Latest news with #LinziWilsonWilde
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Yahoo
Forensic chief resigns amid DNA scandal
Queensland's top forensic scientist has resigned just weeks after she was suspended over fears DNA evidence may have been compromised at the state's forensic laboratory. Attorney-General Deb Frecklington confirmed on Friday that Linzi Wilson-Wilde had stepped down from her role as Forensic Science Queensland (FSQ) director, effective immediately. 'Dr Wilson-Wilde has resigned from her appointment as director, Forensic Science Queensland,' Ms Frecklington said in a brief statement. FSQ paused all DNA testing in mid-June when potential contamination was detected. Ms Frecklington said she had immediately suspended Dr Wilson-Wilde pending a show cause notice for removal. Ms Frecklington said urgent testing would continue under appropriate controls, while a seven-day pause and subsequent review would determine the next steps for the troubled lab. Dr Wilson-Wilde was appointed in September 2024 following an international recruitment process and was regarded as one of Australia and New Zealand's leading forensic experts. She first joined FSQ as interim chief executive in January 2023. Forensic Biology executive manager Natasha Mitchell will remain acting director until a permanent replacement is appointed. 'The Crisafulli government is firmly committed to the future of Forensic Science Queensland,' Ms Frecklington said. FSQ is an independent statutory authority supporting the criminal justice and coronial systems through forensic biology and chemistry services. The organisation has been under intense scrutiny in recent years, with two commissions of inquiry in 2022 and 2023 exposing serious long-term failings. Among the most damning findings was a 'fatally flawed' automated DNA testing method that may have led to offenders escaping conviction. The 2023 Sofronoff inquiry concluded that some issues at the lab amounted to grave maladministration involving dishonesty. The state government has since accepted 125 recommendations and committed $170m to overhaul the service. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Troubled DNA lab boss resigns after being suspended
A troubled forensic testing boss has resigned a month after being suspended over "contamination issues". Forensic Science Queensland director Linzi Wilson-Wilde received a show cause notice for her removal by the Liberal National government in June following another setback. Attorney-General Deb Frecklington made the call after learning the beleaguered lab had paused routine DNA testing for seven days following the discovery of "contamination issues". Ms Frecklington on Friday announced Dr Wilson-Wilde had resigned from her position effective immediately. She said Forensic Biology Executive Manager Natasha Mitchell would continue acting in the director role until a permanent appointment was made. "The Crisafulli government is firmly committed to the future of Forensic Science Queensland," Ms Frecklington said in a statement. The LNP government did not disclose the nature of the contamination issues but routine DNA testing has since resumed. Forensic Science Queensland was established in 2023 after two inquiries exposed major failings over a number of years at the lab. They included a "fundamentally flawed" automated testing method that may have led to offenders potentially escaping conviction for nine years from 2007. Dr Wilson-Wilde was appointed director in September 2024 after serving as interim chief executive. She received the role from the former Labor government prior to it entering caretaker mode before the 2024 state election. The LNP government chose Dr Kirsty Wright to oversee forensic lab reforms when it won the October 2024 election. The LNP launched reforms after it emerged more than 40,000 of the state's most serious cases were "under a forensic cloud" following the back-to-back inquiries. It moved amendments in parliament in April to ensure current DNA sample retention was extended from three to seven years to tackle the retesting backlog, which may take years. It was a recommendation of Dr Wright, who will oversee a DNA Lab Review and hand down recommendations with renowned FBI expert Bruce Budowle. Forensic scientist Dr Wright spoke out about the lab, triggering the two inquiries held in as many years.
ABC News
18-07-2025
- ABC News
Forensic Science Queensland director Linzi Wilson-Wilde resigns following suspension
The director of Forensic Science Queensland [FSQ] has resigned after the state government last month issued her a show-cause notice. Dr Linzi Wilson-Wilde, who was appointed to the role in September 2024, confirmed to the ABC she had resigned. In a statement, she said she wished the lab nothing but the best. Attorney-General Deb Frecklington announced in June she had immediately suspended Dr Wilson-Wilde, pending a show cause notice for her removal. At the time, she said the action was taken after FSQ put a general pause on routine DNA testing following "contamination issues" that were identified. The government has not disclosed the nature of the contamination issues, but has confirmed routine DNA testing has since resumed. In a statement on Friday morning, Ms Frecklington said the Dr Wilson-Wilde's resignation was effective immediately. "Natasha Mitchell, Executive Manager Forensic Biology, will continue acting in the role of director until a permanent appointment is made," she said. "The Crisafulli government is firmly committed to the future of Forensic Science Queensland." FSQ is an independent statutory authority and forensic service provider, which supports the criminal justice and coronial systems with specialised services in forensic biology and forensic chemistry. Two commissions of inquiry, in 2022 and 2023, found serious failings over many years at the FSQ lab, including a "fatally flawed" automated testing method that might have seen offenders escaping conviction. Dr Wilson-Wilde became director in September 2024 after joining FSQ as interim chief executive in January 2023.
Daily Mail
20-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Forensic lab boss is suspended in scandal over contaminated DNA samples
The director of a state-run forensic testing lab has been suspended by Queensland government in the latest scandal over botched DNA sampling. It follows a pause in testing at Forensic Science Queensland sparked by the identification of contamination issues, 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 and laboratory director Dr Linzi Wilson-Wilde will be asked to explain why she should not be removed. 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. Ms 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.
News.com.au
20-06-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
Queensland's forensic boss has been suspended over allegations DNA testing was contaminated
Queensland's top forensic scientist Linzi Wilson-Wilde has been immediately suspended over fears DNA tests have been contaminated. Attorney-General Deb Frecklington issued a statement late on Friday following advice she received that Forensic Science Queensland had paused testing after contamination issues were identified. 'I moved to immediately suspend, pending a show cause notice for removal, the Director of Forensic Science Queensland,' Ms Frecklington said in a statement. The organisation supports criminal and coronial investigations with forensic biology and chemistry services. Ms Frecklington said the forensic lab would pause operations for seven days, then carry out a review to determine the next steps. She said the government has been advised Forensic Science Queensland would still process urgent matters using appropriate controls.
