A6 Rebooted

[Spitfire]

I cannot find any statement from Lincoln about the case after he left it. I seem to recall another poster suggesting that he left because his advice was that the DNA proved Hanratty's guilt; the appellant was then left with a mad scramble to find someone who would support the contamination theory that Bindman had suggested.

Hello Nick

I think I was the poster who suggested that Lincoln was replaced by Evison because Lincoln's evidence was not helpful to Hanratty's case.

Since making that suggestion I have read Rob Harriman's book which has most of the evidence in the Court of Appeal relating to the DNA aspect of the case. Dr Evison was questioned by the Crown's QC, Mr Sweeney, as to why he, Evison, was giving evidence not Dr Lincoln. The reason given by Dr Evison was that Dr Lincoln had retired and was unable to devote the necessary time to Hanratty's case.

[cobalt]

From the 2002 Appeal:

Evidence based upon the comparison of hairs and fibres was inconclusive.

These presumably came from the interior of the Morris Minor and from Valerie Storie’s clothing. Yet Hanratty’s hair, which was described by the appeal as ‘auburn’ had been died black on August 5^th according to Dixie France’s daughter, a trainee hairdresser.

Hanratty did this to make himself ‘less conspicuous’ but as was often the case with him, the concept had not been thought through. His hair became highly conspicuous and its unique colour blend as good as a fingerprint. I would suggest that a trainee lab technician would have had little trouble matching a single strand of Hanratty’s multi-coloured barnet. On that basis I have to assume that either James Hanratty managed to leave not a single hair follicle behind after a murder and rape inside the car, or that he was never there in the first place.

Maybe time for another search of the police basement to see if some hair and fibres have been left behind so as we can put the matter to rest.

[NickB]

Thanks Derrick. So Lincoln was there throughout the testing, including when the results were presented to Bindman.

On 3-Apr-01 Bindman gave his reaction to the press on the results and raised the contamination theory.

I cannot find any statement from Lincoln about the case after he left it. I seem to recall another poster suggesting that he left because his advice was that the DNA proved Hanratty's guilt; the appellant was then left with a mad scramble to find someone who would support the contamination theory that Bindman had suggested.

[Derrick]

...You have said Lincoln left (in 1997?) because he did not regard LCN to be a valid system...

Patrick Lincoln gave up his position as scientific advisor to the Hanratty family in late 2001. Dr Martin Evison wasn't employed by the appellants until February 2002 just 2 months before the appeal hearing. He oversaw no DNA testing and was poorly prepared for giving "expert testimony". He was ripped to pieces by Nigel Sweeney.

[moste]

Bindman wasn’t in any position to agree or disagree one way or another, he would have to be led by the specialist in the field, (Lincoln)but as you say Nick should have called a halt to the whole proceedings. Something very fishy about Hanratty’s representation in my opinion.