In July 2025, partners Ron Behlau and Jason Murakami together with respected DNA academics Lynne Weathered and Dr Janet Chasling co-authored and provided to Attorney General, the Honourable Deb Frecklington a comprehensive submission pertaining to the collecting and testing procedure for the use of DNA evidence and its admissibility in the Queensland criminal justice system.
Former childcare employee Yolanda Maria Borucki was accused of using a restricted computer in August 2023 to send A Current Affair confidential documents relating to convicted pedophile Ashley Paul Griffith, who had been her colleague.
Griffith received a sentence of life imprisonment in November after he pleaded guilty to 307 child sex offences against tens of Queensland children.
The report of Dr Kirsty Wright, Dr Lauren Wilson and Ms Alison Sears, released in July 2025 recorded the submission which can be viewed at:
Contained in the Submission was, inter alia, a recommendation to expand and centralise the DNA Specialist Court so as to streamline and make consistent the way in which the Magistrates Court in Queensland dealt with the procedure for the reception and use of DNA evidence in criminal matters.
On 22 April 2026, the Magistrates Court released its updated Practice Direction (“PD”) pertaining to the procedure to be adopted in relation to DNA affected cases in the Magistrates Court which adopted, in part, the Submissions’ recommendations.
Co-author of the submission and Behlau Murakami Grant Partner Mr Ron Behlau said the contents of the recent updated DNA Practice Direction was a welcomed and positive step in relation to rectifying the public’s confidence in the use of DNA evidence in Queensland criminal justice system following the earth shattering findings of the Sofronoff Commissions of Inquiry into the use of DNA in the criminal justice system in Queensland.