Second town considers DNA tests By GEORGINA SAFE 12apr00

POLICE in the NSW town of Gulgong are considering DNA testing the entire male population in an attempt to solve the rape and murder of a 17-year-old local girl.

Detective-Inspector David Payne said he believed a mass DNA screening like that used in the hunt for the man who raped a 93-year-old woman in Wee Waa in the state's north-west could help solve the case in Gulgong on NSW's central tablelands. "We will certainly look at whether we will do something like Wee Waa has done and go down that path as well," Detective-Inspector Payne said.

Police are investigating the murder of Michelle Bright, who was sexually assaulted and killed in the early hours of February 27 last year.

Her semi-naked body was found beside a road less than a kilometre from her home.

Earlier that night Michelle had been at a friend's 15th birthday party and was last seen by two friends who dropped her off in Gulgong's main street. Eighteen men aged between 16 and 45 have provided police with blood and hair samples for DNA testing and it is possible more than one person was involved in her death. Detective-Inspector Payne said all 18 remain "persons of interest" to the investigation but if the test results were inconclusive, police would consider following the Wee Waa example.

Police say they have received little assistance from Gulgong's young people, who seem reluctant to come forward through fear of reprisal from Michelle's killer.

Michelle's mother Lorraine Bright said yesterday she hoped Wee Waa's mass testing could be used in Gulgong, which has a total population of 2000, to solve the murder of her daughter.

"If that can solve (the Wee Waa) crime, I would like it to be done for Michelle," Mrs Bright said from her home in Branxton, near Newcastle.

Mrs Bright and her husband Greg moved from Gulgong in January after driving past a memorial to their daughter every day proved too harrowing.

Only the arrest of their daughter's killer would allow them to rebuild their lives, Mrs Bright said.

"Michelle was our only daughter and there's still someone out there that's done that to her," Mrs Bright said.

The DNA screening of about 600 men in Wee Waa began on Saturday in a bid to catch the man behind the sexual assault and beating of Rita Knight on New Year's Day 1999.

DNA tests

-- Ain't Gonna Happen (Not Here Not@ever.com), April 12, 2000

Answers

Aint' Gonna Happen,
I confess to mixed emotions re: this issue. On the one hand it's fair enough I suppose - the cops need some lah-de- dah scientific assistance. On the other hand is this:

The New South Wales police force is known as the most corrupt. That's why Premier Carr invited a London bobby over to cut a swath of reform throughout the entire system. Corrupt cops were falling like ten-pins at one stage.

Now we have another Pommy over to introduce DNA testing. He's been here for 12 months already without much known about it. Hardly a ripple. The whole thing is media managed.

One more thing. In the Northern Territory is a law of 'mandatory sentencing' of youthful offenders. It's three strikes and mandatory gaol. Yes. Read it carefully. Mandatory gaol for a minimum of one year. Now we find out that the law is administrated by cops. The judiciary has been out-done and made obsolete. The cops are accuser, arrester, and gaoler. No court or judge invited. It's mandatory. That explains why the United Nations have lodged a complaint. Yesterday the Federal Government arranged $5million to the Terrritorians to strengthen the scene of mandatory gaol, flying in the face of logic and common sense.

This DNA thing is likewise a disturbing development, part of a trend it seems. Subjugation takes on a new meaning Down Under...

-- Pieter (zaadz@icisp.net.au), April 12, 2000.