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PASSAGE OF THE DAY: "The government has not disclosed the nature of the contamination issues, but has confirmed routine DNA testing has since resumed."
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STORY: "Forensic Science Queensland director Linzi Wilson-Wilde resigns following suspension," by state political reporter Jack McKay and Kate McKenna, published by ABC News Brisbane.
Gist: "The director of Forensic Science Queensland (FSQ) has resigned a month after she was suspended by the state government following "contamination issues" being identified.
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.
"I'm honoured to have worked at FSQ the last two years with amazing staff," Dr Wilson-Wilde said.
Attorney-General Deb Frecklington announced in June she had immediately suspended Dr Wilson-Wilde, pending a show cause notice for her removal.
"This action was taken following advice I received today that FSQ was placing a general pause on routine DNA testing after contamination issues were identified," Ms Frecklington said at the time.
The government has not disclosed the nature of the contamination issues, but has confirmed routine DNA testing has since resumed.
Acting director to continue in role
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."
The entire story can be read at:
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: I am monitoring this case/issue/resource. 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.
SEE BREAKDOWN OF SOME OF THE ON-GOING INTERNATIONAL CASES (OUTSIDE OF THE CONTINENTAL USA) THAT I AM FOLLOWING ON THIS BLOG, AT THE LINK BELOW: HL:
https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/120008354894645705/4704913685758792985
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FINAL WORD: (Applicable to all of our wrongful conviction cases): "Whenever there is a wrongful conviction, it exposes errors in our criminal legal system, and we hope that this case — and lessons from it — can prevent future injustices."
Lawyer Radha Natarajan:
Executive Director: New England Innocence Project;
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FINAL, FINAL WORD: "Since its inception, the Innocence Project has pushed the criminal legal system to confront and correct the laws and policies that cause and contribute to wrongful convictions. They never shied away from the hard cases — the ones involving eyewitness identifications, confessions, and bite marks. Instead, in the course of presenting scientific evidence of innocence, they've exposed the unreliability of evidence that was, for centuries, deemed untouchable." So true!
Christina Swarns: Executive Director: The Innocence Project;
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