Justice Minister Andrew Parsons is crediting due diligence, caution and care for the ongoing investigation into two cases of cross contamination of DNA evidence at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

The incident has resulted in the postponement of at least one murder trial – that of Steve Bragg accused in the murder of Victoria Head.

Jury selection was scheduled to begin today. The trial is now postponed indefinitely, even though the DNA in question was not related to the Bragg case.

Minister Parsons says the investigation was launched as the result of the diligence of prosecutors and law enforcement exercising “an abundance of caution.”

He calls it a case of the Crown taking steps to ensure that there hasn’t been – and there won’t be in future – a miscarriage of justice.

Parsons can’t say if the situation could impact other trials, or if the Jordan ruling still applies if the matter drags on.

He hasn’t heard any concerns raised about whether Jordan applies.

Defence lawyer Bob Buckingham says there are provisions in the Jordan ruling that take unusual circumstances into account.