Mercy killing accused offers aid to identify bodies in pit

Sean Davison. Photo / Greg Bowker

A Dunedin scientist charged with the attempted murder of his terminally ill mother wants to use DNA to identify what are hoped to be the remains of 17 New Zealand Coastwatchers beheaded during World War II.

Police charged South Africa-based Professor Sean Davison in September, after he admitted to the Herald on Sunday that he gave Patricia Davison, 85, who was dying of cancer, a lethal dose of morphine before she died in October 2006.

He told the Otago Daily Times that he expected to stay in Dunedin while the matter was being resolved, which could take a year, and he wanted to offer his services to those trying to identify bodies found in a 2m pit in Kiribati.

He said his laboratory at the University of the Western Cape analysed mitochondrial DNA to identify the bodies of anti-apartheid activists in mass graves and, if there was viable DNA, it could help identify remains discovered on Tarawa atoll.

"Our work in South Africa shows how important it is to be able to offer families closure, or to help eliminate the unknown, and I would gladly offer our services for free."

Professor Davison's laboratory had recently received a "substantial donation" to carry out DNA profiling in human rights work.

The offer came as the New Zealand Defence Force, Veterans Affairs New Zealand, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the Arts, Culture and Heritage Ministry marshalled resources to identify skeletal remains found by a New Zealand High Commission-led dig on the atoll.

It was hoped the remains found were of 22 people - including 17 New Zealand Coastwatchers - beheaded by Japanese soldiers in 1942.

Defence Force spokesman Commander Philip Bradshaw yesterday said Professor Davison's offer was "noted and appreciated" but it was still too early to commit to accepting it.

Officials needed to consider the location of the burial site and the manner of execution to potentially identify the group and medical records could be used, leaving the prospect of DNA analysis some way off.

Also, Commander Bradshaw said, diplomats needed to talk before an exhumation could take place.

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES