By Tess Ikonomou in Canberra

AUSTRALIA’S peak science body has called for an overhaul to the nation’s criminal justice system following the pardoning of Kathleen Folbigg.

The Australian Academy of Science acted as an independent adviser to the second Folbigg inquiry, leading to her release from jail after 20 years behind bars for the deaths of her four children.

Chief executive Anna-Maria Arabia said reforms were needed to allow science to inform decision making, and prevent further miscarriages of justice.

“I’m absolutely relieved that Kathleen Folbigg has been pardoned,” she told reporters in Canberra.

“We don’t need scientists put into a boxing ring, put up against each other.

“We need a way in which science can be heard fairly, transparently, and independently by the justice system.”

Ms Arabia, a neuroscientist, said other like-minded countries including Canada and NZ, had adopted a criminal case review commission.

“It’s been a very successful model… this is an opportunity for Australia to implement such a system or something similar,” she said.

Ms Arabia said there were many cases where there have been pleas for pardons based on new evidence coming to light.

“There are too many for anyone to look at just in an ad hoc way,” she said.

“This is why something like the criminal case review commission could look at those cases independently and determine whether a new process is required.”

A jury in 2003 found Ms Folbigg guilty of killing her four babies – Caleb, Patrick, Sarah and Laura – between 1989 and 1999.

But Ms Folbigg always maintained her innocence.

Rare genetic variants identified in the mother and her daughters triggered a second inquiry into her conviction.

Kathleen Folbigg ‘in the sunshine’ after jail pardon