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"Reformers have for years recommended that all forensic labs be independent from law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies' and this is a key reform promoted by The Justice Project (2008). But fixing these problems is only half the answer' because half of the wrongful convictions attributed to misleading forensic evidence involved deliberate forensic fraud' evidence tampering' and/or perjury.
From "The Elephant in the Crime Lab," by co-authored by Sheila Berry and Larry Ytuarte; Forensic Examiner; Spring, 2009;
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STORY:
"Murder and rape offences among 80 cases in Norfolk and Suffolk which
could be jeopardised due to alleged manipulation of evidence," by
reporter Luke Powell, published by Eastern Daily Press on May 13, 2017.
GIST: "Norfolk has 52 cases being scrutinised in the current inquiry
relating to Randox Testing Services in Manchester, while Suffolk has 28,
police have said. The Crown Prosecution Service and the Forensic
Science Regulator now fear more than 6,000 toxicology samples nationally
could have been manipulated. This could potentially lead to miscarriages of justice in hundreds of cases. Two
men – aged 31 and 47 - at the Manchester laboratory were arrested on
suspicion of perverting the course of justice in February after concerns
forensic tests had been tampered with. The National Police
Chiefs’ Council said while the majority of cases affected were traffic
offences, other convictions – including murder and rape cases, where
defendants were found guilty on evidence involving drug analysis – could
be overturned. It is understood Norfolk and Suffolk Police are
still waiting to learn the significance of this, but no formal appeals
against convictions have been lodged. Detective Chief
Superintendent David Skevington said: “Suffolk and Norfolk were
originally notified of eight cases which were affected by the issues
involving sub-contraction of toxicology testing to Randox Testing
Services, with more recent events increasing this number to 80. “This includes 52 in Norfolk and 28 in Suffolk, with investigations ranging from murder to rape and drug-driving offences. “The
manipulation of forensics the national inquiry has uncovered has
resulted in an extremely serious impact on the criminal justice system. “Both
forces are doing everything they can, as quickly as they can, to
identify cases where there could have been miscarriages of justice as a
result. “The constabularies are prioritising the most serious and
pressing cases but all cases where there could have been an impact on
prosecution will be assessed, retested and appropriate action taken.“ Police and the CPS will make contact with any affected members of the public in due course. In
February Randox Testing Services, which is part of the Northern
Ireland-based Randox Laboratories group, said it was treating the matter
with the “utmost seriousness”. The laboratory is used by police forces across the UK to analyse samples used in prosecutions. At the time, police chiefs said 484 cases handled by the firm since November 2015 could be affected. But
investigators are now looking into alleged manipulation of data from
toxicology testing carried out by the company from 2014.........Randox said its accreditation for liquid chromatography
mass-spectrometry testing, a common method used in drug toxicology
testing, had been suspended at its laboratory in Manchester and in
Crumlin, Northern Ireland."
The entire story can be found at:
http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/crime/murder-and-rape-offences-among-80-cases-in-norfolk-and-suffolk-which-could-be-jeopardised-due-to-alleged-manipulation-of-evidence-1-5016080
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: I am monitoring this case/issue. 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/c
PHOTO CAPTION: "Norfolk
has 52 cases being scrutinised in the current inquiry relating to
Randox Testing Services in Manchester, while Suffolk has 28, police have
said. "
The entire story can be found at:
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: I am monitoring this case/issue. 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/c
