THE SHANE DAVIS CASE: QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA; TALKS TO NARROW DOWN EVIDENCE TO BE TESTED WITH NEW DNA TECHNOLOGY PROCEEDING AT SNAIL'S PACE;

"IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE ACTION TO FOLLOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL CAMERON DICK'S ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE EVIDENCE USED TO CONVICT DAVIS WOULD BE RETESTED WITH NEW DNA TECHNOLOGY. INNOCENCE PROJECT DIRECTOR AND GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY LECTURER LYNNE WEATHERED SAID THE STATE GOVERNMENT HAD RECENTLY BEEN IN CONTACT ABOUT THE EVIDENCE IT WAS PLANNING TO RETEST. MS WEATHERED SAID PROJECT MEMBERS WERE 'NEGOTIATING' WITH THE GOVERNMENT ABOUT THE EVIDENCE, AS IT WANTED OTHER ITEMS TESTED."

REPORTER LUCY ARDERN: GOLDCOAST.COM;

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BACKGROUND: Shane Davis was convicted by a Supreme Court jury in Brisbane in November 1991 of the murder of South African tourist Michelle Joanne Cohn at a Surfers Paradise apartment block on Boxing Day in 1990. He was sentenced to life in prison, but has always maintained his innocence and has even refused the opportunity of parole several times during the past five years. His case has been reviewed and championed by the Griffith University's Innocence Project which has raised serious questions about the DNA used by the prosecution in the case against him. DNA was in its infancy when he was convicted. (PUBLISHER'S NOTE: The pace may be unbearably slow but at least the state government (Queensland) has had the integrity and decency to agree to the retests. State of Texas please take note!)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------"TALKS have started on evidence that might be retested in the Shane Davis murder case," the Goldcoast.com story by reporter Lucy Ardern published earlier today begins, under the heading "DNA retesting talks in Coast murder".

"Davis was convicted by a Supreme Court jury in Brisbane in 1991 of the murder of South African tourist Michelle Joanne Cohn at a Surfers Paradise unit block," the story continues.

"In the past three months there has been little action to follow Attorney-General Cameron Dick's announcement that the evidence used to convict Davis would be retested with new DNA technology.

Innocence Project director and Griffith University lecturer Lynne Weathered said the State Government had recently been in contact about the evidence it was planning to retest.

Ms Weathered said project members were 'negotiating' with the government about the evidence, as it wanted other items tested.

Mr Dick said pieces of fabric and swabs of DNA material were likely to be retested.

Davis's mother Jill Greenwood said she assumed all the evidence would be retested.

Ms Greenwood said since the breakthrough in the case last year, she had been hoping her son would soon be home.

"I have his room all ready for him to come home -- I keep thinking he will be here in a few weeks," she said.

When Davis was convicted, DNA was in its infancy and there have since been major developments in the technology."

The story can be found at:

http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2010/03/11/197165_crime-and-court-news.html

Harold Levy...hlevy15@gmail.com;