Arabic version: مختبر الطب الشرعي في كوينزلاند يدقق 900 إفادة بعد اكتشاف أخطاء مطبعية

According to ABC News, Forensic Science Queensland is auditing just over 900 statements supplied to police for prosecution after typographical errors, including incorrect dates and case numbers, were uncovered. The review covers statements dating back to 2023.

About one-third of the statements have been checked, with errors found in 10 to 15 per cent of those reviewed. The government said none of the identified typos had compromised criminal court cases, but FSQ director Mick Fuller said it would be “impossible” to rule out whether errors in the roughly 600 remaining statements had affected cases.

“All we can do is do the audit, do it properly, and be transparent with the outcome,” Mr Fuller said. “If there is an issue that has arrived along the way, we will report that.” He said protocols had been introduced to prevent future transcription errors and that the science was “definitively” correct.

The latest problem follows two commissions of inquiry into FSQ, which led to tens of thousands of DNA samples requiring retesting and raised the prospect of miscarriages of justice. The typo issue was first discovered in June while a scientist was giving evidence from the witness box.

Meanwhile, forensic scientist Dr Kirsty Wright, who led a major review that made findings of contamination and unreliable results in August 2025, left an advisory role at the lab in May, six months into a year-long contract. Dr Wright said her priority remained helping to fix the DNA lab and that she was available to assist the government as needed. Attorney-General Deb Frecklington did not answer questions about her departure, while Shadow Attorney-General Meaghan Scanlon said the government had serious questions to answer.