1

What is Forensic Science?

How did they know?

Based upon forensic science

Scientific principles

"Strong evidence”

2

What is Forensic Science?

Evidence

Interpretation

3

What is Forensic Science?

Interpretation of evidence

Found at crime scene

1

Physical objects or measurements

4

What is Forensic Science?

Evidence

Interpretation

Reliability

5

What is Forensic Science?

Reliability of evidence

How evidence can be trusted

2

To what extent it can be trusted

DNA very reliable

6

What is Forensic Science?

Cannot be

deduced

Evidence

Interpretation

Reliability

Can be

deduced

7

What is Forensic Science?

Can / cannot be deduced from evidence

3

Some aspects beyond the

power of forensic science

Limits of forensic science

8

Why Science?

Philosophy of all science

Newton

Observations

Natural world /

crime scene

Experiments

9

Why Science?

Observations

& Experiments

Theory

Isaac Newton

10

Scientists

Scientific paper

Presentation at

a conference

Theory

11

Forensic scientists

Present theory in court

Convince judge / jury

Theory

Expert Witness

Send an innocent

person to prison / death

Wrong theory

12

Procedures in a case

Evidence from:

Experts

Witnesses

Police

Prosecution

vs Defense

Verdict

13

Verdict given by

Judge

Judges

14

Jury

Local citizens

Abolished in

some countries

Verdict given by

Jury

Judge

15

Presumption of Innocence

Innocent until proven guilty

Defense does not have to prove innocence

Prosecution has to prove guilt

Reasonable doubt

16

Presumption of Innocence

Innocent until proven guilty

beyond reasonable doubt

17

Felicia Lee

18

September 2009

Felica Lee found dead

Autopsy

19

Autopsy results

Over 300 “blunt force trauma wounds”

Randone charged

Murder

Torture

20

Prosecution

1

Torture: Kicked

by Randone

Cause of death:

Asphyxia by

smothering

Trial

1

2

21

Autopsy results

Standard tests

Felicia Lee’s blood contained

gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB)

Blood chemistry

Other possibilities

causing death

22

Prosecution

Defense

Verdict

1

2

3

Torture: Kicked

by Randone

Expert witness

Not

guilty

Cause of death:

Asphyxia by

smothering

Trial

1

2

Cause of death:

Seizure caused

by GHB

1

23

Verdict

Did defense prove Lee’s death

was caused by a drug overdose?

No

Suggested a reasonable possibility