Another forensic science lab falls under a cloud

Another Australian one

HUNDREDS of suspicious deaths may be reviewed after a damning report into the NSW's CSI laboratory - the NSW Institute of Forensic Medicine. The possibility of a mass review by health authorities follows a finding that senior forensic pathologist Dr Allan Cala was guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct after he wrongly ruled a double murder was an accident.

The findings of the NSW Medical Board's professional standards committee can now be revealed after a suppression order was lifted. Dr Cala, who worked at the Glebe institute but is now South Australia's top pathologist, was fined $5500 for bungling the inquiry into the deaths of Pam and Bill Weightman, who were murdered by their adopted son David in 2000. The Weightmans' bodies were found in their car at the bottom of an embankment at Heathcote, south of Sydney. Dr Cala, who performed post mortem examinations on the couple, ruled they had died in a car accident.

But, last year, it was revealed David Weightman had staged the accident after he drugged, strangled and suffocated his parents. Their bruises were sustained as they fought for their lives.

The Health Care Complaints Commission later took action against Dr Cala, whose high-profile cases include the Norfolk Island murder of Janelle Patton. Dr Cala told the hearing he had requested more information from the police, but completed his autopsy report without receiving it. He also failed to document his concerns to the police and the coroner, the committee found. Photographs of the bodies, which Dr Cala initially denied taking before saying he had, have gone missing.

In a further bungle, Dr Cala discovered he had prepared a post mortem report on the wrong body after typing an incorrect number for Mr Weightman's brain into his computer. The committee said Dr Cala was "genuinely contrite" for his mistakes.

An international forensic pathologist called as a witness at the inquiry said Dr Cala should not be made a scapegoat for systemic problems between the institute, police and the coroner. Emeritus Professor Rex Ferris told the hearing that responsibility for the bungle had to be shared. "There appears to have been a culture of poor interdisciplinary communication in the institute, the police and the coroner's office," he said.

However, the Weightmans' brother-in-law Alan Urwin said yesterday: "The public needs some confidence back in the judicial system." A spokesman for Attorney-General John Hatzistergos said the HCCC had reviewed all Dr Cala's cases and no other bungles had emerged. But, he invited families concerned about the handling of a case by the institute to approach the HCCC, which can conduct an independent review.


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