Hearings

Public Hearings

Monday 30 October: On day one of the public hearings for the Commission of Inquiry to examine DNA Project 13 concerns, the Inquiry heard concurrent evidence from key scientists involved in the drafting of Project 13: Thomas Nurthen, Vanessa Ientile, Iman Muharam, Allan McNevin, Dr Vojtech Hlinka and Breanna Gallagher.

Read the transcript for the Monday 30 October hearing.

Tuesday 31 October: Day two of public hearings focused on concurrent evidence by independent experts Dr Kirsty Wright, Dr Bruce Budowle, Adjunct Professor Linzi Wilson-Wilde and Ms Johanna Veth.

Read the transcript for the Tuesday 31 October hearing.

Wednesday 1 November: Day three of public hearings was the first day of individual evidence with Adjunct Professor Linzi Wilson-Wilde, then Dr Kirsty Wright taking the stand.

Read the transcript for the Wednesday 1 November hearing.

Thursday 2 November: On the final day of witness hearings, Mr Nurthern, Ms Ientile and Mr McNevin again gave concurrent evidence to the Inquiry.

Read the transcript for the Thursday 2 November hearing.

Friday 3 November: Senior Counsel assisting, Andrew Fox SC, delivered his closing statements on Friday and Commissioner Dr Annabelle Bennett AC SC concluded the Inquiry’s public hearings.

Read the transcript for the Friday 3 November hearing.

Documents Tendered to the Commission of Inquiry to examine DNA Project 13 Concerns

Document Doc ID
Report of Dr Kirsty Wright – ‘Introduction of a Failed DNA Extraction Method at Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services DNA Analysis Unit’ (Wright 1)   EXP.010.010.0001 
First Annexure to Wright 1: Email – Re: Link to Blackburn brief - for your review prior to discussions with Jo Veth [confidential] – KW to LR and JW  EXP.010.004.0001 
Second Annexure to Wright 1: Email – Re: Draft report of Johanna Veth and Bruce Budowle – KW to LR  EXP.010.005.0001 
Third Annexure to Wright 1: Email – RE: Draft report of Johanna Veth and Bruce Budowle – LR to KW  EXP.010.006.0001 
Fourth Annexure to Wright 1: Email – Re: Blackburn spreadsheets – KW to JV  EXP.010.007.0001 
Fifth Annexure to Wright 1: Email – Final Reports – KW to LR  EXP.010.008.0001 
Sixth Annexure to Wright 1: Email – Further data in relation to positive controls – LR to JV and BB  EXP.010.009.0001 
Report of Dr Kirsty Wright - Advice provided by Professor Wilson-Wilde to the 2022 Commission of Inquiry about Project 13, & Identification of Cases Affected by Project 13 (Wright 2)  LAY.010.035.0001 
Report of Dr Kirsty Wright – Review of Project 13 Statements (Wright 3)  EXP.010.011.0001 
Statement of Vanessa Ientile (Notice 4.001)  LAY.010.012.0001 
Statement of Vanessa Ientile (Notice 4.003)  LAY.010.026.0001 
Vanessa Ientile Summary of Evidence  LAY.010.023.0001 
Attachment 1 to Vanessa Ientile Summary of Evidence  LAY.010.024.0001 
Attachment 2 to Vanessa Ientile Summary of Evidence  LAY.010.025.0001 
Statement of Generosa Lundie (Notice 6.001)  LAY.010.007.0001 
Statement of Generosa Lundie (Notice 6.003)  LAY.010.010.0001 
Statement of Vojtech Hlinka (Notice 7.001)  LAY.010.013.0001 
Statement of Cecilia Iannuzzi (Notice 8.001)  LAY.010.005.0001 
Statement of Cecilia Iannuzzi (Notice 8.003)  LAY.010.006.0001 
Statement of Breanna Gallagher (Notice 9.001)  LAY.010.003.0001 
Statement of Breanna Gallagher (Notice 9.003)  LAY.010.004.0001 
Statement of Thomas Nurthen (Notice 5.001)  LAY.010.011.0001 
Statement of Thomas Nurthen (Notice 5.003)  LAY.010.022.0001 
Statement of Allan McNevin (Notice 10.001)  LAY.010.041.0001 
Statement of Allan McNevin (Exh 129.3 -Sofronoff Inquiry) - Extracts  LAY.010.001.0001 
Statement of Iman Muharam (Notice 11.001)  WIT.0040.0077.0001_E      
Statement of Iman Muharam (Notice 11.003)  LAY.010.038.0001 
Statement of Johanna Veth   LAY.010.017.0001 
Supplementary Statement of Johanna Veth   LAY.010.019.0001 
Statement of Linzi Wilson-Wilde  LAY.010.027.0001 
Statement of Desley Pitcher (with attachments DJP-1 and DJP-2)  LAY.010.028.0001 
Statement of Susan Hedge  LAY.010.029.0001 
Supplementary Statement of Susan Hedge  LAY.010.012.0001 
Statement of Generosa Lundie (Notice 6.001)  LAY.010.031.0001 
Statement of Generosa Lundie (Notice 6.003)  LAY.010.03.0001 
Statement of Amanda Reeves  LAY.010.032.0001 
Statement of Amanda Reeves  LAY.010.039.0001 
Statement of Rhys Parry  MSC.010.033.0001 
Statement of David Neville  LAY.010.033.0001 
Statement of David Neville  LAY.010.040.0001 
Statement of Julie Dick SC  LAY.010.034.0001 
Project 13 – Report on the Verification of an Automated DNA IQ Protocol using the Multiprobe II PLUS HT EX with Gripper Integration Platform
(Exh 129.95 – Sofronoff Inquiry)
FSS.0001.0084.1444 
Project 9 – Report on the evaluation of commercial DNA extraction chemistries
(Exh 129.93 – Sofronoff Inquiry)
FSS.0001.0084.1462 
Project 11 – Report on the validation of a manual method of extracting DNA using the DNA IQ System
(Exh 129.94 – Sofronoff Inquiry)
FSS.0001.0084.1462 
Project 21 – A Modified DNA IQ Method Consisting of Off-Deck Lysis to Allow Supernatant Retention for Presumptive Identification of a-Amylase  FSS.0001.0084.1422 
Project 22 – A Modified DNA IQ Method for Off-Deck Lysis Prior to performing Automated DNA Extraction
(Exh 129.97 – Sofronoff Inquiry)
FSS.0001.0084.1436 
Project 70 – Phase 1 Report- Verification of Promega DNA IQ™ for the Maxwell®16  FSS.0001.0001.0084 
Memorandum from Vanessa Ientile DNA Analysis dated 14 July 2008 concerning DNA IQ extractions
(Exh 129.65 – Sofronoff Inquiry)
FSS.0001.0024.0802 
TN-02: Standard Operating Procedure QIS#24897Vl valid from date 24 October 2007< br />(Referred to on Day 2 [31.10.23] by Dr Kirsty Wright in concurrent expert evidence: T 184, ff 17) MSC.010.003.0001
Email from Vojtech Hlinka to Commission of Inquiry  MSC.010.026.0001 
Sept 2007 Courier Mail Article about Automation  MSC.010.025.0001 
Queensland Health – Preliminary Response to Items 6 and 7 of Notice to Produce 1.001  MSC.010.028.0001 
Meeting Minutes – Forensic Justice Advisory Sub-Committee (Draft)  QHC.7000.0004.0031 
FSQ Interim Advisory Board, Organisational Chart  MSC.010.034.0001 
Report of Linzi Wilson-Wilde to Walter Sofronoff KC, Commissioner of Inquiry into Forensic DNA Testing in Queensland
(Exh 129.5 -Sofronoff Inquiry)
QHC.2000.0012.0591 
Transcript of Interview involving Linzi Wilson-Wilde, Walter Sofronoff, Hedley Thomas, Julie Dick, David Murray, Cath Scott and Tracey Walters   LAY.010.043.0001 
Transcript of Interview involving Linzi Wilson-Wilde, Hedley Thomas, David Murray and unknown female   LAY.010.044.0001 
Transcript of Interview involving Linzi Wilson-Wilde, Hedley Thomas and Tracey Walters  LAY.010.042.0001 
‘Questions regarding DNA IQTM’ PowerPoint Presentation
(Tendered by Queensland Health)
FSQ.0001.0001.0403 
Statement of Dr Bruce Budowle LAY.010.030.0001
Statement of Julie Dick SC EXP.010.016.0001
Statement of Dr Linzi Wison-Wilde EXP.010.015.0001
Duty Statement – Chief Executive Officer, Forensic Science Queensland QHC.7000.0006.0001
Forensic Science Queensland interim Advisory Board – Terms of reference MSC.010.070.0001
CaSS Forensic and Scientific, QIS17171v10, Method for Chelex Extraction of DNA (approved 16.04.2007) QHC.7000.0009.0037
Queensland Health Supplementary Response to Items 6 and 7 in Notice 1.001 QHC.7000.0007.0001
First COI Recommendation Implementation update report produced by Queensland Health QHC.7000.0006.0003
First COI Recommendation Implementation update report produced by Queensland Health QHC.7000.0006.0028
Statement of Hannah Jarman LAY.010.046.0001
Notice to Give Written Statement – Linzi Wilson-Wilde – NTP 13.001
Notice to Produce Documents – Linzi Wilson-Wilde – NTP 13.002
Letter from Ashurst on behalf of Dr Linzi Wilson-Wilde to the COI (Ashurst Letter) MSC.010.036.0001
Email from Ashurst on behalf of Dr Linzi Wilson-Wilde to the COI MSC.010.069.0001
Enclosure 1 to Ashurst Letter: Document 0438_001 – Undated handwritten notes of Dr Linzi Wilson-Wilde MSC.010.037.0001
Enclosure 2 to Ashurst Letter: Document 0439_001 – Notes made on document FSS.0001.0080.6561 titled 'Automated DNA IQTM Method of Extracting DNA' MSC.010.038.0001
Enclosure 3 to Ashurst Letter: Document 0440_001 – Notes made on Promega Technical bulletin: DNA IQTM System – Small Sample Casework Protocol – Part# TB296 MSC.010.039.0001
Enclosure 4 to Ashurst Letter: Document 0441_001 – Promega Technical Bulletin: DNA IQTM System – Database Protocol – Part# TB297 MSC.010.040.0001
Enclosure 5 to Ashurst Letter: Document 0442_001 – Notes made on document FSS.0001.0060.5715 titled 'Extraction Batch Audit' MSC.010.041.0001
Enclosure 6 to Ashurst Letter: Document 0443_001 – Notes made on document FSS.0001.0060.4876 titled 'Audit Checklist' MSC.010.042.0001
Enclosure 7 to Ashurst Letter: Audit 8227 – Notes made on document FSS.0001.0057.3107 titled 'Audit 8227, Process Audit of the Automated DNA IQTM System (including Off-Deck Lysis)' MSC.010.043.0001
Enclosure 8 to Ashurst Letter: Audit 9642 – Notes made on document FSS.0001.0060.5699 titled 'Audit 9642: DNA IQ Method of Extracting DNA from Casework and Reference Samples Audit' MSC.010.044.0001
Enclosure 9 to Ashurst Letter: Change Register – Notes made on document WIT.0016.0188.0553 MSC.010.045.0001
Enclosure 10 to Ashurst Letter: Document FSS.0001.0057.3100 – Notes made on document FSS.0001.0057.3100 titled 'Investigation into partial DNA profile negative extraction control sample (barcode 346795477)' MSC.010.046.0001
Enclosure 11 to Ashurst Letter: Document FSS.0001.0060.5786 – Notes made on document FSS.0001.0060.5786 titled 'A review of DNA extraction control results
obtained in the first six months of 2008'
MSC.010.047.0001
Enclosure 12 to Ashurst Letter: Document FSS.0001.0080.2541 – Document FSS.0001.0080.2541 titled 'Investigation into contamination of a Negative Extraction Control with a Positive Extraction Control' MSC.010.048.0001
Enclosure 13 to Ashurst Letter: Document FSS.0001.0080.2591 – Document FSS.0001.0080.2591 titled 'Investigation into Mixture found in FTA Evidence Sample (barcode 184858899)' MSC.010.049.0001
Enclosure 14 to Ashurst Letter: Document FSS.0001.0080.2750 – Document FSS.0001.0080.2750 titled 'Investigation into Negative Extraction Control with a partial DNA profile (barcode 346794568)' MSC.010.050.0001
Enclosure 15 to Ashurst Letter: Document FSS.0001.0080.6495 – Notes made on document FSS.0001.0080.6495 titled 'Automated DNA Extraction with the DNA IQTM Kit Training Module' MSC.010.051.0001
Enclosure 16 to Ashurst Letter: Document FSS.0001.0080.6502 – Notes made on document FSS.0001.0080.6502 titled 'Automated DNA Extraction with the DNA IQTM Kit Training Module' MSC.010.052.0001
Enclosure 17 to Ashurst Letter: Meeting notes 140708 – Notes made on document FSS.0001.0080.2579 and FSS.0001.0080.2657 – Agendas of meetings on 14 July 2008 and 28 July 2008 MSC.010.053.0001
Enclosure 18 to Ashurst Letter: SOP 23602 V3 – Notes made on document titled 'Environmental Monitoring' MSC.010.054.0001
Enclosure 19 to Ashurst Letter: SOP 24897 V1 – Notes made on document titled 'Automated DNA IQTM Method of Extracting DNA from Blood and Cell Substrates' MSC.010.055.0001
Enclosure 20 to Ashurst Letter: SOP 24987 V2 – Notes on document FSS.0001.0080.6622 titled 'DNA IQTM Method of Extracting DNA from Blood and Cell Substrates' MSC.010.056.0001
Enclosure 21 to Ashurst Letter: SOP 24987 V3 – Notes on document titled 'DNA IQTM Method of Extracting DNA from Casework and Reference Samples' MSC.010.057.0001
Enclosure 22 to Ashurst Letter: SOP 24987 V4 – Notes on document FSS.0001.0080.6677 titled 'DNA IQTM Method of Extracting DNA from Casework and Reference Samples' MSC.010.058.0001
Enclosure 23 to Ashurst Letter: SOP 24987 V6 – Notes on document titled 'DNA IQTM Method of Extracting DNA from Casework and Reference Samples' MSC.010.059.0001
Enclosure 24 to Ashurst Letter: Statement of Allan Russell McNevin – Notes on document WIT.0040.0077.0001 titled 'Statement of Allan Russell McNevin MSC.010.060.0001
Enclosure 25 to Ashurst Letter: Statement of Catherine Allen – Notes on document WIT.0019.0016.0001 titled 'Statement of Catherine Allen' MSC.010.061.0001
Enclosure 26 to Ashurst Letter: Statement of Justin Anthony Howes – Notes on document WIT.0016.0188.0001 titled 'Statement of Justin Anthony Howes' MSC.010.062.0001
Enclosure 27 to Ashurst Letter: Statement of Thomas Nurthen 171022 – Notes on document WIT.0050.0002.0001 titled 'Statement of Thomas Nurthen' MSC.010.063.0001
Enclosure 28 to Ashurst Letter: Project 9 – Notes on document titled 'Project 9 Report on the Evaluation of Commercial DNA Extraction Chemistries' MSC.010.064.0001
Enclosure 29 to Ashurst Letter: Project 11 – Notes on document titled 'Project 11 Report on the Validation of a manual method for Extracting DNA using the DNA IQ System' MSC.010.065.0001
Enclosure 30 to Ashurst Letter: Project 13 – Notes on document titled 'Project 13 Report on the Verification of an Automated DNA IQ Protocol using the MultiPROBE II PLUS HT EX with Gripper Integration Platform' MSC.010.066.0001
Enclosure 31 to Ashurst Letter: Project 21 - Notes on document titled 'Project 21 A Modified DNA IQ Method Consisting of Off-Deck Lysis to Allow Supernatant Retnetion for Presumptive Identification of α-Amylase' MSC.010.067.0001
Enclosure 32 to Ashurst Letter: Project 22 – Notes on document titled 'Project 22 A Modified DNA IQ Method for Off-Deck Lysis Prior to Performing Automated DNA
Extraction'
MSC.010.068.0001
Last reviewed
17 November, 2023
Last updated
17 November, 2023