Court case
Have to show
1
Criminal action was committed
2
Intention to commit the criminal action
1
Limits of Forensic Science
Actus Reus Mens Rea
1
A guilty action
A guilty mind
1
or intention
Evidence from
2
crime scene
2
In someone s head
2
Dick Cheney Harry Whittington
3
In Texas
Quail hunting trip
Dick Cheney fired at quail
Shot Harry Whittington by accident
4
Forensic Science
Could have shown that Dick
Cheney shot Harry Whittington
Footprints in the ground
Fingerprints on the gun
Pellet from Harry Whittington
5
Forensic Science
Why did Dick Cheney do it?
Accident?
Motive?
6
Physical evidence only
shows Actus Reus
7
Forensic Science
Tells you about Actus Reus
Does not tell you about Mens Rea
 Actus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea
The act does not make a person
guilty unless the mind is also guilty
8
What is Forensics?
Application of science to
Law
Criminal justice
Lady Justice
9
What is Forensics?
Analysis of evidence
Physical
Chemical
Biological
Lady Justice
10
Forensic Science can...
Reconstruct past sequence of events
11
Forensic Science can...
Forensic
evidence
Fibres Fingerprints Broken glass
Hair Shoeprints Fibres
Blood Paint flakes
12
Forensic Science can...
Reconstruct past sequence of events
Link a suspect to a crime scene
13
Deciding the charge
Had a baby
Koh Kailin
Dumped the baby
Baby found
Mother was traced
and investigated
14
Deciding the charge
Dead baby Murder?
Pathologist Very premature baby
Stillborn?
Murder charge reduced to a less serious charge
15
Bukit Merah, Singapore, 1972
Boy run over by a train
Suicide?
Accident?
Forensic medicine specialist
Bukit Merah
Inconsistent injuries
train tracks
16
Blood spatter
Living body Pressurized arteries
Severed artery Blood will spurt out in
considerable quantities
Dead body Arteries not pressurized
Lesser blood will spurt out
17
Blood spatter
Too little blood at the scene for a living body
Police investigation
Boy was murdered
Made to look like a suicide or accident
Murderer caught and convicted
18