Steven Ball leads with front cover story for New Law Journal

Steven Ball has authored the lead story featured on the front cover of this month’s New Law Journal. His piece, titled “The Role of DNA in Solving Historic Crimes”, offers a compelling examination of how advancements in forensic science—particularly DNA-17 profiling—have transformed the investigation and resolution of cold cases. The article:

-recounts the 1967 rape and murder of Louisa Dunne and the eventual arrest of Ryland Headley in 2024, highlighting how preserved forensic evidence and advanced DNA profiling techniques (DNA-17) enabled a breakthrough in the cold case (RLC member Jeremy Benson KC was instructed to lead the defence: [Jeremy Benson KC instructed in cold case murder trial]

-examines the legal context of the late 1960s, including the abolition of the death penalty, the introduction of majority verdicts and the later establishment of digital criminal databases and the Crown Court system

-contrasts the successful prosecution of Headley with the wrongful conviction of Peter Sullivan, reflecting on the limits and power of forensic science, the importance of safeguarding fair trials and the enduring impact of justice delayed or denied

Please read piece here: [New Law Journal]

Steven Ball is a member of the Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) Panel and Serious Crime Panel and has a strong practice in cases involving serious sexual offences: [Steven Ball Profile]