The application of science to the law/

criminal investigations.
It applies the knowledge and technology of
science for the definition and enforcement of
such laws.
Extremely popular these days especially on
television
- CSI
- Law & Order
- Forensic Files etc
Several persons involved in the development
of forensic science

Leone Lattes (1887-1954)
Devised a relatively simple procedure for
determining the blood group of a dried
bloodstain, a technique that he immediately
applied to forensic science.
Edmond Locard (1877-1966)

Locards Exchange Principle
The exchange of materials
between two objects that occurs
whenever two objects come into
contact with one another
Basically: Every contact leaves a
trace
This is the basis of forensic science

Can be a room or a large open lot
Very important and must be managed properly
The first officer on the scene is critical because
he secures the scene (cordon off) and calls the
necessary specialists ( forensic scientists,
pathologist, bomb squad etc)
Log book must be kept at the scene to register
who goes in and out.
Must be properly documented and recorded
(sketches, photos etc) and pictures of evidence
taken.
The chain of custody begins here. Point of
collection to when it gets to Court.

Physical evidence can be found here i.e. any
object that can establish a crime has been
committed or can provide a link between a
crime and its victim or between a crime and
its perpetrator
SOC


Victim Accd/Susp

Types of Crime Scenes:
Sexual Assualt- hair, semen, blood,
fibres
Murder- blood, fingerprint, firearm
and ammunition, knife
Drug Raids- narcotics, packages,
chemicals
Arson- empty gasoline bottles,
molotov cocktails (bottle bomb)
Fraud- documents, counterfeit
Robbery- tools, paint chips, fibres, glass
Bloodstain Pattern Analysis:
is the examination of the shapes,
locations, and distribution patterns of
bloodstains, in order to provide an
interpretation of the physical events
which gave rise to their origin.

Based on the premise that all
bloodstains and bloodstain patterns
are characteristic of the forces that have
created them.
Bloodstain Patterns are classified as:
i) Passive Bloodstains patterns - results from
blood that has fallen due to gravity




A transfer bloodstain is created when a wet, bloody
surface comes in contact with a secondary surface.
A recognizable image of all or a portion of the
original surface may be observed in the pattern, as
in the case of a bloody hand or footwear.

Transfer bloodstains can be
further subdivided into:

Contact bleeding
Swipe or Smear
Wipe
Smudge
Cast-off Stains

Blood released or thrown from a blood-bearing
object in motion:



Arterial Spurt / Gush


Bloodstain pattern(s) resulting from blood
exiting the body under pressure from a
breached artery:

Projected Bloodstain patterns results as the
blood source is impacted by some external force
greater than gravity

It can be internally or externally produced

The size, shape, and number of resulting stains will
depend, primarily, on the amount of force utilized to
strike the blood source.





MEDIUM VELOCITY

Force of 5 to 25 feet/sec.
Preponderant stain size 1 to 4mm in size
HIGH VELOCITY

Force of 100 feet/sec. and greater
Preponderant stain size 1mm in size and smaller
Mist like appearance

Altered Bloodstain patterns - results from
blood that was physically or physiologically
changed
Altered Bloodstain patterns are :
- Clots
- Diluted stains
- Stains altered due to insect activity
- Patterns created as a result of obstruction
by an object

Protection be contamination conscious

Procurement collected evidence must
coincide with documentation.

Package methods should not in any way
impede or prevent testing.

Preserve ensure proper storage
Kastle Myer Test

Luminol

Precipitin

Marking of exhibits
Kastle meyer Test

The test are based on the peroxidase like
activity of the haemoglobin in the blood.

The presence of Haemoglobin will accelerate
the oxidation of the phenolphthalin in the
presence of hydrogen peroxide.

Colourless reduced phenolphthalin is oxidised
to pink phenolphthalein.

Kastle- Meyer Kit

LUMINOL

A Chemical that reacts with the
Haemoglobin molecule in the blood to
produce different molecules and
produce light.

The light is only detected in darkened
areas
Glows when mixed with blood
Test is extremely sensitive
Can detect very dilute blood stains
i.e. stains diluted up to 300,000
times

BLOOD
Determine the species of blood found : is it human
blood?
PRECIPTIN TEST is an immuno-electrophoresis
reaction



Precipitin : An antigen antibody reaction
Antigen any substance that stimulates an
immune response ( human blood)
Antibody a specific protein produced by the
immune system in response to an antigen (anti-
human sera)
The antibodies react with antigens to form a
precipitate
Precipitin Electrophoresis Tank
Confirming Human blood
Precipitate confirming that
blood source is human
CONFIRMATION TESTING

BLOOD Seratec Hemdirect Assay


Bloodstain Item of clothing
Item with mixture of Blood and Semen
Weapon
Weapon
Acid Phosphatase Test

Microscopic Test for
Spermatozoa


Acid Phosphatase Test

Acid Phosphatase is an enzyme found in high
concentration in semen

Naphthol is liberated from the alpha napthyl
phosphate and reacts with diazonium compound
(Fast Blue) to form an insolouble coloured product

Semen stains turns purple
Vaginal
Anal
Penile
Oral/Buccal
VAGINAL SWAB AND SMEARS
Microscopic analysis is done to identify :
Red blood Cells
White Blood Cells / Pus cells
Spermatozoa
N. gonococci
red blood cell


Pus cells
gonococci
Pus cells with gonorrhea- causing
bacteria
Trichomonas vaginalis
Azo-spermic males or males with extremely
low sperm count (oligo-spermic) due to
diseases or defects or males that had a
vasectomy may not have spermatozoa
present in seminal fluid.

Confirmation Testing
SEMEN
PSA p30 Test kit a rapid test identifying prostate
specific antigen (PSA)
Confirmation Testing
SEMEN PSA Test kit a rapid test
Sweat
Urine
Saliva
Faecal matter (semisolid)
Alpha () amylase is the enzyme found in high
concentration in saliva


Alpha () amylase is also found in high
concentration in faecal matter and pancreatic
juices


Starch Iodine Test
Starch reacts with Iodine to produce a blue-black
colour

The salivary alpha () amylase in an extract of
saliva stain will when added to starch solution
break down the starch to maltose and dextrins

Addition of iodine to this resulting solution will not
produce a blue- black colour. This is a positive
result.




Phadebas Test

A colourimetric commercial test


Phadebas Test

Phadebas reagent is comprised of starch being
linked or attached to a coloured dye to form starch-
dye complex.

In the presence of salivary amylase the starch is
hydrolyzed (broken down) and the dye is released

Blue dye form a blue stain in the area where saliva
is present

The basis of the test is to identify the presence of
creatinine

An extract is made of the stain by adding water

One drop of pictric acid and one drop of 5%
sodium hydroxide

The formation of a brown orange colour indicate
the presence of creatinine
Natural or synthetic
Race of person
Type of animal
If root is present
then DNA analysis
Natural or synthetic
Class of synthetic
fiber
Colour comparison
Texture comparison
NEGROID
CAUCASIAN
ASIAN