The facility involved may well be conducting other crucial tests related to this case apart from blood work on the corpse. There is a requirement for prosecuting authorities to have tests conducted in relation not only to evidence which may implicate particular people, but also evidence which may exculpate these same, or other, people. Criminal convictions for very serious offences have been overturned on appeal, in Qld, where the Crown neglected to have forensic tests conducted on material which, if it had been tested, would have cleared the accused. The reasons put forward for not conducting these tests at the time were that they were expesnive and time consuming and that the results would be of no assistance in securing a conviction. I would not be surprised if a wide range of tests is being conducted at the John Tonge Centre in relation to this matter. If that is so, then the completion of toxicology reports alone may be of minimal assistance to investigators until they can be evaluated in the context of the rest of the tests. Apparently contrary statements from the Commissioner and Qld Health, in my view, are most likely a simple matter of miscommunication (between agencies and managers) regarding which tests are taking longer than might have been expected. This is understandable in the current climate and would in no way affect the integrity of the investigative process. Anyone that has worked with Mr Atkinson will tell you that he is the real deal.
