THE ANNOUNCEMENT
But read the article carefully...
This very recent newspaper article sounds really convincing. A lot of effort was put in by the reporter to make it 'pop'.
On reading the headline, you would think that at long last the DNA project has come up trumps, so to speak.
'THE world-renowned scientist at the centre of remarkable new DNA break-throughs in the cold case of one of Australia’s greatest mysteries has delivered a passionate appeal for the South Australian Government to exhume the body of the Somerton Man to “finally give him a name”.
Somerton Man – buried at West Terrace cemetery – has puzzled police and researchers ever since his fully clothed body was found propped up against a wall on December 1, 1948.
From the very start of the extensive police and coroner’s investigation there was a strong suggestion the man, who was in his mid-40s, was an American.
World-renowned American forensic genealogist Colleen Fitzpatrick this week presented evidence to a conference in the US that DNA testing – from a presumed relative of the dead man– virtually confirmed Somerton Man was from the east coast of the US.'
It seems in the announcement we are not talking about DNA from the Somerton Man, we are talking about DNA from a 'Presumed relative of the dead man'. I do not understand how that could confirm anything virtual or otherwise.
The DNA they tested is from someone who believes they are related to the Somerton Man and that just doesn't stand up without confirmation that the relationship is a fact and is real.
If it turns out in the end that there is a DNA relationship then all well and good, but in the meantime any serious effort to identify the man must be based on fact or at the very least be very clear on the nature of the statement. This did not happen in this case.
Personally, I would have expected far better from Professor Abbott.
Somerton Man – buried at West Terrace cemetery – has puzzled police and researchers ever since his fully clothed body was found propped up against a wall on December 1, 1948.
From the very start of the extensive police and coroner’s investigation there was a strong suggestion the man, who was in his mid-40s, was an American.
World-renowned American forensic genealogist Colleen Fitzpatrick this week presented evidence to a conference in the US that DNA testing – from a presumed relative of the dead man– virtually confirmed Somerton Man was from the east coast of the US.'
It seems in the announcement we are not talking about DNA from the Somerton Man, we are talking about DNA from a 'Presumed relative of the dead man'. I do not understand how that could confirm anything virtual or otherwise.
The DNA they tested is from someone who believes they are related to the Somerton Man and that just doesn't stand up without confirmation that the relationship is a fact and is real.
If it turns out in the end that there is a DNA relationship then all well and good, but in the meantime any serious effort to identify the man must be based on fact or at the very least be very clear on the nature of the statement. This did not happen in this case.
Personally, I would have expected far better from Professor Abbott.