Biologist’s evidence incorrect’

Press, 13 March 1987, Page 13

Biologist’s evidence incorrect’

NZPA-AAP Darwin The inexperience, incompetence, unreliability, and prejudice of a forensic biologist, Joy Kuhl, produced findings of foetal blood in the Chamberlain car that were not there, the Morling inquiry heard in Darwin this week.

Mr John Winneke, Q.C., for the Chamberlains, said Mrs Kuhl’s highly damaging evidence provided the foundation for the Crown case.

This showed how "a prejudicial mountain can be made out of an evidential molehill,” he said. Wednesday was the

third day of Mr Winneke’s final address to the inquiry into the convictions of Lindy and Michael Chamberlain over the death of their daughter, Azaria.

Mrs Kuhl’s findings of indications of foetal blood in the Chamberlain car and on items in the car supported the Crown case that Mrs Chamberlain had slit her daughter’s throat in the vehicle. Mr Winneke said there was a strong possibility that Mrs Kuhl was not dealing with blood at all, let alone foetal blood. It had been shown that she had incorrectly identi-

fied sound deadener under the car dash as foetal blood. If Mrs Kuhl did find blood, not one reputable scientist had been able to confirm her results. Mr Winneke referred to expert evidence before the inquiry that reactions to copper dust, prevalent in the Chamberlains’ home town of Mount Isa, could be mistaken for blood. He also referred to Mrs Kuhl’s finding of indications of foetal blood on scissors in the Chamberlain car, which provided the Crown with a possible murder weapon.

However, because the controls of her tests on the scissors “failed dismally,” Mrs Kuhl should not have reported on them. Mr Winneke attacked textile evidence on Azaria’s jumpsuit and singlet, which was found- a week after her disappearance. Claims that a dingo would tear and not cut clothes had since been disproved, he said.

The evidence before Mr Justice Morling, who heads the inquiry, indicated that a dog did cause the damage to the clothing, said Mr Winneke.