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2000 April Report of the Auditor General of Canada
Exhibit 7.4—DNA Warrant Sample Delay
Sexual Assault of a Child
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Day 1: 25 October 1998 |
Police investigators asked the RCMP Forensic Laboratory Services to examine materials found on the victim for the presence of DNA. If found, the investigator would then seek a warrant to take a DNA sample from a known suspect to compare with the DNA removed from the victim. |
|
Day 116: 17 February 1999 |
The laboratory confirmed the presence of sufficient DNA. The investigator could then obtain a DNA warrant to take a sample from the suspect. |
|
Day 146: 19 March 1999 |
The investigator provided the laboratory with a sample from the victim to ensure that the DNA being tested was that of the suspect, not the victim. |
|
Day 188: 30 April 1999 |
The investigator provided the laboratory with a sample from the suspect, obtained under warrant, to determine if it matched the DNA found on the victim. |
|
Day 227: 8 June 1999 |
The laboratory confirmed that the DNA of the suspect matched the DNA found on the victim. The probability of another person matching this profile was 1 in 1.6 trillion. |
Summary
- The time taken to obtain sufficient evidence to arrest the suspect - 7.5 months
- The time spent in the laboratory before a DNA warrant could be obtained - 4 months
- The time for the investigator to submit a DNA warrant sample - 2.5 months
- The time spent in the laboratory after a DNA warrant sample was obtained - 1 month
- The time taken in the laboratory - 5 months
No priority level was assigned to this case.
Source: RCMP case file