Category Archives: Forensic evidence

Forensic science services in crisis – loyalty to courts or police?

Posted on February 28, 2026 by andrew

Forensic science services, at the heart of many trials, are under the microscope like never before. Last month, the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee published a report concerned about lack of labs’ independence from police. On March 4, … Continue reading →

Posted in Case 28 Stephen Shorty Jamieson, Forensic evidence | 6 Comments

“You’ve got the wrong Shorty!”

Posted on February 27, 2026 by andrew

The case of Stephen “Shorty” Jamieson and insights into the legal misconceptions that cause transcript injustice in forensic contexts. How the flaws live on, despite the reforms of the 1990s, writes HELEN FRASER, Director of the Research Hub for Language … Continue reading →

Posted in Case 28 Stephen Shorty Jamieson, Forensic evidence | Leave a comment

Can Australian justice system learn from major UK report?

Posted on February 20, 2026 by andrew

In its landmark report just released under the title, “Rebuilding forensic science for criminal justice: an urgent need” the House of Lords’ Science and Technology Committee has completed its thorough investigation into the most consequential aspect of the criminal justice … Continue reading →

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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