The family of Keren Rowland, a Canberra woman who died in 2011, has raised serious concerns about police competence after it emerged that critical evidence from the case has been lost. The lost evidence includes items that could have been pivotal in determining the circumstances surrounding her death.
Background of the Case
Keren Rowland, 39, was found dead in her home in the Canberra suburb of Kambah in August 2011. Initially, her death was not treated as suspicious, but the family has long believed that there was more to the story. They have been pushing for a deeper investigation into the events leading up to her death.
Lost Evidence Raises Questions
Recently, it was revealed that the police had lost several pieces of evidence, including a laptop and mobile phone belonging to Rowland. The family's lawyer, John McMillan, stated that the loss of this evidence has severely hampered the investigation. "This is a significant blow to the family's quest for answers," McMillan said. "The laptop and phone could have contained crucial information about Keren's activities in the days before her death."
The family has now formally requested an independent review of the police handling of the case. They argue that the loss of evidence suggests a lack of competence and raises questions about the thoroughness of the original investigation.
Police Response
ACT Policing has acknowledged the loss of the evidence and has apologized to the family. A spokesperson said, "We understand the frustration and distress this has caused the family. We are conducting an internal review to determine how this happened and to ensure such incidents do not occur in the future." However, the family believes that more needs to be done to restore their confidence in the investigation.
Family's Ongoing Campaign
Keren Rowland's sister, Sarah, has been leading the campaign for a thorough investigation. She said, "We have always felt that there were unanswered questions about Keren's death. The loss of this evidence only reinforces our belief that the police did not take the case seriously from the beginning." The family is now calling for a coronial inquest to be reopened, arguing that the lost evidence may have been critical to establishing the truth.
The case has also attracted attention from local politicians. Independent ACT MLA Michael Pettersson has called for a full explanation from the police. "The Rowland family deserves transparency and accountability," Pettersson said. "The loss of evidence in a case like this is unacceptable."
As the family continues to seek justice, they hope that the independent review will shed light on the circumstances of Keren's death and hold those responsible for the lost evidence accountable. The matter is likely to be raised in the ACT Legislative Assembly in the coming weeks.
