Category Archives: Forensic evidence

Will the legal system learn from Folbigg, have the guts for reform?

Posted on December 21, 2023 by andrew

Andrew L. Urban. The question of the title is posed without optimism. The legal system has no proud history of reform. All three past Attorneys-General have ignored or rebuffed calls for a Criminal Cases Review Commission network in Australia. Kathleen … Continue reading →

Posted in Case 17 Kathleen Folbigg, CCRC, Forensic evidence | 5 Comments

Malpractice, Incompetence And Lies: the Manock curse – Part 2

Posted on February 2, 2023 by andrew

Journalist Andrew L. Urban and retired barrister Kevin Borrick KC reveal how South Australia’s legal fraternity contributed to the ongoing scandal that began with the unqualified forensic pathologist Dr Colin Manock and spread like cancer, infecting the entire system. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Case 01 Sue Neill-Fraser, Case 02 Henry Keogh, Case 03 David Szach, Case 04 Gordon Wood, Case 05 Derek Bromley, Forensic evidence, General articles | 22 Comments

Malpractice, Incompetence And Lies: the Manock curse – Part 1

Posted on February 2, 2023 by andrew

Journalist Andrew L. Urban and retired barrister Kevin Borrick KC reveal how South Australia’s legal fraternity contributed to the ongoing scandal that began with the unqualified forensic pathologist Dr Colin Manock and spread like cancer, infecting the entire system. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Case 01 Sue Neill-Fraser, Case 02 Henry Keogh, Case 03 David Szach, Case 05 Derek Bromley, Forensic evidence, General articles | 1 Comment

Science in service of the court – or not?

Posted on July 4, 2022 by andrew

Andrew L. Urban How really reliable is testimony from expert witnesses? How can juries and judges tell if what they are told is unbiased, grounded in solid scientific knowledge and not just opinion? How should such witnesses conduct themselves? Try … Continue reading →

Posted in Forensic evidence | 9 Comments

Separation of powers – the downside

Posted on February 26, 2022 by andrew

The ancient proverb, ‘Physician, heal thyself,’ can be repurposed to our criminal justice system, argues ANDREW L. URBAN. The separation of powers should not be a barrier to much needed reforms, but politicians are as cowardly on the subject as … Continue reading →

Posted in CCRC, Forensic evidence, General articles | 27 Comments

Forensic evidence not always scientific but how would the courts know

Posted on September 26, 2021 by andrew

Andrew L. Urban. The best first thing that could happen in the criminal justice system is the rending apart of the police from the forensic services around the country, and the establishment of a full scale national forensic institute. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Forensic evidence, General articles | 3 Comments

Do the Police and the Prosecutor in Sue Neill-Fraser case stand by the forensic scientist’s evidence?

Posted on September 17, 2021 by andrew

We respectfully request Police Commissioner Darren Hine, Police Association’s Colin Riley, Sue Neill-Fraser prosecutor Tim Ellis SC and the Director of Forensic Science Service Tasmania to confirm their trust in the validity of the evidence given by the forensic scientist … Continue reading →

Posted in Case 01 Sue Neill-Fraser, Forensic evidence | 25 Comments

Sloppy evidence gathering = wrongful conviction

Posted on September 16, 2020 by andrew

Faulty bite mark analysis and the unreliable testimony of a prisoner delivered a rape & murder conviction against Robert DuBoise in Florida 37 years ago. He has just been released after the forensic testimony was discredited and DNA evidence confirmed … Continue reading →

Posted in Forensic evidence, General articles | Leave a comment

Robert Xie – exonerated by autopsy evidence

Posted on June 26, 2020 by andrew

Andrew L. Urban. 26 June, 2020: With the backdrop of the appeal against his conviction, (started 22 June, 2020), a proposition emerges that it wasn’t Robert Xie who killed five members of the Lin family in 2009, but at least … Continue reading →

Posted in Case 11 Robert Xie, Forensic evidence | Leave a comment

Forensic evidence under the microscope – looks sick

Posted on October 18, 2019 by andrew

Andrew L. Urban. Within a single week in October this year (2019), the quality of forensic evidence tendered in criminal trials across Australia came under the microscope of public attention – and was found to be infected with the disease … Continue reading →

Posted in Forensic evidence, General articles | 6 Comments