The 1999 small town crime that changed the course of criminal investigations in Australia

When 91-year-old Rita Knight was raped inside her northern NSW home more than 25 years ago, it shocked the small town of Wee Waa.

But what was almost more controversial was a radical new method to catch the attacker.

Almost 600 men from Wee Waa were asked to hand over their DNA to solve the horrific crime.

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But it was the start of a revolution in policing that's helped catch some of Australia's worst offenders.

Watch the full video in the player above.

National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).