WRONGLY convicted murderer Graham Stafford says he is open to being interviewed for the review into the investigation of the 1991 brutal slaying of school girl Leanne Holland.
Mr Stafford was jailed for life in 1992 for the murder of the 12-year-old, but the Court of Appeal last December quashed his conviction and ordered a retrial.
A retrial was ruled out in March.
Queensland Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson yesterday announced a review into the investigation of the case adding it would include re-interviewing witnesses and forensically re-examining exhibits.
Mr Stafford said he was pleased to hear it would be an extensive review and the findings would be made public.
"I haven't spoken to my legal team yet, but I can't see any problem with being interviewed," Mr Stafford said.
"It would probably to be to re-establish what my movements were and where I was and that's been well documented."
Leanne's severely battered body was found in bushland near her family's Goodna home, west of Brisbane, three days after she went missing in September 1991.
Mr Stafford said he was surprised to hear that 'all' the evidence still exists as his counsel had been told not all of it had survived.
"I'm not sure about the re-testing of all the evidence as we were told otherwise some years ago," he said.
He said pursuing compensation for being wrongly incarcerated was not an immediate priority.
"It's not at the forefront of what we are trying to achieve," Mr Stafford said.
"If they establish who killed Leanne then I think it would be a given about compensation and I would not have to pursue it."
Three senior Queensland police - who were not involved in the original investigation - will conduct the review and Mr Atkinson has recruited senior NSW homicide detective Mark Newman to conduct a peer review of their work.
A criminologist has reservations about Queensland police being involved in the review of the investigation and the case has also prompted calls from civil libertarians for a new authority to investigate miscarriages of justice.
Criminologist Professor Paul Wilson said the investigation review is overdue and welcome, but it had the potential to be compromised.
"I worry about having Queensland police investigating their own given their past track record such as Palm Island," Prof Wilson said.
"It's a bit like students marking their own exam.
"However, it is a step forward and I hope all aspects of the investigation and, especially the relationship between police and the police informer, are looked at very closely."
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said she was open to suggestions made by the Queensland Council for Civil Liberties for a new authority to investigate miscarriages of justice.
"We will look at it," Ms Bligh told reporters.
"The attorney-general will speak to the Civil Liberties Council and if there is a good idea here that we can put in place, we will keep an open mind."
Prof Wilson said there were at least three police officers directly involved in the original investigation, including Bill Crick, who is also national president of the Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society, still in the force.
"It's excellent they are going to make the findings public," said Prof Wilson, who co-wrote a book on the murder with former private detective Graeme Crowley.
But Mr Crowley believed the new review would turn up several problems.
"I suspect they (the investigators) will say 'Commissioner Bob we've got a problem. This wasn't done properly. There's a lot of stuff that was done wrongly'," Mr Crowley said.
"Their (the police) position for so long has been non-negotiable and we won't reopen or revisit or do anything.
"For them to do this is definitely a step in the right direction.
"I spoke to him (Graham Stafford) yesterday and he wants the truth to come out."
