Author adminPosted on Categories Criminal law, Evidence 1 Comment on Lying lab boss Cathie Allen belatedly sacked
Cathie Allen led the DNA lab that was plagued by scandal as a result of a decision taken in 2018 to test DNA samples in a way that resulted in low-level DNA samples being deemed as “DNA insufficient for further processing” and often led to inconclusive results.
Last year, Allen had recommended low-level DNA samples should go straight to amplification rather than be micro-concentrated which was widely considered to be best practice in order to cover her tracks.
The whistle was blown at Queensland’s Forensic and Scientific Services lab in 2021 and eventually led to the commission of inquiry headed by Walter Sofronoff KC.
At the commission of inquiry, Counsel assisting Michael Hodge SC squarely accused Ms Allen of lying.
Cathie Allen lied about her the probity of her role in the 2018 change in DNA samples testing, lied about deliberately providing false information, lied about covering her tracks and lied about whether she was lying.
Sofronoff KC found that Allen had tried to cover up her “grave maladministration involving dishonesty” using a “deliberately crafted series of lies and misleading dodges”.
Her conduct recalls Sir Walter Scott’s words in “Marmion”:
“Oh what a tangled web we weave, When first we practice to deceive”.
Now it has been revealed that Allen was sacked late Wednesday afternoon in a formal letter sent to her legal team.
Finally. Good riddance to bad rubbish.
The debacle Allen caused continues to plague the Qld’s justice system with 10,000 cases awaiting analysis in a severe backlog.
The lab, which has 60 full-time equivalent lab staff and 21 reporting scientists, is now reviewing thousands of sexual assault cases dating back to 2008.
Author adminPosted on Categories Criminal law Leave a comment on Jarryd Hayne sentenced to four years and nine months imprisonment for sexual assault
Former rugby league star Jarryd Hayne has been sentenced to four years and nine months imprisonment for sexually assaulting a woman in Newcastle.
Last month, Hayne was again convicted by a jury for these offences. He was subsequently remanded in custody.
Hayne’s previous conviction was set aside on appeal with a re-trial ordered.
This sentence was lighter than his previous sentence of five years and nine months.
He will be eligible for parole in just under two years due to time already served.
Hayne intends to again appeal his conviction and sentence.
Author adminPosted on Categories Criminal law, Legal profession 2 Comments on Criminal solicitor struck off for series of bail breaches
In 2018, this blog reported that criminal lawyer Adam Raydon Magill from the firm Lawler Magill was one of a few lawyers charged with defrauding Legal Aid Queensland and laundering money for “serious and organised crime”.
Subsequently, he was granted bail on strict conditions on his own undertakings. Continue reading “Criminal solicitor struck off for series of bail breaches”
Author adminPosted on Categories Criminal law 1 Comment on Jarryd Hayne imprisoned after sexual assault convictions
Last week, Jarryd Hayne was again found guilty of sexual assault in Newcastle on the evening of the 2018 grand final by a jury.
Continue reading “Jarryd Hayne imprisoned after sexual assault convictions”
Author adminPosted on Categories Criminal law 7 Comments on Jarryd Hayne again found guilty of sexual assault
Former rugby league superstar Jarryd Hayne has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman in Newcastle for the second time.
Continue reading “Jarryd Hayne again found guilty of sexual assault”
Author adminPosted on Categories Criminal law 2 Comments on Former Melbourne school principal Malka Leifer convicted of 18 counts of sexual offences
Former Adass Israel School school principal Malka Leifer has been found guilty of six charges of rape, six charges of indecent assault, three charges of sexual penetration of a 16 or 17-year-old and three charges of indecent act with a 16 or 17-year-old.
Continue reading “Former Melbourne school principal Malka Leifer convicted of 18 counts of sexual offences”
Author adminPosted on Categories Criminal law 2 Comments on Why do you need a lawyer?
Why do you need a lawyer? On some level this is a basic and obvious question, but there is a lot more to the answer than first meets the eye. Although it seems like a pretty obvious question, there are in fact a number of advantages of having a lawyer. Continue reading “Why do you need a lawyer?”
Author adminPosted on Categories Criminal law, Defamation, Legal profession Leave a comment on Debacle after Bruce Lehrmann charges dropped
Bruce Lehrmann, the former parliamentary political staffer who was accused of raping a colleague named Brittany Higgins at Parliament House has had all charges dropped again him.
This occurred after the trial had to be postponed because Lisa Wilkinson gave a speech at The Logie Awards, and when the trial finally took place, the jury had to be discharged because of juror misconduct.
Continue reading “Debacle after Bruce Lehrmann charges dropped”
Author adminPosted on Categories Criminal law Leave a comment on Chris Dawson sentenced to 24 years imprisonment
In August, Former Sydney schoolteacher and rugby league star Chris Dawson was found guilty of murdering his first wife Lynette Dawson following a long judge-only trial.
Chris Dawson was yesterday sentenced to 24 years in prison for this crime.
Continue reading “Chris Dawson sentenced to 24 years imprisonment”
Author adminPosted on Categories Criminal law 3 Comments on Client acquitted of two counts of contravention of Protection Order
Today, after a marathon trial that ran a total of 6 days spanning over 6 months, including two dates that fell over due to a lack of interpreters and a delivery of judgment, we triumphed at our local Courthouse, the Richlands Magistrates Court.
Continue reading “Client acquitted of two counts of contravention of Protection Order”
