An internationally-renowned forensic anthropologist has said judges have set science back 100 years with apparently derogatory comments about expert witnesses, MSPs have heard.

Kimberley Hainey, 38, from Paisley, Renfrewshire, had her murder conviction overturned last week because evidence in her case was deemed to be flawed.

Court of Appeal judges issued a statement advising trial judges not to allow "quack" doctors to give expert evidence on matters about which they have no qualifications.

The Court later apologised to two expert witnesses in the case, Professor Sue Black and Dr Craig Cunningham, for failing to make clear that the comment did not refer directly to them.

Ms Black, professor of anatomy and forensic anthropology at the University of Dundee, contacted her local Labour MSP Jenna Marra with concerns about the comments in the ruling.

Speaking at First Minister's Questions, Ms Marra said: "Professor Black said the comments by the Appeal Court judge in this case took science and the law back 100 years."

She has now called for a meeting with Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill to allow Ms Black and her colleagues from the scientific community to discuss how the legal system may be better served through improved scientific understanding.