Forensic EvidenceForensic EvidenceIn it’s infancy…In it’s infancy…

IntroductionIntroduction Today the modern Today the modern

police force takes for police force takes for granted many of the granted many of the forensic science forensic science techniques used to techniques used to catch serial sexual catch serial sexual psychopathic killers. psychopathic killers. But how did these But how did these techniques develop…techniques develop…

Fingerprinting…Fingerprinting…Fingerprinting is an important method of identifying people. This is because everybody has a unique individual fingerprint. The first person to discover that people had individual fingerprints was a man called Francis Galton in 1892. However, the first person to use fingerprinting as a system of identification in England and Wales was Sir Edward Henry in 1901.

AdipocereAdipocereAdipocere is the name given to hydrolysed fat. The formation of this on a body tells us that it has been in anaerobic or oxygen depleted conditions e.g. bogs, submerged locations or a lead coffin. The amount of adipocere formed can also determine how long a body has been dead.

Cold EnvironmentsCold EnvironmentsSoft tissue can be preserved over long periods in the frozen state. The photograph is of John Torrington who died whilst on an ill fated arctic expedition between 1845-48. As the body was well frozen, when it was eventually exhumed in 1984 his body was well preserved with the exception of the eyelids and lips.

Footwear ImpressionsFootwear Impressions FWIs are virtually left at FWIs are virtually left at

every crime scene – every crime scene – since entry/exit requires since entry/exit requires intruders to put their intruders to put their feet down. Peter Pan feet down. Peter Pan does not exist – Nobody does not exist – Nobody flies – Tom Cruise is an flies – Tom Cruise is an exception in mission exception in mission impossible. Not all FWIs impossible. Not all FWIs are visible to the naked are visible to the naked eye.eye.

EvidenceEvidence Edmund Locard was the first person to Edmund Locard was the first person to

discover the value of trace evidence and its discover the value of trace evidence and its usefulness in solving crimes and convicting usefulness in solving crimes and convicting criminals. The rule is simple and is called criminals. The rule is simple and is called ‘Locard’s Exchange Principle:‘Locard’s Exchange Principle:

““Every contact leaves a trace. Criminals Every contact leaves a trace. Criminals will always take with them a trace of will always take with them a trace of something from the crime scene and will something from the crime scene and will always leave behind some trace of having always leave behind some trace of having been there.”been there.”

What typeof evidence exists…

Tyre tracks and FWI

Glass FragmentsBlood + spatter Fibres – wool, nylon

Hairs – human/animalbitemarks

Seeds, spores related toSpecific places

Bullets, tools, knives andscrewdrivers

Cigarette ends, Saliva = DNA

Insects, finger, ear and palm prints

Luminol/Heme StixLuminol/Heme Stix HEMATA-STIX and HEMATA-STIX and

LUMINOL were both LUMINOL were both developed to provide developed to provide the investigator with the investigator with a fast, convenient, a fast, convenient, sensitive and sensitive and reliable presumptive reliable presumptive test to identify blood test to identify blood at crime scenes. at crime scenes.