7000 DNA cases to be Re-examined
August 6th 2008 23:41
7000 DNA cases to be Re-examined
Over 7000 in Victoria convictions involving the DNA conviction are going to re-examined after a case fell apart due to contamination.
For the last 20 years DNA evidence has been used to solve a number of cold cases that were previously considered unsolvable. When DNA sampling began with convicted criminal it was highly controversial mostly due the sensational method employed to extract samples from unwilling participants. In one case a video was released which showed a criminal in Victoria being sprayed with mace and pinned to take a blood sample. His case led to the courts ordering that the sample taken in such circumstances as being unlawful and ordered their destruction. Just across the border in New South Wales DNA sample were taken in a much less dramatic manner by taking a swab from the inside of the mouth. Today the DNA testing of criminals is routine and has led to convictions that were once considered unsolvable.
The current controversy has created a huge sensation as 7000 cases are looked at again to ensure that no contamination was involved. The Victorian Police Forensic Centre has thus far reviewed 500 of the 7000 as being without problems.
The possibility that there have been some false conviction based upon contaminated evidence will certainly put pressure upon the Forensic Centre to ensure that they have not made a mistake. Yet what must also be taken in to account is the other supporting evidence in the cases and whether DNA evidence was actually the crucial element. In such cases the contaminated DNA will not be enough to quash a conviction. Yet it does put a cloud of suspicion over the technology.
The problem with current DNA testing seems to have arisen due to the advancement in the science over the last 20 years. Much smaller samples and fragments of DNA can be tested these days making the issue of contamination even more damaging.
How this effects the reputation of DNA evidence in court will most likely be dependent upon the results of the 7000 cases. If no other cases are found then it may survive intact. Yet if one person who has been convicted is released then it will have a major credibility gap to patch up.
DNA- Wash hands before handling
Over 7000 in Victoria convictions involving the DNA conviction are going to re-examined after a case fell apart due to contamination.
For the last 20 years DNA evidence has been used to solve a number of cold cases that were previously considered unsolvable. When DNA sampling began with convicted criminal it was highly controversial mostly due the sensational method employed to extract samples from unwilling participants. In one case a video was released which showed a criminal in Victoria being sprayed with mace and pinned to take a blood sample. His case led to the courts ordering that the sample taken in such circumstances as being unlawful and ordered their destruction. Just across the border in New South Wales DNA sample were taken in a much less dramatic manner by taking a swab from the inside of the mouth. Today the DNA testing of criminals is routine and has led to convictions that were once considered unsolvable.
This is the current method of taking a DNA sample and does not require blood samples.
The possibility that there have been some false conviction based upon contaminated evidence will certainly put pressure upon the Forensic Centre to ensure that they have not made a mistake. Yet what must also be taken in to account is the other supporting evidence in the cases and whether DNA evidence was actually the crucial element. In such cases the contaminated DNA will not be enough to quash a conviction. Yet it does put a cloud of suspicion over the technology.
Gently stir with controversy
The problem with current DNA testing seems to have arisen due to the advancement in the science over the last 20 years. Much smaller samples and fragments of DNA can be tested these days making the issue of contamination even more damaging.
How this effects the reputation of DNA evidence in court will most likely be dependent upon the results of the 7000 cases. If no other cases are found then it may survive intact. Yet if one person who has been convicted is released then it will have a major credibility gap to patch up.
Endless uses for DNA testing
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Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Thanks for your comments.
That is the ideal. Let the innocent go free and the guilty become guests of the state for a time.
It is a shame that this seems to be a case of one human error creating a snowball effect.
Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Anyway 500 checked okay only 6500 to go.
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
This sounds like a technical loophole devised by lawyers....is it?
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Thanks for your comments.
Lawyers love to pick over dodgy evidence.
If the evidence is no longer admissible then whoo hoo freedom.
Yet the contamination in the case that was quashed did exist and so panic has set in. 7000 samples to be checked to stop the lawyers from going nuts and clogging up the courts.
Comment by Timothy Powell
subjective determinist
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Thanks for your comments.
I figured it would be something to affect the rest of the world sooner or later.
Your additional information is interesting and worth chasing up so that I can understand it better.