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Blood Spatter 1500’s Richard Hume in England-earliest known use of blood spatter. Hume was jailed for heresy and convicted of suicide post-mortem. He was murdered in his cell which was then covered up by making the scene appear as a suicide.
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Blood Spatter • 1500’s Richard Hume in England-earliest known use of blood spatter. Hume was jailed for heresy and convicted of suicide post-mortem. He was murdered in his cell which was then covered up by making the scene appear as a suicide. • Sam Shepard’s case. Blood spatter provided evidence that the murderer was • left-handed.
DNA • Identical twins have identical DNA, but • not identical fingerprints. • Sir Alec Jeffreys developed DNA profiling • First exoneration-Richard Buckland 17, had • learning disabilities • Colin Pitchfork-mass DNA screening • First used in court in 1980’s • Serial Rapist- Tommie Lee Andrews • Blood group matched semen. DNA was relatively new to the scene. Prosecutor stated impressive odds which he could not substantiate. Hung jury. Retried and sentenced to 100 years which was then reduced by • appeals and good behavior. • He was expected to be • released Halloween 2012, • but was instead ordered • to a rehabilitation facility.
Fingerprints • Chinese used fingerprints as identification on • legal documents (700 AD) • Francis Galton-studied and developed a classification system of fingerprints • Fingerprints are formed in the womb. Environmental factors influence it including composition and density of amniotic fluid that is swirling around fingers as they touch surfaces. Chaotic-virtually no chance of the exact pattern forming twice. • 1892- First case of conviction based on fingerprint evidence. 1892- First case in which a person is convicted based on fingerprint evidence. Juan Vucetich, a police researcher in Argentina, used fingerprints to prove that Francesca Rojas murdered her two children by taking her thumb print and matching it to a bloody thumbprint left behind on a door. When confronted with the evidence, she admitted killing them because they stood in the way of her marriage to a young lover. She received life in prison.
Fingerprints continued • 1902-Harry Jackson convicted on the basis of fingerprints in England. His thumbprint was found in wet paint from a window he had used to enter the home. • The Assistant Crime Commissioner at the time was Edward Henry, the man who had produced the Henry System of Fingerprint Classification • After Jackson’s conviction, a letter to the Times read, “Scotland Yard once known as the world’s finest police organization, will be the laughing stock of Europe if it insists on trying to trace criminals by odd ridges on their skins. • John Dillinger-tried to destroy his fingerprints by pouring acid on them. • Paul Revere-identified a general killed in battle because of false teeth that Paul Revere had made for the general.
Toxicology • Mathieu Orfila (1787-1853) • Father of Toxicology • Spanish chemist who was the first great exponent of forensic medicine. • Orfila worked to make chemical analysis a routine part of forensic medicine, and made studies of asphyxiation, the decomposition of bodies, and exhumation. He helped to develop tests for the presence of blood in a forensic context and is credited as one of the first people to use a microscope to assess blood and semen stains.
Odontology • Forensic Odontologist uses knowledge of the teeth to: • Identify victims of mass disasters (app. 93%) • Help police in criminal investigations • Verify signs of abuse • Ted Bundy • A forensic odontologist compares dentals records with the victim’s remains • Dental alterations—fillings, caps, bridgework, and dentures • Teeth—size, shape, gaps, cracks, alignment, missing or extra one, wears, stains • Dentition—the pattern made by a particular set of teeth • Bite marks are primarily found in child abuse, assaults, and sex-related crimes. • Teeth take longer to decompose and can withstand extreme temperatures.
Odontology Continued… • Age estimation • Sex determination • Males larger teeth • Females sharper incisors • Teeth- good source for DNA • Ancestry estimation • The shape of the decedent’s incisors can be a useful feature • Fewer than 10% of European and African decent have this feature
Entomology • Insects are extremely accurate at • indicating the estimate of time since death • They can also establish whether a body • was killed in a different location from where it • was found. • 13th century China-first application of • forensic entomology dates back to 1235 found in a book. Following a murder in a rural village by slashing with a sickle, the local death investigator assembled the farmers and laid their sickles out in the sun. Flies began settling on only one sickle, due to minute traces of blood and tissue still present, despite it having been washed. The owner of the sickle then confessed.
Ch 1Questions-Answers 1. Briefly state the Locard Principle. Whenever two objects come into contact, there is always a transfer of materials.
2. List steps that could be taken to solve a scientific problem (a scientific method). 1.Observe a problem or questioned evidence and collect objective data. 2.State a hypothesis or possible solution to the problem. 3.Examine, test, and analyze to support of refute the hypothesis. 4.Use deductive reasoning to determine the significance of the evidence. 5.Evaluate and verify. Percent error of the test?
3. Name seven types of laws in the United States. • US Constitution • Statutory law • Common law • Civil law • Criminal law • Equity law • Administrative law
4. Discuss three differences between civil and criminal cases. Civil cases involve disputes between individuals, government, organizations, or businesses, the Case has to be initiated by one side. They assign blame And a preponderance of evidence is required. The Remedy is usually fines or a transfer of property. Criminal cases are crimes against an individual. The State initiates the case, becoming the plaintiff. The State must prove beyond reasonable doubt to convict. The remedy is in the forms of fines, community service, Probations, or incarceration. Both case may be heard before a jury.
5. What is the purpose of a preliminary hearing? The judge decides whether there is enough evidence for the case to go to Trial. Bail may be determined.
6. Explain the plea of nolo contendere. The accused does not deny the Facts, claims no crime, or Does not understand the charges.
What must the defendant prove to be • found “not guilty by reason of insanity”? The defendant did not know what He or she was doing was wrong or Would harm another.
What are the differences between • misdemeanors and felonies? Misdemeanors are crimes that are considered less serious than felonies. Felonies have harsher penalties.
What are the Federal Rules of Evidence, and • Why are they needed? The rules of evidence were established to Determine whether the evidence presented Is acceptable to be admitted in court. This Is necessary to prevent ‘junk science” from Being submitted by nonscientists or those Who are not scientists.
Explain the major differences between • The Frye standard and the Daubert ruling when • Dealing with physical evidence and whether the • evidence will be accepted in a court of law. The Frye standard came about in 1923 Stating that the scientific evidence Must be given by an expert witness And have gained “general acceptance” In the particular field of study. The jury then decides the significance…
The 1993 Daubert ruling came about in • Response to a rapidly changing • Technological society. The Daubert • Ruling stated that the trial judge • Will decide on the admissibility of • Evidence based on five guidelines: • The technique must be testable • Subject to peer review • Have a stated rate of error • Follow standards • And have widespread acceptance.
