Qld; CJC investigates after innocent man jailed for rape

AAP General News (Australia)
04-11-2001
Qld; CJC investigates after innocent man jailed for rape

Queensland's Criminal Justice Commission has launched an investigation into official
bungling or wrongdoing after an innocent man was convicted and jailed for rape.

FRANK ALAN BUTTON, aged 29, was sentenced to six years' jail last August of raping
a 13-year-old girl but was freed yesterday after DNA tests proved him innocent.

During BUTTON'S trial, a DNA expert from the state government's John Tonge Forensic
Testing Centre gave evidence that no conclusive results could be gleaned from vaginal
swab DNA testing.

Bed sheets from where the rape occurred, however, were never tested by the centre and
BUTTON was sentenced to six years' jail.

Queensland Court of Appeal Justice GLENN WILLIAMS has said it appears the John Tonge
centre was under-resourced and in the past, many proceedings had been postponed because
of testing back-logs.

He said the testing of the bed sheets has identified another suspect, but no one has
yet been charged.

Queensland Attorney-General ROD WELFORD says DNA testing helps to get at the truth
in the system, not only to prove guilt but also to clear innocent people.

Mr WELFORD says it's a matter of real concern where a miscarriage of justice occurs.

AAP RTV rad/sc/klw/mjm/klw/mjm

KEYWORD: BUTTON (BRISBANE)

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