"DIRECTOR OF GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY’S INNOCENCE PROJECT (GUIP) LYNNE WEATHERED, SAYS THE GUIP HAS BEEN WORKING ON THE CASE AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND WHY IT IS TAKING SO LONG FOR THE RETESTING TO BE COMPLETED. “THE WHEELS OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM ARE RIDICULOUSLY SLOW,” SHE SAYS. “WHAT IS IT NOW? IT’S BEEN ALMOST EIGHT YEARS FOR A DNA TEST THAT WILL PROBABLY TAKE A COUPLE OF HOURS.”"
REPORTER HOLLY SMITH: GC CRIMES BLOG: (This Blog describes itself as a group of Griffith University journalism students on the Gold Coast. We have a particular interest in crime and have decided to create a blog with a focus on Gold Coast crime.)
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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!)
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"Shane Davis is still waiting in jail after 20 years for DNA testing to commence. Source: ABC-TV," the GC Crimes Blog story by reporter Holly Smith, published on May 26, 2010 begins, under the heading, "Davis DNA still waiting.'
"A Gold Coast man has been waiting in jail for eight years for a DNA test that takes about 2 hours," the story continues.
"Attorney-General Cameron Dick has done little since he announced in December last year he would allow for retesting of DNA evidence used 20 years ago to convict Shane Sebastian Davis.
Director of Griffith University’s Innocence Project (GUIP) Lynne Weathered, says the GUIP has been working on the case and it is difficult to understand why it is taking so long for the retesting to be completed.
“The wheels of the legal system are ridiculously slow,” she says.
“What is it now? It’s been almost eight years for a DNA test that will probably take a couple of hours.”
“I don’t understand why it takes so long and I think it’s unfair for the people involved, everyone involved, that it’s taking this long.
“It’s unfortunate that any sort of new initiative like this has to be such a struggle.”
The Attorney-General will not comment on why it is taking so long to retest the DNA evidence but says the matter is still under consideration.
“The State Government is proceeding carefully in relation to the retesting of DNA material from Shane Sebastian Davis,” he says.
“We are currently liaising with the Innocence Project about the materials to be tested.”
Gold Coast lawyer and co-founder of the GUIP Jason Murakami, says the Attorney-General has not set a date for the retesting.
“To import a deadline is wishful thinking when it comes to the Government,” he says.
“His promise was that he would retest the DNA evidence.
“I can only really say that that hasn’t happened.”
Mr Murakami says the GUIP is in negotiations with the Attorney-General’s office as to where the testing will be done.
“The issue at the moment is who is going to test it and where.
“The Attorney-General’s office offered for the retesting to be done at a facility decided by their office but we weren’t happy about that because we want the testing to be done at an independent facility.
“So it’s now a matter of negotiation,” he says.
Shane Davis was convicted of murdering 19-year-old South African tourist Michelle Cohn in 1990.
He has applied for parole many times in the past five years but cannot qualify because he will not admit guilt."
The post can be found at:
http://gccrime.wordpress.com/2010/05/26/davis-dna-still-waiting/
Harold Levy...hlevy15@gmail.com;
