The story is by Janelle Miles

The story is also by Eden Gillespie

The topic is Forensic Science

It happened on Friday, 12 June 2026, at 2:42 pm

New DNA evidence was found in a Queensland rape case, and the state's double jeopardy laws will be tested

In short, this is about a new DNA discovery

The Director of Public Prosecutions wants to overturn a man's acquittal for rape after new DNA evidence was found

New DNA evidence was found that was not available during the original trial

What happens next?

This case will test the state's new double jeopardy laws made in 2025

Prosecutors want to retry a man for rape after new DNA evidence was found

The Director of Public Prosecutions lodged an application to overturn the acquittal of a man tried for rape in Townsville

The application was made after new DNA evidence was found in retested forensic samples

Old forensic samples in Queensland needed to be retested

This comes after a DNA testing problem in Queensland that led to retesting of old samples

The Attorney-General said the government changed the double jeopardy laws to help victims of the DNA testing problem

There were serious problems with DNA testing at a laboratory in Brisbane

The double jeopardy laws were changed after the DNA testing problem

A former police commissioner was appointed to fix the problems at the laboratory

The Attorney-General said it's essential to fight for victims who were failed by the previous government

A woman was murdered in 2013, and 12 years later, the problems with forensic work are being addressed

The Townsville case is the first test of the new double jeopardy laws

The Deputy Premier said victims who were denied justice will finally get it

The double jeopardy laws were changed because some people may have gotten away with crimes due to the DNA testing problem

The government wanted to ensure that justice would be served for many Queenslanders, especially women

It happened on Friday, 12 June 2026, at 2:42 pm

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