South Africa - Martin, 55, Theresa, 54, Rudi van Breda, 22, murdered, 26 Jan 2015 #3

[PrimeSuspect]

https://twitter.com/AJGMolyneaux

Sharlene Otto (chief forensic analyst) is expected to testify.Witnesses have the choice to be filmed on camera or not.

And we're off. Sharlene Otto was the chief forensic analyst in the #VanBreda case. (Blonde hair) she has taken the stand.

Otto says she has no objection to being televised while on stand. But Judge Desai prevents live stream of her testimony.

Reason being that forensics Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) are confidential and shouldn't be televised.

State advocate Galloway kicks off her questioning. Gallery is 3/4 full with watchers.

 

[JudgeJudi]

State objects to Lt Col Otto's testimony being recorded as she will speak on standard operating procedures. Desai grants this.

She has copied four reports on the Van Breda murders.

She is attached to the biology section of SAPS forensics laboratory.

She has 24 years of service, B.Sc degree at UFS, and 'extensive training' in DNA analysis.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...spotlight-as-van-breda-trial-resumes-20170807

 

[PrimeSuspect]

https://twitter.com/Traceyams

We are back in court, Adv Galloway asks about media order and whether Judge Desai wants to address court

JDesai has handed down an order that permits televising of this case for more details we can have access to the order

Galloway calls first witness Charlene Otto and advises that she will have to testify or police procedure

Galloway and Botha want a ban on televised reporting of this witnesses evidence in respect of police procedure

Otto tells Judge Desai she has no objection to being televised

Judge Desai says its going to be reported on in any event

Galloway says that the only problem is Standard Operating Procedures being televised

Judge Desai rules that everything can be televised except Ms Otto's evidence in cross examination

State calls Lieutenant Colonel Sharlene Otto

Otto has prepared several reports on DNA analysis, she will take us through these reports now

 

[PrimeSuspect]

https://twitter.com/Traceyams

Otto identifies the 4 reports which she has compiled

Otto will give summary of her findings- she is in service of the state works in forensic science laboratory forensic analyst

Otto:try and attend national and international conferences and she participates in tests up until now full pass rate

First explain what DNA is why its important, detail the processes to put everybody on the same channel

Otto: DNA analysis and evidence its NB to understand where it is from and what it is

Otto: DNA we are interested in in this matter can be found in all nuclear cells in the body

This is why we can compare DNA profiles

NB we have our DNA profile from the moment of conception and it stays the same till the day we die, it cannot change

NB each and every human beings DNA profile made up 50% of DNA mother and 50% by father the moment of conception

Otto: STR analysis means we are interested in certain areas in DNA molecule and these areas characterized by short

pieces of DNA which will repeat in tandem, In principle that is the basis of differentiation

Otto:in this instance we looked at 10 areas of DNA molecule 1 gender market others were 9 specific areas

 

[JudgeJudi]

She has 24 years of service, B.Sc degree at UFS, and 'extensive training' in DNA analysis.

Otto says we have our DNA profile from the moment of conception, and it stays the same till the day we die, it cannot change.

Otto explains DNA is the molecule of life. The DNA they have analysed can be found on all nucleic cells in the body. A blood stain will be red and easily visible, but only part able to give a profile will be the part that contains white cells.

Each and every person's DNA profile is made up of 50% of DNA from mother, 50% from father.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...spotlight-as-van-breda-trial-resumes-20170807

 

[PrimeSuspect]

https://twitter.com/AJGMolyneaux

Otto is a SAPS employee,lieutenant colonel. 24 years http://service.B.Sc degree at UFS. 'Extensive training' in DNA analysis.

Henri is taking notes of DNA explanation. He still has an aeroplane pin in his blue suit & his eyes look tired.



https://twitter.com/Traceyams

Otto: each one of my affidavits last page is an appendix which explains everything about DNA

Otto: Ill explain in detail how we get from an exhibit to the data we have in front of us today

Otto: exhibits can be anything from piece of clothing to swabs taken from the scene and reference samples taken from evidence

Otto:we received many exhibits and swabs from the crime scene

At the lab an exhibit will arrive sealed and packaged properly before we will analyze

 

[L2L]

Is there live stream?

 

[JudgeJudi]

How get from exhibit to the data: In all cases, exhibits collected form crime scene, form clothes to swabs.

Received in a sealed condition at lab, then analysis takes place. Preliminary analysis was done by Lorraine Nel. Then DNA process starts.
Otto is not involved in the analysis processes. Analysts are all competent, proficient, she says.

They wont know which case it comes from.
Reason for this is so that the people dealing with the samples work objectively and blindly in a sense that they are just following a procedure.

At no stage of process is any fact established. Otto will be the one establishing facts and making interpretations.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...spotlight-as-van-breda-trial-resumes-20170807

 

[PrimeSuspect]

https://twitter.com/Traceyams

Otto: I am not involved in the analysis processes but analysts that do processes all competent and trained

Otto: analysts wouldn't know what case a sample comes from they just know what the sample is- and we do it this way so the process

Otto:remains objective and the people doing the processes do it blindly only following procedures

NB: at no stage of this process is any facts disclosed

Otto: I, as the reporting officer will know the facts

Otto: Renee Nel was responsible for the preliminary analysis ie- we know we are working with blood or touch DNA

Otto: the first process is DNA isolation step

Otto: in this step DNA must be isolated from its cells- we get the DNA out of the nuclei so that we can work with it

Otto:after isolation phase we get the quantification phase.Do we have DNA can we actually continue, what is the quality of DNA?




https://twitter.com/AJGMolyneaux

"At no stage during DNA analysis are any assumptions established by analysts.I as the reporting officer will make that call."Otto.

 

[PrimeSuspect]

https://twitter.com/Traceyams

Otto: After quantification phase we have PCR process. "chain reaction" this is where we will target these specific areas in the DNA molecule - we are interested in looking at characteristics to distinguish between individuals

Otto:next phase simply movement under the effect of an electric current

An electric current is applied to the amplified DNA

 

[JudgeJudi]

After the preliminary test, they start with DNA analysis.

DNA isolation phase: DNA is isolated form the cells get it into a soluble form, liquid form to work with.

After isolation, you get the quantification phase.

We are dealing with a solution, and need to determine if process can continue, what the quality is, male or female.

Next is the PCR phase (Polymerase chain reaction) - this targets specific bits of DNA we are interested in.

10 areas are targeted, and biochemically tagged by a fluorescent tag.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...spotlight-as-van-breda-trial-resumes-20170807

 

[PrimeSuspect]

Is there live stream?

Galloway didn't want SOP's being televised, Judge said okay.

 

[JudgeJudi]

The electrophoresis phase is next - fluorescents are like a signal transferred into data.

Then data analysis is done with software. We look at raw data, profiles.

Initial step after preliminary analysis is sample preparation. The analyst dealing with it attaches a bar coded sticker to the sample. Allows it to be traced.

216 samples analysed. Strict and stringent quality control systems in place, Otto says. Guided by international standard, specific for testing and calibration laboratories.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...spotlight-as-van-breda-trial-resumes-20170807

 

[PrimeSuspect]

https://twitter.com/AJGMolyneaux

Otto is emphasizing the numbering process and the care taken when analyzing DNA samples. More than 200 samples were analyzed.

"We have to follow a very strict and stringent quality control process... Guided by international standard..." Otto



https://twitter.com/Traceyams

Otto: refers to barcodes which are applied to samples and through this code we trace all samples

Otto: 216 samples were analyzed in total for this matter

Its a long complex process. All our instruments are serviced according to the manufacturers requirements

Otto: we deal with case work and criminal work and we know how important it may be which is why we follow strict proc.

Otto:we are guided by international standards, everything we do in laboratory is in accordance with standard operating procedures

Otto: SOP is there to guide us to get to a true and reliable result

Otto: negative control is not allowed to contain any DNA at any given moment

Positive control: which must give the same result in each and every test

Otto: errors do occur but with the system in place we are able to pick up an error, apply corrective measures

and to correct those errors

 

[JudgeJudi]

Errors do occur, but quality system means they are able to pick it up and apply corrective measures and correct it before an affidavit is submitted.

Court adjourns until 11:30.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...spotlight-as-van-breda-trial-resumes-20170807

 

[PrimeSuspect]

https://twitter.com/Traceyams

Judge Desai notes, as we all feel, that the court is freezing, we adjourn slightly early for tea to sort the temp out


https://twitter.com/AJGMolyneaux

Judge Desai interrupts to say the court is chilly. "Myself,Adv Combrink&Adv Botha are at a disadvantage here"(they are all bald)

And so with that chilly comment we are adjourned for tea in an attempt for the court to warm up..see you in 15.

 

[JudgeJudi]

I fully expect Botha to raise the issue of errors and that DNA testing is not an exact science. However, it's not the science but rather contamination of the samples.

 

[Tortoise]

This is a farce. They turn off the cameras and then tweet every word anyway.

Even Botha said the SOPs can be found online.

 

[Tortoise]

Sorry, good morning everyone.

And thank you for the reports.

 

[L2L]

Could someone provide 3 woollen beanies for the 3 cold bald heads and get on with this flippin' trial?