Real Crime with Adam Shand

The Fingerprint of the 21st Century - And Its Flaws | Jae Gerhard

34 min · 2. juni 2026
episode The Fingerprint of the 21st Century - And Its Flaws | Jae Gerhard cover

Description

DNA evidence has been called the gold standard of forensic science — but is the justice system placing too much faith in it? Adam Shand speaks with Jae Gerhard, one of Australia's leading independent forensic scientists, about the hidden limitations of DNA evidence and what they mean for criminal prosecutions. A former scientist with the Australian Federal Police and NSW Police Force, Jae now works as an expert witness advising defence lawyers on what the DNA in their cases actually tells us — and what it doesn't. From trace DNA that can travel on a handshake to gloves that become vectors for contamination, Jae reveals how easily evidence can be misread, mishandled, or misrepresented in court. She takes Adam through landmark cases including Farah Jama, who spent sixteen months in prison for a crime he didn't commit — convicted largely on DNA evidence that was never what it appeared to be. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

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episode Badge of Betrayal: How a Dead Pedophile Cop Exposed a Police Culture Crisis artwork

Badge of Betrayal: How a Dead Pedophile Cop Exposed a Police Culture Crisis

Investigative journalist and podcast host Jay Walkerden joins Adam to discuss Badge of Betrayal, his explosive investigation into disgraced Tasmanian police officer Paul Reynolds. The series examined decades of child sexual abuse allegations, failures of accountability, and the shocking decision to grant Reynolds a police funeral despite concerns about his conduct. Walkerden explains how the podcast helped trigger a parliamentary inquiry into Tasmania Police, exposing deeper questions about institutional culture, transparency, and the protection of vulnerable victims. It's a story of persistence, public interest journalism, and the pursuit of truth. You can listen to the show here  [https://open.spotify.com/show/03Q1zMXdazSlNwDyZvQiPW?si=8dc32590bc124ba6] See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

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