‘Problem at the Heart of the Criminal Justice System in Bermuda’

05/2009 – A new DNA database was in the pipeline for Bermuda with the Police hoping it would crack cold cases and boost detection rates in new crimes. A three-year contract with Florida-based firm, Trinity DNA Solutions was signed with the $987,000  entirely from proceeds of crime cash confiscated during court proceedings and put into the Confiscated Assets Fund. Read more here.

15 years on …

31/10/2024 – The Privy Council quashed the murder conviction of Julian Washington. It is reported DNA evidence used to convict him was flawed, of such poor quality, no interpretations should have been made.

The laboratory providing the DNA evidence in Mr Washington’s case had undertaken all DNA analysis for the Bermuda Police Service (BPS). Florida firm Trinity DNA, which has now ceased to trade, is understood to have provided the evidence.

The DPP in Bermuda is to review all cases over a six year period where DNA evidence resulted in a conviction.

A legal action group is reported to have said there is more work to do, that this case has exposed a problem at the heart of the criminal justice system in Bermuda.

Read more here:

• The Privy Council quashes murder conviction – Doughty Street Chambers.
• The Death Penalty Project’s report
• The judgement
• Hundreds of DNA cases to be reviewed after exoneration in Bermuda
• Murder conviction quashed after ten years behind bars