Join us for a thought provoking fireside chat between Sue Carney-Gannon, Consultant Forensic Biologist of Ethos Forensics, and Darrell Matthews, CEO of the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences. Together they will challenge commonly-held beliefs about defence-instructed forensic science, explore the limitations of DNA evidence and the current state of knowledge on DNA transfer, discuss the reliability of expert opinion, and consider the effects of streamlined forensic reports on the intelligibility of expert evidence.

Sue Carney Gannon has expertise in the interpretation of DNA profiles and body fluid findings, including blood pattern analysis. Employed by the former FSS since 2001, she established Ethos Forensics in 2011 to provide ethically-driven defence-instructed case review, and has been providing expert opinion to defence since then. This session will explore misconceptions over defence-instructed forensic science, DNA evidence, and expert opinion, and will consider fundamental factors by which the quality of expert reports and the reliability of expert conclusions can be demonstrated. It is a must for everyone involved in the chain of evidence, whether from a prosecution or defence perspective.