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2.3 Deputy T.M. Pitman of the Minister for Home Affairs regarding the itemisation of evidence retrieved during the Haut de la Garenne investigation:
I know the Minister appreciates this was intended to be a written question. Will the Minister undertake to provide in writing a detailed audit trail identifying what items were retrieved during the Haut de la Garenne investigation, advise where they were sent for analysis, who authorised them to go, who examined them, where each item is currently stored and confirm that no items from this investigation have been lost or destroyed?
Senator B.I. Le Marquand (The Minister for Home Affairs):
The answer to the first part of the question is no. That would neither be sensible nor practical - and that would include if I had a request for a written answer - as there were 4,625 such exhibits. An audit trail does exist for each exhibit on the home system. If any Member of the Assembly is interested in any particular item, then they could ask a specific question in relation to that although, of course, I do not have full details here today. Not all exhibits were retained and a number have been properly disposed of in accordance with major crime policy. Those that were retained are stored securely at the police station. I am not aware of any such item being lost.
2.3.1 Deputy T.M. Pitman:
I thank the Minister for his answer but could the Minister then advise that in light of the Norton case, a 1960s case, where we are told that evidence no longer exists and there is that concern that it may have been helpful in perhaps overturning what some say is a travesty of justice, can the Minister at least give assurances that nothing of real importance and relevance in this case has been destroyed, as he informs us that some things have been destroyed?
Senator B.I. Le Marquand:
I would be very disappointed if anything of real relevance had been destroyed because the major crime policy should obviously retain items of relevance or potential relevance. This is particularly important in certain cases of samples - blood samples and things like that - where there have been improvements in the technology, particularly DNA testing, which may now make a successful investigation possible. I can assure Deputy Pitman that the police are well aware of this and have been reviewing some of the old cases where there was such potential material.
[10:00]