Shandee's Story - TopPodcast.com

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Shandee's Legacy Episode 6: Disney Villain Nov 04, 2022

Show notes

In the harsh spotlight of the inquiry, lab boss Cathie Allen admits to absolutely nothing, tearfully insisting she always acted with the best intentions and has been terribly misunderstood.

In her account, white-anting staff were to blame for the toxic culture at the lab, management offered no support, funding was shrinking and the pressure was relentless. We explore her life outside the lab, with some surprising revelations, and examine her claim to have been unfairly portrayed as a ‘Disney villain’.

To read The Australian's reporting and analysis of the inquiry, search Shandee's Story or visit shandee.com.au.

For daily updates, subscribe to The Front in your podcast app.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shandee's Legacy Episode 5: Blowtorch Oct 28, 2022

Show notes

The big guns from the DNA lab - Lara Keller, Justin Howes and Cathie Allen - are rolled into the formal inquiry and subjected to withering questioning by a lawyer on top of his game over alleged cover-up, lies to police, and scientific fraud. The three insist they've been honest at all times, just guilty of misunderstanding the details or being overwhelmed by work and led into human error. The inquiry's lead lawyer Michael Hodge was relentless as he applied a blowtorch to a very broken lab affecting thousands of victims of crime.

To read The Australian's reporting and analysis of the inquiry, search Shandee's Story or visit shandee.com.au.

For daily updates, subscribe to The Front in your podcast app.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shandee's Legacy Episode 4: Gaslit Oct 21, 2022

Show notes

Four weeks in, one question lingers in the Walter Sofronoff-led Commission of Inquiry into Queensland's state-run forensics lab: who knew what and when?

In this week's episode, Hedley Thomas, Claire Harvey, Matthew Condon, and David Murray further unpack the toxic treatment of scientists who attempted to raise the alarm about inadequate DNA profiling processes and questionable management practices. We look closely at the behaviour of figures who've loomed large but have yet to enter the witness box: Lara Keller, Cathie Allen, and Justin Howes.

Matt Condon also delves into the fascinating history of the facility and the unique way death is dealt with in Queensland.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shandee's Legacy Episode 3: Ingrid's Epic Spray Oct 14, 2022

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Humiliated. Belittled. Embarrassed. Toxic behaviour by the lab's managers leads to an epic spray from a reporting scientist in this week's episode. Ingrid Moeller used her time in the witness box to unleash on less-than-stellar management of the state-run lab at the centre of the Commission of Inquiry.

Plus, we hear from her colleagues, who tried time and again to raise the alarm about toxic culture and controversial lab practices.

We also grapple with the magnitude of the lab's extraordinary backflips on statements provided to Queensland Police, with potentially thousands of cases thrown into doubt as a result.

Join The Australian’s National Chief Correspondent, Hedley Thomas, and his colleagues Claire Harvey, David Murray, and Matthew Condon, as they discuss the third week of the Sofronoff inquiry.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shandee's Legacy Episode 2: Evidence Destruction Oct 07, 2022

Show notes

We reveal deep concerns that the lab managers put a new, untried and ill-conceived testing system in place immediately after the public inquiry was called. Was it a deliberate strategy of sabotage to try to cover up the mistakes of the past? Or merely accidental - the product of poor judgment?

The inquiry is focusing long and hard on this as Dr Kirsty Wright helps identify the errors and potential destruction of evidence. The toxic culture inside the lab are on display along with three of the fascinating legal characters in the inquiry.

Join The Australian’s chief national correspondent, Hedley Thomas, and his colleagues Claire Harvey, David Murray and Matthew Condon, as they discuss the second week of the Sofronoff inquiry.

To read The Australian's reporting and analysis of the inquiry, search Shandee's Story or visit shandee.com.au.

For daily updates, subscribe to The Front in your podcast app.

If you need support, Lifeline can be reached on 13 11 14.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shandee's Legacy Episode 1: Blame Game Sep 30, 2022

Show notes

Following the shocking revelations of bungling, secrecy and misconduct within Queensland’s DNA lab exposed in journalist Hedley Thomas’ podcast Shandee’s Story, a major royal commission-style inquiry into the fiasco gets underway in a Brisbane court, headed by retired judge Walter Sofronoff KC. The hearings are immediately rocked by allegations of disharmony and distrust amongst laboratory staff, sound scientific advice being ignored by senior bureaucrats, and warnings that the lab’s prohibitively high DNA testing thresholds were unsafe also being dismissed.

Senior police take the stand at the inquiry, saying they went along with the DNA lab’s new testing model because they trusted Queensland Health experts, only to become suspicious, then alarmed – courtesy of DNA expert Kirsty Wright’s damning assessment of the lab’s failings in Shandee’s Story – that offenders may have literally gotten away with murder for years. But DNA lab staff say the police signed off on the controversial testing decision and fully understood its implications. By the end of the inquiry’s first week it’s already clear that Queensland is in the midst of the greatest health and criminal justice crisis in its history.

Join The Australian’s chief national correspondent, Hedley Thomas, and his colleagues Claire Harvey, David Murray and Matthew Condon, in a comprehensive analysis of the opening week of the Sofronoff inquiry.

To read The Australian's reporting and analysis of the inquiry, search "Shandee's Story" or visit shandee.com.au.

For daily updates, subscribe to The Frontin your podcast app.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Introducing Shandee's Legacy Sep 23, 2022

Show notes

Hedley Thomas, Claire Harvey, David Murray, and Matthew Condon return to cover hearings in a major public inquiry into Queensland's state-run DNA lab.

A new episode will be published at the end of every week, for the duration of the inquiry.

Search for "Shandee's Story" wherever you listen, and read The Australian's coverage of the inquiry at theaustralian.com.au.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 20: Shoot The Messengers Jun 16, 2022

Show notes

DNA scientist Dr Kirsty Wright is shown how public servants and DNA laboratory managers behind closed doors have been minimising the serious concerns raised in the podcast series.

A raft of internal documents responding to Kirsty's revelations become available and these show the immediate refusal of the managers of the laboratory to start a proper audit or acknowledge anything has gone awry. Many documents are heavily redacted but are likely to be flushed out as the new Commission of Inquiry gathers momentum.

Kirsty's other efforts to ensure scrutiny of the lab are revealed along with interviews of key witnesses who hadn't spoken to the podcast before.

The episode is expected to be the last in Season 1 of Shandee's Story. A new season, Shandee's Legacy, is likely to start during the public inquiry run by retired Supreme Court Justice Walter Sofronoff QC.

Subscribers to The Australian have exclusive first access to episodes of Shandee's Story via The Australian app. Subscribe to The Australian here.
You can download on The Australian's app in Apple's store here.

Also get it on Google Play here.

To contact Hedley Thomas anonymously with any information on Shandee's Story, email Shandee@theaustralian.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 19: Shandee's Legacy Jun 08, 2022

Show notes

Finally, seven months after the first disclosures by Dr Kirsty Wright in Episode 7 of the podcast about grave concerns over the testing of DNA in Shandee's case and in hundreds of others, a remarkable breakthrough. The Premier of Queensland announces a far-reaching public inquiry to be led by one of Queensland's most respected legal figures and he'll be armed with vast powers and a team of lawyers and investigators to get to the truth in the DNA laboratory.

Vicki and Shannah Blackburn were briefed by the premier and the health minister who said they wanted to ensure public confidence in the criminal justice system.

A public inquiry became unavoidable after police went public with alarming details about what they were discovering in the lab's handling of evidence and DNA in hundreds of sexual assault cases, triggering a review of rapes going back four years.

Major changes are tipped to come from the inquiry which is forecast to run for six months. Vicki says Shandee would be exclaiming 'yes!'

Also get it on Google Play here.

To contact Hedley Thomas anonymously with any information on Shandee's Story, email Shandee@theaustralian.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Introducing The Teacher's Trial May 13, 2022

Show notes

From Hedley Thomas and the journalists at The Australian comes The Teacher's Trial. This is the first episode.

New episodes of The Teacher's Trial are published every Friday for the duration of the trial of Chris Dawson, who is accused of the murder of his wife Lynette Dawson.

Search for "The Teacher's Trial" wherever you listen, or read The Australian's coverage of the trial on The Australian's website.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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