History
HISTORY
Harking back to the origins of forensic DNA, Roebuck Forensics is the story of two continents, countless criminal matters, and a determination to serve science and the courts with substance.
Post graduation in 2001, a bright and enthusiastic forensic biologist was thrilled to gain a start at the famed Forensic Science Service in Wetherby Northern England. The FSS was credited with pioneering DNA profiling and launching the world’s first DNA database.
Cutting her teeth at the gritty forefront, Helen Roebuck attended countless crime scene investigations, extensively reporting indictable DNA matters working alongside police and the Crown Prosecution Service.
It was here, under the Home Office umbrella, with intensive mentoring, training and assessment, that the fire was lit under the study of courtroom presence.
Crossing the channel and with extensive Australian independent DNA expert practice, Roebuck Forensics is forged.
” With unrelenting scientific enthusiasm, we continue forward in the practice and refinement of well-formed and persuasive expert witness testimony.”
CURRENT
ROEBUCK FORENSICS
Principal Forensic Scientist
Roebuck Forensics proffers rigorous and authoritative expert evidence before the courts in Australia, and select International jurisdictions.
Our bespoke approach is carefully curated to rigorously deal with the specific evidentiary layers of each and every matter.
Our expert evidence is purposeful, well-considered and articulated in affirmative terms.
Our firm belief is that forensic science should serve the courts with altruistic purpose. It is with this in mind, that sound judicial outcomes can rely upon science.
“It is with the same enthusiasm of a freshly graduated scientist some 22 years ago, that I launch Roebuck Forensics. I hope that my efforts to serve both science, and ultimately the courts make a contribution of substance”
2012 - 2023
Independent Forensic Services
Sydney – Australia
Helen Roebuck
Principal Forensic Scientist
In 2012, Independent Forensic Services opened its doors in Australia, trading until 2023, led by Helen Roebuck and co-founder.
Bringing together two senior forensic biologists, with extensive governmental experience, the merging reported numerous significant matters before the courts.
The forensic DNA consultant service proffered independent forensic services in this way, until the formation of Roebuck Forensics.
“with predominantly Governmental experience, stepping into private practice was a fantastic progression. Establishing Independent Forensics Services taught me a whole new range of skills and honed my oral presentation in court. A significant achievement was becoming Australia’s first authorised non-governmental user of STRmix, to conduct statistical evaluation of DNA profiles”.
2009 - 2012
NSW Police Force
Sydney – Australia
Helen Roebuck
Senior Reporting Officer
In 2009, the NSW Police service, languishing under forensic evidence delays, launched an ambitious project to conduct its own DNA profiling and case reporting.
I was charged with design, implementation and validation of instrumentation and robotics.
The initiative envisaged mobile labs, and a purpose built multi-disciplinary forensic laboratory conducting biological fluids examination, DNA analysis and DNA reporting.
Centre piece to the DNA lab, was a laser capture micro dissection machine, used to isolate individual cells within a sample. The Swiss technology was the first of its kind in Australia.
“Coming straight from an established and internationally renowned organisation (FSS), the opportunity to develop a DNA forensic laboratory, essentially from the ground up was an exciting challenge.
NSW Police wanted their own facility that could rapidly process high profile matters.
This process included the development of standard operating procedures and a path to accreditation.”
2000 - 2009
The Forensic Science Service (FSS)
Wetherby – United Kingdom
Helen Roebuck
Reporting Officer – volume crime 2001 -2002
Reporting Officer – Indictable crimes 2002 -2009
The Forensic Science Service was the first to utilise the DNA process forensically, when it proffered evidence, directly leading to the double murder and rape confession, and conviction of Colin Pitchfork in 1988.
Perhaps fortuitously as to the inculpatory and exculpatory strength of DNA evidence, the conviction also resulted in the exoneration of Richard Buckland, an initial suspect, who had falsely confessed to one of the crimes.
“My time at the FSS was exhilarating on multiple fronts. As a young scientist, I was absorbing knowledge at a furious pace. At the same time, DNA science was at the cutting edge of forensics, which led to a great atmosphere of excitement. I was surrounded and mentored by some of the early pioneers in the field. The Low Copy Number (LCN) profiling brain-child of the FSS, has been a fantastic achievement, contributing significantly to this day within current scientific process and theory.
My formative years at the Forensic Science Service continue to serve as a wonderful foundation to my journey in science and the courts”.
1997 - 2000
Helen Roebuck
Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Honours)
“Leaving secondary school, my aspiration was to train as a medical doctor.
With the completion of a biomedical degree, I would satisfy the criteria to enter second year of a degree in medicine. In the final year of bio med, I took a module of forensic science, which encompassed an introduction in DNA evidence collection and analysis.
DNA become my passion! The rest as they say….. is history”
In the evolution of forensic DNA circa 1990’s, there was not yet an option to study forensic science specifically.
Numerous pathways could at that stage lead toward the analysis and reporting of DNA forensic evidence.
Biomedical Science explores a range of scientific disciplines, covering anatomy, physiology, molecular biology, cell biology, microbiology, biochemistry and genetics.
