Channel 7 Today Tonight (Adelaide

Dr Cala and the New Body-Parts Scandal 8 August 2006

This version of the transcript has been edited by Dr Robert N Moles

In order of appearance

Rosanna Mangiarelli – presenter
Graham Archer - interviewer and producer
Stephen Pallaras QC, DPP from media conference 4 August 2006
Robin Napper – former UK police officer and forensic expert – file tape.

Program

Rosanna Mangiarelli

Tonight, to shocking new allegations against Adelaide’s Forensic Science Centre and the work of troubled forensic pathologist Dr Alan Cala. Today Tonight has just learned that some of the remains of one of the men killed in the Gladstone munitions blast earlier this year are still being held in forensic labs in the city. The alarming mix-up means the young victim was buried without all his body parts and the family wasn’t even told. Graham Archer has this exclusive report.

Spokeswoman

We know where, we don’t know why and we don’t know how at this stage.

Graham Archer

Tonight, a bombshell, almost literally and most certainly emotionally.

witness at the time of the blast

It really is quite amazing there weren’t more fatalities here given the sheer force of the explosion. Witnesses say it was felt about 40Ks away and that was….

Graham Archer

We were all horrified by the deaths of three men working at the Gladstone munitions factory when it blew apart in May this year.

Local woman at the time

We knew most of the people that work there and they’re good people …

Local man at the time

Half the football team is there…

Graham Archer

The state was amazed at the way the community rallied around the loved ones of those lost.

News item at the time of the funerals

Before the game players and spectators observed a minute’s silence and emotions were running high…

Local man at the time

There are a lot of bruised people and a lot of people hurting…

Pictures of funeral procession – music “goodbye my friend”

Graham Archer

And moved by the funeral processions of Damien Harris and Matt Kealey. But we’ve now learned that parts of the body of one of the men were not returned to the family to be buried as they should have been. Unbeknownst to the family they remained stored at the Adelaide Forensic Science Centre. The job of bringing all of the remains together is that of the forensic pathologist doing the post mortem. In this case, that pathologist is Dr Alan Cala.

Stephen Pallaras QC at media conference

… that Forensic Science SA has no information that warrants any variation in the duties performed by Dr Alan Cala.

Graham Archer

That is the same Dr Alan Cala who is currently facing an unprofessional conduct complaint in New South Wales over mistaking a double murder for a motor vehicle accident.

News item at time of crash

When Bill and Pam Weightman's bodies were discovered in their cars six years ago Dr Cala found it was an accident. What he missed is that the Weightman's son had drugged them and smothered them before rolling them down the embankment.

Graham Archer

The same Dr Cala who over the last few days the Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Pallaras has insisted he still plans to use in future cases.

Stephen Pallaras QC at media conference

I can’t do anything to avoid that except to take the best advice that I can from those who know. I don’t know. I am advised by those who are employed to give precisely that assessment. They are the best people in town to know. If they don’t know, no one does.

Graham Archer

It appears the DPP may have to re-think as we endeavored to inform him at his press conference.

Graham Archer at media conference

And I would suggest if you want to avoid some embarrassment – some embarrassment – you should ….

This afternoon we attempted to get a comment from the Coroner’s Office and Forensic Science SA without success. We have also contacted the family but they too it seems have been instructed not to comment.

Robin Napper file tape

It’s a complete Pandora’s Box Graham. I mean if they lift the lid any higher, how many more might pop out.

Rosanna Mangiarelli

Graham  Archer with that story.

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