THE UNIVERSITY OF DODOMA

COLLEGE OF NATURAL AND MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY

FS 0124:
CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION
LECTURE 4

Instructor: Theodora E. Nsangizyo

Phone 0769970249
Email: theonsangizyo@gmail.com
EVIDENCE
INTRODUCTION
Evidence

➢Owe its origin to the Latin terms “evident” or “evidere” that mean “to show
clearly, or to prove”

Definition

➢Argument to prove or disprove any matter of fact

TYPES OF EVIDENCE

➢There are only two types of Evidence

1. Oral Evidence

2. Documentary Evidence

➢But all the remains evidence are sub kinds of this two types of evidence.
 TYPES OF EVIDENCE
Oral evidence Documentary Evidence
➢all statements which the court permits ➢ All those documents which are
or requires to be made before it by presented in the court for inspection.
witnesses, in relation to matters of fact or
under inquiry. ➢ It refers to the documents presented in
Or a court of law.
➢It refers to the statement given by the ➢ It is a statement submitted via
witnesses in a court of law. documents.
➢ It can be presented in the form of
➢It is a statement submitted in oral words, signs, figures, letters, and
form. remarks for its recording
➢It can be presented in the form of ➢ is a broad term that includes almost
speech, voice or symbols for its anything on paper.
recording.
➢It refer to a fact which could be seen,
heard and perceived by other sense.
 SUB KINDS OF TYPES OF EVIDENCE
Primary evidence Secondary evidence.
➢Is the original document that needs to ➢Are those evidence which are the copy of
be submitted before the court for an original documents or Certified copies.
inspection. ➢It is not the main source of evidence but
➢It is the main source of evidence. an alternative source.
➢It is itself admissible. ➢It is admissible only in the absence of
➢Primary evidence is considered to be primary evidence if proper explanation is
superior class of evidence given for such absence.

➢The evidentiary value of the secondary

evidence is less compare with primary
evidence.
 SUB KINDS OF TYPES OF EVIDENCE
Direct evidence Indirect evidence (circumstantial
➢It is any evidence that can show the evidence).
court that something occurred ➢is evidence that relies on an inference
without the need for the judge to to connect it to a conclusion of fact.
make inferences or assumptions to ➢It requires a judge or jury to establish
reach a conclusion. a fact indirectly via other facts or
➢It establishes a fact directly. inference.
➢It is less reliable than circumstantial ➢It is more reliable than direct
evidence. evidence as it is more subjective.
➢Example security camera showing ➢For example such as a fingerprint at
accused committing the crime, the scene of a crime
eyewitness who saw the accused shoot
a victim, statement of confession from
the accused admitting to commit the
crime
 SUB KINDS OF TYPES OF EVIDENCE
Corroborative evidence Substantive evidence
➢Evidence which supports other ➢is the evidence on the basis of which a
evidence fact is proved and which requires no
corroboration since it can stand itself.
➢information supports an idea,
account, or argument.
➢Corroborative evidence is additional
evidence which connects the accused
to the crime.
➢Corroboration warnings are also used
to protect people from being
convicted based on suspect evidence.
 SUB KINDS OF TYPES OF EVIDENCE
Judicial evidence Non-judicial evidence
➢Evidence is presented inside a court ➢Evidence is presented outside a court
of law before the judge or jury or of law in front of any person.
both. ➢Confession made by the accused
➢Confession made by the accused outside the court of law.
inside the court of law. ➢Such evidence can be converted to
➢Such evidence is not convertible. judicial evidence if it is proved in the
court of law.
 SUB KINDS OF TYPES OF EVIDENCE
Character Evidence Hearsay Evidence
➢A character of a person can determine ➢refers to evidence which the witness
whether the person can do something has neither personally seen nor heard,
wrong or not especially in criminal nor has he perceived through his
cases. senses and has come to know about it
➢For instance, a person with ‘good through some third person.
character’ may be considered as a ➢They are inadmissible because the
trustworthy and decent person, witness has neither personally seen
however, there is not any universal nor heard.
measure for the same. Moreover, it is
not impossible for such a person to
commit a heinous crime.
 SUB KINDS OF TYPES OF EVIDENCE
Digital evidence Forensic evidence
➢ is defined as information and data of ➢refers to evidence gathered from the
value to an investigation that is stored crime scene that is analyzed through
on, received or transmitted by an scientific means.
electronic device ➢Forensic evidence can be divided into two
➢ It can be found on a computer hard categories, that is, physical evidence and
drive, a mobile phone, among other biological evidence.
place s ➢ Physical evidence refers to non-living or
➢For example, suspects' e-mail or mobile inorganic matter such as fingerprints,
phone files might contain critical shoe impressions, tire impressions,
evidence regarding their intent, their fibers, glass, drugs, bullets, paints,
whereabouts at the time of a crime and petroleum by-products, etc.
their relationship with other suspects ➢ on the other hand, biological evidence
includes blood, hair, saliva, urine, plants,
wood, pollen, etc.
 SUB KINDS OF TYPES OF EVIDENCE
Anecdotal evidence Demonstrative evidence
➢Evidence in the form of stories that ➢is evidence in the form of a
people tell about what has happened to representation of an object. Or
them. ➢Any objects, pictures, models or other
➢Anecdotal evidence relies on personal devices used in a trial to demonstrate
observation to answer a question or or explain the facts.
draw a conclusion rather than on ➢Examples of demonstrative evidence
reliable research or statistics, and so include:
may not be valid.
✓ charts, timelines, scale models,
➢ Conclusions are not supported by data maps,
✓photo enlargements, diagrams of a
crime scene, animation, film or
video, checklist exhibits, sample
product display
SUB KINDS OF TYPES OF EVIDENCE
Subjective evidence Objective evidences
➢Is the evidence that you cannot ➢Is the evidence that you can see and
evaluate, you simply have to accept evaluate for yourself.
or reject what the person says. ➢It emphasize facts, figures and imagery it
➢It emphasize personal feeling, includes blood samples, glass, DNA.
thoughts and opinions
➢Example I have headache, pain,etc
the mentioned symptoms are only
felt by the individual themselves.
 PHYSICAL EVIDENCE (REAL/MATERIAL EVIDENCE)
Physical evidence
➢It may be as small as pollen grains
➢Is any object or material relevant in a particle &may be large as train.
crime
➢It may be in solid, liquid, gaseous
Or state
➢Is anything that have been used, left, ➢We look for physical and chemical
removed, altered or contaminated properties in the physical evidence
during the commission of the crime by
either victim or suspects. ➢Physical properties: color, density,
solubility, refractive index
➢Physical evidence are found on
1. Criminal (suspects) ➢ things that help identify something
without changing the object
2. Crime scene
3. Victims ➢chemical properties: formation of
bubbles, color change, pH change,
These 3 are very important from where etc
a useful information in the form of
physical evidences can be obtained
 TYPES OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
i. Trace evidence

ii. Transfer evidence

iii. Indented or impression evidence

iv. Striated evidence

v. Geometric evidence

vi. Transient evidence

vii. Chemical evidence

viii.Conditional evidence
 TYPES OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
Trace Evidence
➢is material found at a crime scene or
accident scene in small but
measurable amounts.
➢This is important as it can
definitively link an individual or
object to the scene.
➢Examples are glass, fibers, paints,
hairs.
According to Edmund Lockard's
principle
“Every contact leaves a trace”
TYPES OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
Transfer evidence
➢is defined as any evidential substance or
particle such as blood, fluids, hairs, fibers,
paint, and skin that is exchanged between an
assailant and the victim or the scene of the
crime.
✓From the criminal to the victim
✓From the victim to the criminal
✓Into or out of the crime scene
✓When forcible contact occurs between
persons, vehicles, or objects (e.g. paint in a
car crash).
TYPES OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
Indented or Impression or pattern
Evidence
➢Are produced by direct contact
between person and object or
object to object
Examples are
✓Footprints or shoe prints
✓Tool marks
✓Tire marks
TYPES OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
Striated Evidence
➢Marks left on objects that rub
together, when one object is harder
than the other.
Examples are
✓ Striations on bullets
TYPES OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

Geometric Evidence
➢Pieces of Broken Evidence
Examples
✓Headlights with hit and run
accidents.
TYPES OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
Transient evidence.
➢These are evidence which are temporary,
easily changed or lost.
Examples
✓Putrefaction
✓Gasoline
✓Explosive
✓Cigarette or cigar smoke.
 TYPES OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
Conditional evidence ➢Location—of injuries or wounds, of
➢is produced by a specific event or bloodstains, of the victim’s vehicle, of
action; important in crime scene weapons or cartridge cases, of broken
reconstruction and in determining glass
the set of circumstances or sequence ➢Vehicles—doors locked or unlocked,
within a particular event. windows opened or closed, radio off or
➢Light—headlight, lighting conditions, on.
lights on or off ➢Body—position and types of wounds;
➢Smoke—color, direction of travel, rigor, livor, and algor mortis
density, odor ➢Scene—condition of furniture, doors
➢Fire—color and direction of the and windows, any disturbance or signs
flames, speed of spread, temperature of a struggle
and condition of fire
 TYPES OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
Chemical evidence

➢Chemical evidence includes

✓Narcotics

✓Flammables

✓Alcohol

✓Inhalants eg paint thinners and petrol

✓Chemicals associated with clandestine labs.

✓glass, soil, gunpowder, metals, minerals,

narcotics, drugs, paper, ink, cosmetics, paint,
plastic, lubricants, fertilizer
TYPES OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

Biological evidence
➢Biological evidence includes organic things
like blood, saliva, urine, semen, hair,
➢and botanical materials, such as wood,
plants, pollens, moth cocoons.
IMPORTANCE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
➢Generally more reliable than testimonial. It cannot lie

➢Its demonstratable

➢Its does not depends on the presences of witness

➢Prove that the crime has been committed

➢Can corroborate with testimony

➢Can link a suspect with victim or crime scene.

➢Can establish the identity of a person associated with a crime.

➢Supporting or refuting witness statements

➢Distinguishing between primary and secondary crime scene

 CHARACTERISTICS OF EVIDENCE
Individual characteristics Class characteristics
➢Features that distinguish one item from ➢Features that place the item into a
another of the same type specific category.
➢Evidence can be classified into a group
with only one member (itself), ➢Stating that two objects share a class
➢An individualized object has been identity may indicate they come from a
associated with one, and only one, common source
source
➢Evidence is said to possess class
Examples. characteristics when it can be associated
✓Fingerprints only with a group and never with a
✓DNA single source.
✓No two guns mark a bullet the same Examples
way.
✓ Hairs
✓ No two pieces of glass fracture in the
same manner. ✓ Fibers
✓No two pairs of shoes or sets of car tires ✓ Shoes
wear in exactly the same way.
✓ Tyres
 COLLECTION OF EVIDENCE
➢Once each of items of evidence has been photographed and included in a crime
scene sketch, it must be collected, preserved, transported and stored.
➢Improperly collected, preserved, transported or stored evidence will be
inadmissible at trial once the defense discovers any impropriates.
➢The evidence collection sequence may be based on the following information:
✓The scene location: interior, exterior, within a vehicle.
✓The condition of the evidence: either fragile or stable.
✓ Weather conditions which might affect the scene or evidence within.
COLLECTION OF EVIDENCE
➢All items should be carefully packaged and marked upon their retrieval at
crime sites.
➢Each piece of evidence collected is packaged separately to avoid damage
and cross contamination.
➢Normally, the collector’s initials & date of collection are inscribed directly
on the article.
➢The evidence container must also be marked with collector’s initials,
location of evidence, & date of collection.
 COLLECTION OF EVIDENCE
➢The following equipment may be used in the evidence collection process:
✓Latex gloves/nitrile gloves (N-DEX, nonlatex).
✓ Forceps.
✓Tweezers.
✓Scalpels.
✓ Swabs.
✓Paper bags.
✓Plastic bags.
✓ Cardboard boxes.
✓ Wrapping paper.
✓Hand tools.
✓Thermometer.
✓Plastic 5 gallon bucket with lid.
✓Airtight container can
 CHAIN OF CUSTODY
Chain of custody

➢ is a list of all people who came into possession of an item of evidence.

➢ It shows the movement of evidence from the time it is obtained to the time it is presented in court.

➢ Chain must be established whenever evidence is presented in court as an exhibit.

➢ Each person who accepts an item of evidence initials or signs and dates the evidence bag and is then
responsible for maintaining its integrity until it is passed along to the next person (or link in the chain).

➢ Without a continuous record showing that evidence has been kept safe and secure from the crime scene to the
lab and ultimately the courtroom, evidence may be rendered inadmissible in court.

➢ Any competent defense attorney would rightly question the authenticity and integrity of any evidence for which
outside contamination cannot be ruled out.

➢ That’s why every person who handles the evidence must be accounted for and recorded as a link in this
unbroken chain of custody, from crime scene to courtroom.
CHAIN OF CUSTODY
➢Information which is included in chain of custody
✓ List of evidences: item no and brief description
✓ All transfers: date and time of transfer
✓ The signature of the individual realizing the evidence to another
individual.
✓ The signature of the individual transporting evidence.
✓ The signature of the individual receiving evidences.
ANALYZING OF EVIDENCE

➢Forensic analysis of most physical and biological evidence is conducted for

two purposes:
1. Identification
2. comparison.
ANALYZING OF EVIDENCE
Identification
➢ is the examination of the chemical and physical properties of an object and using
them to categorize the object as a member of a group.
➢Identification determines what exactly a particular item or substance is.
➢Is that white powder cocaine? Is that brown stain dried blood?
➢After testing, a forensic examiner may state that the substance in question is
present, not present.
ANALYZING OF EVIDENCE
Comparison of Evidence
➢Comparisons are made to find out whether a known evidence and
questioned evidence share a common origin.
➢The questioned evidence is compared with objects whose source is known.
➢Did the fingerprint, hair, or blood come from the suspect? Does the paint
smudge found on a hit-and-run victim’s clothing match that of the
suspect’s car?
➢ After comparing a crime-scene fingerprint to one obtained from a suspect,
the examiner may state that the two match, keeping the suspect in the hot
seat, or that they don’t match, thus exonerating the suspect as a source for
the print.
COMPARISON OF EVIDENCE
➢Two important evidence that are needed during comparison are:
1. Known evidence
2. Questioned evidence
 QUESTIONED EVIDENCE
➢ Is the evidence is whose original source is unknown
➢Example, a motorist strikes a pedestrian with his car and then flees the scene in
the vehicle.
➢When the pedestrian’s clothing is examined, small flakes and smears of paint are
found embedded in the fabric.
➢The paint on the victim’s coat is questioned evidence because we don’t know the
original source of the paint.
➢Likewise, the fibers found on the damaged area of the car are also questioned
items.
 KNOWN/ CONTROL EVIDENCE
➢ Are materials whose source is known and which are used for comparison with
unknown/ Questioned evidence.
➢ Example, a motorist strikes a pedestrian with his car and then flees the scene
in the vehicle.
➢When we analyze the paint on the clothing, we will compare it to paint from the
car; this is known evidence because it is known where the sample originated.
➢When we analyze the fibers on the car, we will compare them to fibers taken
from the clothing, which makes them known items as well.
CONTROL
➢Controls are often used to determine if a chemical test is performing
correctly.
➢They may also be used to determine if a substrate where evidence may be
found is interfering with a chemical or instrumental test.
➢There are two types of controls:
1. Positive
2. Negative.
 POSITIVE CONTROL
➢It is a material that is expected to ➢If the initial test for blood was done on
give a positive result with the test the stained shirt and came out
reagents and serves to show that the positive, we should not immediately
test is working properly assume that the stain is definitely
➢For example before concluding that blood.
the stain isn’t blood, a number of
➢A sample of the unstained shirt fibers
additional steps could be taken.
should be tested as a negative control.
➢One might be to run a different
➢A negative result here would mean that
presumptive test and see whether the
results change. the positive result on the stain most
likely means that the stain is blood.
➢the first test on a sample that is
known to be blood and that should
yield a positive test.
 NEGATIVE CONTROL
➢It is a material that is expected to ➢To test this hypothesis, some fibers
give a negative result with the test from the shirt that have absolutely no
reagents stains on them could be collected and
➢If the test results are negative as run the test on them.
expected, they could still mean that ➢A sample of the unstained shirt fibers
the shirt contains something that should be tested as a negative control.
interferes with the test. ➢A negative result here would mean
➢It could be proposed that the shirt that the positive result on the stain
fibers contain some dye or other most likely means that the stain is
material that deactivates the blood blood.
test so that it will fail to react with
blood.
 CONSEQUENCE OF NOT RUNNING A POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE
CONTROL
➢If a negative control is not used, a false ➢Failure to run a positive control can
positive may be the result; cause a false negative result.
➢ that is, it may be concluded that the ➢This can give rise to what is called
stain is blood when it is not. Type II error.
➢This gives rise to what statisticians call ➢This type of error means that a
a Type I error. person may be falsely exonerated
➢Type I errors are serious because they from a crime that he or she really did
can cause a person to be falsely commit.
incriminated in a crime. ➢ Type II error is less serious than a
Type I error.
➢ We would rather have someone
falsely released than falsely accused
 EXAMPLE OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
Paint ➢Paint evidence can also indicate
➢Paints are composed of pigments, individual characteristics.
binders, solvents and additives. Paint is ➢ if an investigator is able to find
used to cover a range of surfaces. similarities between two samples,
➢Physical and chemical analysis of paint such as the color, number of layers,
evidence (chips or residue) can indicate chemical composition, or a physical
it’s class, such as automobile paint, match between the edges of two
house paint, nail polish, etc. paint chips – one from a tool and
➢The evidence can be compared to one from a crime scene.
40,000 different types of paint
classified in a database, which can be
used to identify a particular make or
model of car or brand of tool.
EXAMPLE OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
Glass
➢Glass particles can be found at various crime scenes,
such as breaking and entering, hit and run,
vandalism, or murder.
➢ Glass at a crime scene is analyzed to determine its
color, surface characteristics, thickness, density,
chemical composition, and refractive index (RI).
➢Cause of breakage
➢Direction of breakage force
➢Physical fitting
➢Glass fragment comparisons
EXAMPLE OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
Explosives
➢ Explosive substances can be examined to determine its chemical
composition to identify the type of explosive used and its origin.
➢Traces of explosives found on a suspect’s clothing, skin, hair, or other
objects may be matched to explosives from the crime scene.
➢Materials used to make an explosive device will be compared to evidence
found in the suspect’s possession to confirm a match.
EXAMPLE OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

Tool Marks
➢Tiny nicks and chips form on the edges of a
tool as it is used, which can be used to identify
matches between evidence and suspects.
➢Tools may also pick up traces of blood or
other substances that can be tested or have
fingerprints that can be lifted.
 EXAMPLE OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
Ballistics
➢ Characteristics of ammunition, firearms, and residue are examined to find
matches between suspects and the evidence found at a crime scene.
➢ Chemical tests can reveal gunshot residue (GSR) on the hands, face, or clothing
of a victim or suspect to indicate how close a person was to a fired gun.
➢ Rifling (grooves) in a gun barrel causes distinctive grooves, indentations and
scratches upon fired bullets, which can be matched to the weapon that fired
them.
➢•Police are able to search the Integrated Ballistics Identification System (IBIS)
database to compare markings from bullets, cartridge cases, and shotgun shells
to ballistic evidence.
EXAMPLE OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

Fingerprints
➢There are 3 types of fingerprint patterns: arches, loops, and whorls.
Investigators also identify unique ridge characteristics in a fingerprint that can
be used to identify a suspect or victim.
➢AFIS (Automated Fingerprint Identification System) is a database used by
investigators at local, state, and national levels to search for matches to
fingerprints found at a crime scene.
 EXAMPLE OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
Shoeprints & Tire Tracks
➢Impression evidence can be photographed, lifted with tape, or cast with
plaster to compare to a suspect’s shoes or tires.
➢ Investigators will examine the evidence to identify the brand of shoe or tire
based on its tread pattern and other physical features to provide leads in the
case.
➢Shoes and tires will also show wear patterns after being used for a period of
time as well as other features (scratches, nicks, and cuts) that can be used to
match evidence to specific items.
➢For example, shoeprints can be matched to a suspect based on how the treads
on the shoes that are worn down due to that person’s walking style.
EXAMPLE OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

Bite Marks
➢Each of the 32 teeth in humans is
unique due to age and wear.
➢ Impressions and photographs of
bite marks left on a victim,
assailant, or other object at a crime
scene can often be matched to
dental records.
 EXAMPLE OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
Fracture Matches
➢When an object broken, torn, or cut, two unique edges are formed, which are
referred to as fracture lines.
➢These edges can be compared by the naked eye or with microscopes to see if
they fit together, which indicates that they may have been part of the same
object at one time.
➢ Investigators may compare the edges on pieces of tape, glass fragments, paint
chips, pieces of a car from an accident, paper bag, etc. to find possible matches.
 EXAMPLE OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
Questioned Documents
➢Examiners will analyze a ransom note or other document to find clues to link it
to a crime scene or a specific suspect.
➢They will analyze the type of paper used, printing method or handwriting style,
and type of ink, typed, handwritten and printed materials for evidence of forgery,
obliterated or altered writings, used carbon paper, burned or charred paper
➢Analysis of inks used in questioned documents can provide various types of
useful information for document examiners.
• Ballpoint pens contain oil-based inks and use dyes as colorants.
• Non-ballpoint pens contain water-based inks and include fountain, roller ball
and gel pens.
 Questioned Documents….

➢Toner is in widespread use in printed documents, and the variation in

ingredients means that analyses can be used to determine if documents are
printed or copied with the same toner, the source of a printed or copied
document if alterations have been made to a document.
➢Dry toners can consist of pigments (e.g. carbon black), polymer binders (e.g.
styrene–acrylate copolymer, styrene–butadiene copolymer, polyester resin and
epoxy resin) and additives (e.g. ferrite and magnetite)
➢Other unique features, such as watermarks on stationary or indentations made
as someone wrote on a page in a notebook, may provide useful clues.
EXAMPLE OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

Insects
➢ Flies, beetles, and other insects can
provide useful clues about a corpse.
➢Forensic entomologists use their
knowledge of the life cycles of insects
to help them estimate the
postmortem interval or PMI (the
time between death and the
discovery of the body).
 EXAMPLE OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
SOILS & MINERALS
➢Soil evidence can reveal where a person has
traveled and may be picked up at a crime scene
or left behind.
➢comparison between two or more soils
determine if they share a common origin
➢color, texture, composition comparison
➢Investigators examine the samples for
chemical composition, pollen, plant material,
and other organic matter to find links to a
specific crime scene.
 EXAMPLE OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
Body Fluids Examples:
➢Blood, semen, saliva, sweat, and ➢ Vomit and urine can be used to test
urine can be analyzed to give for alcohol, drugs, and poisons.
investigators information about the
➢ Cigarette butts may contain dried
crime as well as its victim or the
saliva.
suspect.
➢ Semen containing sperm is valuable
➢Chemicals and ultra violet light can
for DNA analysis.
be used at a crime scene to find body
fluid evidence. ➢ Blood can provide DNA evidence
and blood spatter can provide clues
➢Areas with potential evidence are
about the crime.
swabbed, bagged and collected in
vials, which are air tight and have a
low risk of cross contamination.
 EXAMPLE OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
Hairs & Fibers
➢Hairs and fibers may be transferred from the
suspect or the suspect’s clothes to the
victims’ and vice versa.
➢For example, a suspect may pick up carpet
fibers on his shoes or leave hairs behind at a
crime scene.
➢Hairs can be examined to identify their Two matching hairs identified
origin, such as human or animal. Hairs with with the comparison
microscope
roots intact can be tested for DNA.
➢Fibers are used to make clothing, carpeting,
furniture, beds, and blankets. They may be
natural fibers from plants or animals or
synthetic fibers that are man-made.
 EXAMPLE OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
DNA
➢Investigators can extract DNA from almost
any tissue, including hair, fingernails,
bones, teeth and body fluids.
➢The DNA is used to create a profile that can
be compared to profiles from suspects or
victims.
➢ CODIS (Combined DNA Index System) is a
database maintained by the FBI that is used
to find matches to unknown DNA samples
from a crime scene.
 EXAMPLE OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
Skeletal Remains
➢ Forensic anthropologists analyze skeletal
remains to determine four characteristics
for a victim: age, sex, race, and stature ➢DNA samples can be collected from
(height/build). bone, teeth, and hair to provide clues
to a person’s identity. Scientists may
✓Sex - Determined by examining the
also be able to gain clues as to a
pelvis, humerus, and femur
person’s past, recent injuries, or the
✓ Age and stature – Determined by cause of death based on bone
analyzing the development of the fractures and other signs of trauma.
teeth, bone growth, and the length of
specific bones, such as the femur.
✓Race – Determined by analyzing the
skull for characteristics that are
common among people of different
races.
 EXAMPLE OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
Wounds
➢Wounds can often be matched to weapons or tool
marks on the weapon. Investigators may also be
able to determine the weapon's size, shape, and
length.
➢ Analysis of a wound may provides clues to a
victim’s injuries, characteristics of the suspect
(left-handed, right-handed, height, etc.), and
positions of the victim and suspect at the time of
the incident.
EXAMPLE OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
Building materials and parameters
➢Can provide positive identification if the building is constructed as per
specifications of IS code or building construction code or material used is as
per requirements or not.
EXAMPLE OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
Mobile and cyber crime related evidences
➢Retrieval of data from computer hard disks
➢E-mails origin
➢SIM cards
➢Credit Cards
➢Mobile data etc.
 EXAMPLE OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
Drugs & controlled substances and other
chemicals
➢plant materials, powders, tablets,
capsules
➢volatile compounds (ethanol,
methanol, isopropanol)
➢heavy metals (arsenic)
➢nonvolatile organic compounds
(drugs of abuse, pharmaceuticals)
➢miscellaneous (strychnine, cyanide)
➢trace drug presence, identity, and
quantity
END OF LECTURE