A lab boss at the centre of Queensland's troubled state-run forensic lab has choked back tears after being accused of deliberately providing false information about best practice DNA testing processes.
Managing scientist Cathie Allen appeared via videolink from her solicitor's office for her first day of questioning before a commission of inquiry in Brisbane.
The investigation has been probing how Queensland Health's Forensic and Scientific Services (FSS) lab failed to test thousands of samples deemed to have insufficient levels of DNA – a move that meant an untold number of potential crimes were left unsolved.
The inquiry before Commissioner Walter Sofronoff KC heard Ms Allen was asked to provide advice to the FSS acting executive director Lara Keller in June this year about ideal workflow options when processing DNA samples.
The inquiry heard Ms Allen recommended low-level DNA samples should go straight to amplification rather than be micro-concentrated – a process widely considered to be best practice.
The testing option Ms Allen recommended – option one – would cost Queensland Health an estimated $20,000 less and generate less workload for lab staff, the inquiry heard.
"So the benefit of option two is you're more likely to get a more usable profile… and you would have a greater likelihood of serious violent crimes being solved," Mr Sofronoff put to Ms Allen.
She agreed and admitted she knew this at the time but recommended "option one" as the preferred workflow.
'That was not what I was doing'
She told the hearing the information she provided lost its meaning "in an attempt to be succinct".
"It looks Ms Allen like you deliberately provided false information," counsel assisting Michael Hodge said.
"That was not what I was doing," Ms Allen said.
In 2018, major changes – orchestrated by Ms Allen – were made to the screening of crime scene samples that resulted in low-level DNA samples being deemed as "DNA insufficient for further processing".
Mr Hodge accused Ms Allen of deliberately recommending the less preferred option as she was motivated by personal gain.
"It would be to your personal advantage because it would perhaps help you avoid criticism for the decision you had made and brought about in 2018," he said.
Ms Allen continuously denied the assertion, describing it as "human error".
She agreed she should have provided "more transparent information for decision making".
"The evidence you are giving is a lie isn't it," counsel assisting Mr Hodge put to her.
"No, I'm not lying. I genuinely made a mistake on that day."
"The evidence you have given this afternoon about having made an error on the third of June in the information you communicated is false," Mr Hodge said.
"No, that's not true," Ms Allen said choking back tears.
"I made a human error and I have berated myself ever since for that, but I made a human error."
Lab manager suspended without explanation
The inquiry earlier heard a forensic lab manager Justin Howes was suspended last month without explanation, causing his mental and physical health to suffer.
The inquiry heard Mr Howes was given no clear explanation when he was stood down from his role with full pay in September.
He testified that he was informed by a family member, who had listened in to the inquiry, that his suspension was to "provide space" to staff within the lab while the investigation took place.
Mr Howes told the hearing this had impacted his health.
"I've been feeling not myself and have been seeking help for mental and physical health. Certainly in the last month more than anything," Mr Howes told the inquiry.
