense of outrage". The teen now has five years left to serve in detention after 500 days of pre-sentence custody in May 2024 were recognised as time served. The teen's male co-offender, also a juvenile, was acquitted of murder at a judge-only trial in October. He was found guilty of burglary and assaulting Mr Lovell, and in December he was sentenced to 18 months' detention - time he has served. The family of a woman murdered during a home invasion have been left "broken" by the teen killer's sentence being reduced by almost 18 months on appeal. The boy, who cannot be named as he was aged 17 at the time of the offences, fatally stabbed Emma Lovell in the heart after he broke into her family's house north of Brisbane about 11.30pm on Boxing Day in 2022. Following a successful appeal on Friday, the teen will now serve a minimum of about eight years and four months in detention instead of about nine years and nine months before he is released under supervision. Victims of youth crime ambassador Lyndy Atkinson, who had worked with the Lovells since before the original sentencing, said the family now felt additional trauma. "They are a broken family ... (the teen defendant) will be able to get out and live his best life," she said. "Lee Lovell has lost a wife, his two girls have lost a mother. To me, it is still on the side of the offender and victims are continually being left behind." Queensland Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said the appeal was an unacceptable outcome and claimed it was caused by the previous Labor government's "weak laws". "I am now looking at my options to make an appeal to the High Court," she said. Queensland opposition leader Steven Miles said he did not want to "score cheap political points" but was shocked by the decision and thinking of the family. Mrs Lovell's husband Lee, who was wounded during the home invasion, was unable to attend court on Friday when the appeal decision was handed down. The home invasion led to "adult crime, adult time"' changes in Queensland law that allow for youth offenders to face a mandatory life sentence for murder with a minimum 20 years before parole. "The murder of Emma Lovell rocked the state and Queenslanders made it very clear enough is enough and change needed to occur," Ms Frecklington said. "The community and Emma's family will be devastated by this outcome and our thoughts are with them on another very difficult day they should never have had to endure." Justice Tom Sullivan in May 2024 sentenced the teen, then aged 19, to a maximum of 14 years with a requirement to serve 70 per cent of that time in detention, after he found the crime to be "particularly heinous". The Court of Appeal on Friday allowed the teen's appeal against the length of his sentence, with two of the three judges agreeing it was "manifestly excessive". In his dissenting opinion, Justice John Bond stated he was "respectfully" not able to find the sentence unjust or plainly unreasonable. Justice David Boddice found the 14-year sentence should stand but reduced the detention period to 60 per cent. He cited the teen's guilty plea, "genuine remorse and prospects of rehabilitation" as special circumstances justifying his release from detention after serving less than the statutory 70 per cent. The teen had appealed Justice Sullivan's "particularly heinous" finding in a bid to get his overall sentence reduced to 10 years. However, Justice Boddice found Justice Sullivan's decision to impose the maximum overall sentence available at the time was correct as the offences were "properly described as provoking a sense of outrage". The teen now has five years left to serve in detention after 500 days of pre-sentence custody in May 2024 were recognised as time served. The teen's male co-offender, also a juvenile, was acquitted of murder at a judge-only trial in October. He was found guilty of burglary and assaulting Mr Lovell, and in December he was sentenced to 18 months' detention - time he has served.
Perth Now
05-08-2025
- Perth Now
'Toxic' culture at DNA lab adds to backlog of problems
A state forensic lab remains in a "sustained crisis", a former Federal Bureau of Investigation expert says. Queensland's troubled DNA lab is struggling to maintain its accreditation, implement 126 commission of inquiry recommendations and address an ever-growing case backlog. Those are some of the findings of former FBI expert Bruce Budowle, whose independent review into the lab's operational matters was tabled on Tuesday. Dr Budowle found a "toxic" workplace culture was evident to the review team, including poor communication, a lack of empowerment, resistance to change and limited evidence of a solution-based culture. The review team also found some scientific methods were being implemented without proper validation, posing risks to result integrity. "Despite considerable effort over the past two and a half years, FSQ (Forensic Science Queensland) remains a laboratory in a state of sustained crisis," the report said. It follows a damning review released by the Queensland government on Monday that exposed further flaws at the troubled lab, which has delayed court cases for years and left major crime victims in "harm's way". A revamp of contamination issues at Forensic Science Queensland is to be headed by former NSW Police commissioner Mick Fuller. The planned revamp follows the resignation of lab director Linzi Wilson-Wilde in July, a month after being suspended over "contamination issues" at the lab. Attorney-General Deb Frecklington told a budget estimates hearing on Tuesday the Budowle review had uncovered a troubling amount of environmental contamination within the lab and calculation errors with kinship and paternity testing dating back several years. "Evidence from police is that FSQ significant delays and backlogs are having considerable negative impact on active investigations and public safety," Ms Frecklington told the hearing. "And a workplace culture at FSQ that appeared to the review team to be, and I quote, 'quite toxic', with management at all levels appearing to operate in a reactive, crisis-management mode." The Budowle report also found a "check-the-box" approach to accreditation and risk assessment has led to a culture of superficial compliance at the lab. "Additionally, this approach fostered an illusion of progress which appeared to the review team to be concealing deep-seated risks and promoting lack of adequate proactive responses and mitigation processes," the report said. Dr Budowle recommended the appointment of an independent advisor to the lab, promoting solution-oriented approaches and a strategic pause in operations. A break of two to four weeks or longer could assist in addressing "fundamental quality issues, retrain scientific staff, and implement robust contamination controls and mitigation procedures". Forensic Science Queensland was established in May 2023 after two inquiries exposed major lab failings. The state government has provided $50 million to address the DNA lab's backlog.
Perth Now
04-08-2025
- Perth Now
‘Chilling': Hundreds of rape kits untested
An independent forensic review has uncovered widespread failures in Queensland's DNA testing system, prompting the state government to announce a sweeping overhaul of Forensic Science Queensland (FSQ). The report, authored by forensic biologist Kirsty Wright, details extensive issues including unreliable results, long delays in testing, and contamination, problems that have significantly impacted police investigations, court proceedings, and victims of crime. The findings come after the state government commissioned the review in its first week in office, appointing Dr Wright and former FBI expert Bruce Budowle to assess testing services and reforms. A new forensic report has revealed critical failures in DNA testing. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: NCA NewsWire According to the report: • FSQ has been providing unreliable DNA results to police and courts since early 2023 due to systemic contamination. • Delays in reporting DNA evidence have worsened, placing the justice system under 'critical system failure'. • The median turnaround time for DNA results in major crimes is 412 days, almost 400 days longer than what police require. • The backlog of untested rape kits increased from 75 in 2023 to 511 by September 2024, with some tests taking more than a year despite guidelines recommending completion within two to eight weeks. The formation of an independent expert team will be led by former NSW Police commissioner Mick Fuller. Picture Scott Powick / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia The government has responded by announcing the formation of an independent expert team, to be led by former NSW Police commissioner Mick Fuller, with continued involvement from both Dr Wright and Dr Budowle. Premier David Crisafulli said the report 'exposes a harrowing chapter in Queensland's justice system'. 'We launched this review because Queenslanders deserve the truth and victims of crime deserve justice,' Mr Crisafulli said. 'This report shows what has occurred is nothing short of a betrayal of victims, but we are determined to rebuild confidence and restore integrity in the justice system.' Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said the report showed 'nothing short of a betrayal of victims'. Dan Peled / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said the report's findings 'rocked the foundations of our justice system'. 'Dr Wright's findings aren't just concerning, they're chilling, and I know this report will be very difficult reading for victims,' Ms Frecklington said. 'To restore safety where you live, we must resource our courts and police with evidence they need Ms Frecklington said she was confident trust in the DNA testing system could be rebuilt. In addition to launching the expert panel, the government has pledged $50m over two years to clear the DNA backlog by outsourcing samples for testing. A further $6m will go to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to help deliver faster outcomes in DNA-related matters. Attorney-General Deb Frecklington described the report as 'chilling'. NewsWire / John Gass Credit: News Corp Australia Dr Wright said she was committed to helping rebuild Queensland's forensic system. 'I have been determined to leave no stone unturned with my review, knowing that the failures that occurred under the former government have seen our criminal justice system compromised, trust in our forensic DNA services eroded, and too many victims denied justice,' Dr Wright said. Mr Fuller said he was prepared for the work ahead. 'I am under no illusions that there is significant road in front of us as we work through the very serious issues raised,' Mr Fuller said. 'It is a great privilege to be entrusted with such a transformative task.'
