Source: smithforensic.blogspot.com --- Sunday, April 30, 2017
STORY: "PathWest DNA mix-up: Investigation launched after wrong man convicted" by reporter Eliza Laschon, published by ABC NEWS on April 28, 2017. GIST " The WA Government is demanding answers after a man was wrongly convicted of a crime over a decade ago because of a DNA mix-up at state-run pathology service PathWest." "This is deeply concerning and distressing that this incident has occurred," WA Health Minister Roger Cook said. "I am particularly concerned about the impact that it's had on this gentleman, and on behalf of all I represent I sincerely apologise for this." The man was arrested in 2004, aged in his early 20s, after DNA found at the scene of a home invasion was incorrectly identified as his. The DNA apparently belonged to someone with the same name as the man and a laboratory worker mixed them up. According to the Government, the man initially protested his innocence before pleading guilty on the advice of his lawyer, who told him he would not be believed. He received a suspended jail sentence and spent over a decade with a criminal record. It is understood the man was unable to get a police clearance to help gain employment. Last week the man, and the State Government, were finally told about the mistake. "I was advised on Friday evening (by the Department of Health) that further review of this result way back in April 2016 had revealed that is was in fact a misidentification and that someone else by the same na ...
from Australia http://ift.tt/2oUAvAG
No comments:
Post a Comment