What is Forensic Science?
How did they know?
"Strong evidence
Based upon forensic science
Scientific principles
1
What is Forensic Science?
Interpretation
Evidence
2
What is Forensic Science?
1
Interpretation of evidence
Found at crime scene
Physical objects or measurements
3
What is Forensic Science?
Interpretation
Reliability
Evidence
4
What is Forensic Science?
2
Reliability of evidence
How evidence can be trusted
To what extent it can be trusted
DNA very reliable
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What is Forensic Science?
Interpretation
Cannot be
Reliability
Evidence
deduced
Can be
deduced
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What is Forensic Science?
3
Can / cannot be deduced from evidence
Some aspects beyond the
power of forensic science
Limits of forensic science
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Why Science?
Philosophy of all science
Newton
Observations
Natural world /
crime scene
Experiments
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Why Science?
Observations
& Experiments
Theory
Isaac Newton
9
Scientists
Theory
Scientific paper
Presentation at
a conference
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Forensic scientists
Theory Present theory in court
Expert Witness
Convince judge / jury
Wrong theory
Send an innocent
person to prison / death
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Procedures in a case
Evidence from:
Prosecution
Experts
Verdict
vs Defense
Witnesses
Police
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Verdict given by
Judge
Judges
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Verdict given by
Judge
Jury
Local citizens
Abolished in
Jury
some countries
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Presumption of Innocence
Innocent until proven guilty
Prosecution has to prove guilt
Defense does not have to prove innocence
Reasonable doubt
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Presumption of Innocence
Innocent until proven guilty
beyond reasonable doubt
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Felicia Lee
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September 2009
Felica Lee found dead
Autopsy
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Autopsy results
Over 300  blunt force trauma wounds
Randone charged Murder
Torture
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Trial
1
Prosecution
Torture: Kicked
1
by Randone
Cause of death:
2
Asphyxia by
smothering
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Autopsy results
Standard tests
Other possibilities
causing death
Blood chemistry
Felicia Lee s blood contained
gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB)
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Trial
2 3
1
Defense
Verdict
Prosecution
Expert witness
Torture: Kicked Not
1
by Randone guilty
Cause of death:
1
Seizure caused
Cause of death:
2 by GHB
Asphyxia by
smothering
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Verdict
Did defense prove Lee s death
was caused by a drug overdose?
No
Suggested a reasonable possibility
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