News
April 2018
Interviewed by Tacha Hicks Champod for Lausanne MOOC – used case example to demonstrate importance of interpreting transfer issues in light of case information
Pleased to see John Fairfax’s new book published – ‘Blind Defence” – & glad to have helped with discussions about forensic science issues
February 2018
Delivered DNA presentations to Kingston BSc students
Completed 10 week CAI module for UCL MSc students – good luck to all for the future
January 2018
Trip to Geneva to give evidence to International Olympic Committee tribunal
Interesting meeting in Utrecht on 26th where NRGD are discussing standards for reporting DNA at activity level – considering issues of transfer & persistence of DNA & how it was deposited on an item of interest
Delivering 10 week Case Assessment & Interpretation module to MSc students at UCL & met them on 18th for first workshop – great group
December 2017
Final visit to the Forensic Science Centre in Zagreb on Disaster Victim Identification project – DVI exercise went from mock coach crash with rescue through to Reconciliation Board. A great year, made good friends and learnt about how DNA fits into the wider DVI response
October 2017
Glad to have been able to contribute to the ICCA-RSS guide: Statistics and probability for advocates: Understanding the use of statistical evidence in courts and tribunals
Sixth visit to the Forensic Science Centre in Zagreb on Disaster Victim Identification project to run workshop on DVI DNA protocols
September 2017
Gave evidence at Central Criminal Court on case involving interpretation of complex DNA mixtures
Fifth visit to the Forensic Science Centre in Zagreb on Disaster Victim Identification project holding conference on DVI process
Two weeks at ThermoFisher in Glasgow providing training on DNA interpretation and statistics in DVI for Riyadh scientists
July 2017
Met with NRGD in Utrecht to discuss potential for registration of DNA experts for activity level opinions
June 2017
Fourth visit to the Forensic Science Centre in Zagreb on Disaster Victim Identification project looking at DNA – helped produce DVI Training Manual and enjoyed lovely weather and impressive thunderstorms
May 2017
Provided week’s training on DNA Biostatistics to Croatian DNA Experts as background to DVI project – DNA interpretation & calculations for single source & mixed results, Relationship testing
Third visit to the Forensic Science Centre in Zagreb on Disaster Victim Identification project looking at DNA – training needs analysis this time
April 2017
Second visit to the Forensic Science Centre in Zagreb on Disaster Victim Identification project looking at DNA – regular trips for rest of this year. So much warmer on this trip!
March 2017
Delivered DNA presentations to Kingston BSc students & completed 10 week CAI module for UCL MSc students – good luck to all for the future
Interview for Norwegian TV documentary on DNA in review of murder conviction
February 2017
Week in Croatia at the Forensic Science Centre in Zagreb on Disaster Victim Identification project looking at DNA
January 2017
Busy week at Liverpool and Peterborough Crown Courts. Now looking forward to visiting Forensic Laboratory in Zagreb
November 2016
Scientist in residence for Chemistry for All at Reading University with Julie Allard – lots of interesting and fun questions from Year 9 & 10 students
Gave evidence as court-appointed expert at an appeal in Alta Norway – furthest North I’ve ever been. Interesting experience, it would be great to go back there & see the Northern Lights
CAI workshop for MSc students at Wolverhampton University – lots of thought-provoking questions
Gave presentation to third session on Probability And Statistics In Forensic Science, at the Newton Institute in Cambridg,e on ‘Modelling the best evidence’. Great help to have the chance to discuss DNA with distinguished statisticians and lawyers from UK & abroad
Trip to Polizia Penitentiale in Rome to discuss validation of Y23 kits – lovely afternoon in Arriccia as well
October 2016
Co-author on response to Presidential Commission on Science and Technology (PCAST) report on Forensic science in criminal courts: Ensuring scientific validity of feature-comparison methods published in Forensic Science International
Interesting finale to the Expert Witness Course at Leicester University for the Intrepid PhD students – all came through the final witness box exercise with flying colours – thanks to all who participated
Interviewed by Anne Diamond on BBC Berkshire about DNA & cold cases – impressed with how much she knows a lot about historic cases
September 2016
Completed first year as External Examiner for University of West Indies for the MSc Forensic Biology programme.
Over the next few months I am attending the special semester at the Newton Institute in Cambridge, from July 18 to December 21, 2016, on Probability And Statistics In Forensic Science. The first workshop was an international conference on: The nature of questions arising in court that can be addressed via probability and statistical methods. Fascinating meeting and very useful.
June 2016
Glad to assist in the interesting issue of the claim for the baronetcy of Pringle of Stichill, just heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council – an unusual use of Y STR profiling:
‘This is just a short note to let you know that I was successful in my claim for the family title and that I am very grateful for your excellent report which provided the crucial evidence in my claim’ Murray Pringle
Started Expert Witness Training for PhD students on Intrepid Forensic Doctoral Programme at Leicester University
March 2016
Royal Statistical Society meeting on Forensic Databases followed by meal to celebrate award of CBE to Ian Evett – good to see old friends and to congratulate Ian on his honour
Completed series of lectures on DNA at Kingston University for undergraduate forensic biologists
February 2016
Completed series of lectures on CAI module for MSc forensic biologists in Department of Security and Crime Science at UCL
January 2016
Wonderful time on trip to New Zealand as the ESR Visiting International Fellow for 2015-16 – CAI training at Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Met lots of new people and saw lots of old colleagues from FSS
Also gave talk to ANZFSS meeting, videoed to all three sites, on the UK Forensic Market
October 2015
Very interesting and informative day in Utrecht with NRGD for a course on Netherlands Criminal Law
September 2015
ISFG 2015 meeting in Krakow was a great way to keep up with developments in DNA analysis and interpretation – especially NGS systems – and to catch up with old friends
April 2015
Enjoyed providing DNA mixture workshop and attending very useful Qiagen Investigator Forum in Dusseldorf on 13 – 16 April; met some friendly and entertaining people there
March 2015
CAI module at UCL completed – enjoyed interacting with students on workshops for this 10 week module
Great time in Warsaw for the Forensic Watch conference on the imminent changes to the Polish legal system, discussing the impact on expert witnesses (http://www.forensicwatch.pl)
February 2015
Delivering lectures to forensic biology students at Kingston University
January 2015
Starting delivery of CAI module at UCL for MSc Forensic Science course
August 2014
ICFIS 14 meeting in Leiden from 19-22 August – many interesting discussions on new DNA evaluation methods and software
June 2014
Big changes to DNA analysis tests coming soon – DNA Principal Forensics taking part in providing video training for lawyers now
May 2014
Attended training on STRmix given by ESR in London
April 2014
Went to Forensic Expo at Olympia – attended launch of Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences & met many colleagues from FSS days