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"Shandee Blackburn was brutally murdered as she walked home from work - but this cold-case can still be solved. Gold Walkley-winning journalist Hedley Thomas - who created The Teacher’s Pet and The Night Driver - goes deep to find out who killed Shandee, and why. Episodes of the podcast first, plus exclusive stories, videos, pictures and extraordinary evidence are available with a subscription through The Australian's app, or at shandee.com.au To contact Hedley Thomas anonymously with any information on Shandee's Story email here -Shandee@theaustralian.com.au
PASSAGE OF THE DAY: "National Chief correspondent at The Australian and host of Shandee's Story Hedley Thomas said it's a "good day" for Ms Blackburn's family on what would otherwise would be a very "tough day". “I spoke to Vicki Blackburn – Shandee’s mother - a short time ago and she’s hopeful that what the coroner is going to do in reopening this investigation might produce the justice she’s been denied,” he told Sky News Australia. “And finally solve this terrible case.” Asked whether he believed the killer would be brought to justice, Mr Thomas replied: "Absolutely". "Absolutely, I've believed that from the start," he said. "It's a case where there's a lot of evidence, a very thorough investigation by police and thanks to the findings of Dr Kirsti Wright, we now know there were so many defects and errors made and terrible anomalies coming out of the Queensland health run forensic laboratories for DNA testing."
STORY: "Shandee Blackburn murder investigation reopens after Hedley Thomas' podcast highlights fault in state-run forensics,"
SUB-HEADING: "The decision to reopen the murder inquiry of Shandee Blackburn nine years since she was stabbed to death was prompted by a podcast series which highlighted major flaws in the investigation."
PHOTO CAPTION: "Vicki Blackburn (mother of Shandee) with Dr Kirsty Wright, forensic scientist and Hedley Thomas, The Australian's investigative journalist."
GIST: A coronial inquiry into the murder of Queensland woman Shandee Blackburn has been reopened nine years after she was fatally stabbed, after findings from a podcast series highlighted the faults in the initial investigation.
Shandee Blackburn was 23-years-old when she was stabbed to death more than 20 times in Mackay during the early hours of February 9, 2013.
Her killer has never been brought to justice but last week, Coroner David O'Connell informed Shandee's mother he had made the decision to reopen the investigation, The Australian reports.
His decision was sparked by the findings of investigative podcast series Shandee's Story of the errors in the forensic lab's handling of evidence in the murder case.
National Chief correspondent at The Australian and host of Shandee's Story Hedley Thomas said it's a "good day" for Ms Blackburn's family on what would otherwise would be a very "tough day".
“I spoke to Vicki Blackburn – Shandee’s mother - a short time ago and she’s hopeful that what the coroner is going to do in reopening this investigation might produce the justice she’s been denied,” he told Sky News Australia.
“And finally solve this terrible case.”
Asked whether he believed the killer would be brought to justice, Mr Thomas replied: "Absolutely".
"Absolutely, I've believed that from the start," he said.
"It's a case where there's a lot of evidence, a very thorough investigation by police and thanks to the findings of Dr Kirsti Wright, we now know there were so many defects and errors made and terrible anomalies coming out of the Queensland health run forensic laboratories for DNA testing."
In 2014, Ms Blackburn's ex-boyfriend John Peros was charged with her murder but was found not guilty in a Supreme Court trial in 2017.
In August 2020, Coroner David O'Connell told the inquest there was enough evidence to show Mr Peros had the motive to kill Ms Blackburn and that there was no other possible conclusion.
Samples taken from Shandee's fingernails, arms, clothing and from 12 areas of possible blood in Mr Pero's car at the time are among those that could be retested."
The entire story can be read at:
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: I am monitoring this case/issue. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog for reports on developments. The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at: http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith. Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at: http://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2011/05/charles-smith-blog-award-nominations.html Please send any comments or information on other cases and issues of interest to the readers of this blog to: hlevy15@gmail.com. Harold Levy: Publisher: The Charles Smith Blog;
