The methodology of Investigative Genetic Genealogy will go on trial in Canada. The hearing is set for the week of June 19-23.
The case is brought by the defense for double-murder suspect Leonard Cochrane. Cochrane is on trial for two counts of first-degree murder in the July 11, 1994 shooting deaths of Barry Buchart and Trevor Deakins.
There is a lot online about the cases. A quick search will give you all the details. The important part is what the defense is doing. It asks similar questions the defense did for Jerry Lynn Burns in the 1979 Michelle Martinko murder.
Aside from the possible innocence or guilt of criminal defendants, genetic testing is not without controversy. So, what is happening in Calgary is important.
Here in the USA, absent federal regulations, it too will be up to the courts to strike a fair balance between investigation and privacy. The courts will have to take a position on genetic testing and the research methods used. Can they withstand the Daubert standard, i.e. is there prove that this methodology of Investigative Genetic Genealogy is in general accepted by the scientific community. Are there other methods? I wrote more posts about that, link here.
The case:
“Justice Keith Yamauchi said lead homicide investigator Det. Ken Carriere and two genetic genealogists can be questioned on the methodology used in the investigative genetic genealogy (IGG), that helped identify Cochrane as a suspect in a cold-case double homicide.” DNA found at the crime scene was uploaded and compared to samples in online databases.
What followed then is familiar as we have seen it in several high profile cases. Simply put: in the databases similar DNA profiles are found, genetic genealogists build a sample pool, reduce the pool by building family trees, and compare to the crime scene. Then traditional police investigations of those people who partially match reduce the pool further.
Then they try to tie people to the crime scene and the victims, try to get discarded materials containing DNA from remaining suspects, and last, compare those samples to the DNA found at the crime scene.
A trial to watch.