Science & Justice RSS feed: Current Issue. Science & Justice provides a forum to promote communication and publication of original articles, reviews and correspondence on subjects that spark debates within the Forensic Science Community and the criminal justice sector. The journal provides a medium whereby all aspects of applying science to legal proceedings can be debated and progressed. Science & Justice is published four times a year, and will be of interest primarily to practising forensic scientists and their colleagues in related fields. It is chiefly concerned with the publication of formal scientific papers, in keeping with its international learned status, but will not accept any article describing experimentation on animals which does not meet strict ethical standards. Promote communication and informed debate within the Forensic Science Community and the criminal justice sector. To promote the publication of learned and original research findings from all areas of the forensic sciences and by so doing to advance the profession. To promote the publication of case based material by way of case reviews. To promote the publication of book reviews and conference proceedings which are of interest to the forensic science community. Scope: To provide a medium whereby all aspects of applying science to legal proceedings can be debated and progressed. To appeal to all those with an interest in the forensic sciences. Science & Justice has an Impact Factor of 0.838 on the 2010 Journal Citation Reports®, published by Thomson Reuters. http://www.scienceandjusticejournal.com/?rss=yesElsevier Inc.en © 2011 Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Science & Justice1355-0306514December 2011 © 2011 Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. healthpermissions@elsevier.comhttp://www.scienceandjusticejournal.com/article/PIIS1355030611001146/abstract?rss=yesEditorial Board10.1016/S1355-0306(11)00114-6Science & Justice 51, 4 (2011)2011-12-01Science & Justice2011-12-01514S1355-0306(11)X0005-9IFCIFChttp://www.scienceandjusticejournal.com/article/PIIS1355030611001110/abstract?rss=yes“I have lived in important places, timeswhen great events are decided…”Epic, P. Kavanagh, Irish Poet (1904–1967) Patrick Kavanagh's Epic poem provides a fitting first line for a reflection of the times we find ourselves in within Forensic Science. As a relatively young discipline (in the grand scheme of things) we are going through our growing pains, not just in the UK, but globally. We are restructuring, refocusing, revaluating, re- re- re-…. The influence of a corporate culture, silo mentality, budgetary constraints, poor or ill-informed decision making and a great deal of weariness takes its toll and provides us with both business and personal challenges.Onwards and upwardsNiamh Nic Daéid10.1016/j.scijus.2011.10.005Science & Justice 51, 4 (2011)2011-11-09Science & Justice2011-11-09514S1355-0306(11)X0005-9Editorial149149http://www.scienceandjusticejournal.com/article/PIIS135503061100027X/abstract?rss=yesAbstract: Passer-by witnesses reported a human cadaver in woodland associated with an agricultural college to police in Northern Ireland. The cadaver comprised reasonably preserved feet, legs and pelvis, with poorly preserved arms and torso, lying with the torso down-slope abutting a fallen tree. A search of the area around the torso, and for some 20m around, failed to find the cranium and mandible. The mandible was found, embedded inside the chest cavity. The cranium was found some 30m away. The victim was later identified as a 24-year old drug addict who had absconded from a local hospital. Mapping of the area led us to speculate that he had tripped and fallen down-slope: other reasons for the body location were also considered. After death, the cadaver had further slipped down-slope forcing the mandible into the chest cavity: slippage of human remains is well-known in forensic and archaeological literature but not well documented. Knowledge of this process of cadaver ‘slip’ may save wasted police resources in future similar environments where the mandible, and possible other nearby bones appear missing yet are inside the body.An apparently jawless cadaver: A case of post-mortem slippageAlastair Ruffell, Eileen Murphy10.1016/j.scijus.2011.03.004Science & Justice 51, 4 (2011)2011-04-25Science & Justice2011-04-25514S1355-0306(11)X0005-9Scientific and technical papers150153http://www.scienceandjusticejournal.com/article/PIIS1355030611000220/abstract?rss=yesAbstract: In a double murder investigation, the victims were found after a prolonged stay in a drainage canal. In spite of the expectations, fibre examination established a multitude of primary and secondary transferred fibres. One of these fibre types was a colourless polyester fibre possessing a blue coloured molten fibre end. These matched one of the types present in the suspect's blue denim trousers. The aim of this study was to verify the rarity of this peculiar fibre type and more precisely its presence in blue denim textiles. Over five hundred different blue jeans textiles were examined and only one of these presented exactly the same type. The comparison involved microscopy, microspectrophotometry in the visible range and Raman spectroscopy. The results indicate this fibre type is extremely rare in a blue jeans fabrics and that “standard” blue denim should not be disregarded in case work.On the frequency of occurrence of a peculiar polyester fibre type found in blue denim textilesKris De Wael, Christiaan Baes, Laurent Lepot, Fabrice Gason10.1016/j.scijus.2011.02.001Science & Justice 51, 4 (2011)2011-03-07Science & Justice2011-03-07514S1355-0306(11)X0005-9Scientific and technical papers154162http://www.scienceandjusticejournal.com/article/PIIS1355030610001310/abstract?rss=yesAbstract: A number of dyed polyamide, wool and silk samples were examined with plane polarized light on their dichroic behavior by optical light microscopy (OLM) and microspectrophotometry with plane polarized light (MSP-PPL). It was found that most of these acid dyed peptidic fibres possess dichroism, but these are weaker than the effects previously described for polyester fibres. The small effects may be not observed, especially for wool, but these can be measured using MSP-PPL.In the three peptidic fibre classes, for the first time, a so called “inverse dichroism” is observed which appears in the absorption spectra as a hyperchromic effect.Dichroism measurements in forensic fibre examination. Part 2 — Dyed polyamide, wool and silk fibresK. De Wael, T. Vanden Driessche10.1016/j.scijus.2010.10.005Science & Justice 51, 4 (2011)2010-11-29Science & Justice2010-11-29514S1355-0306(11)X0005-9Scientific and technical papers163172http://www.scienceandjusticejournal.com/article/PIIS1355030611000244/abstract?rss=yesAbstract: A number of dyed cellulosic fibres were examined with plane polarized light on their dichroic behavior by microscopy and microspectrophotometry (MSP-PPL). Significant dichroic effects (mostly hypochromic effects and hypsochromic bands shifts) were reported. The effect is related to the chemical structure: some dye structures always possess dichroism (azo, stilbene, thiazole and oxazine), some dyes demonstrate sometimes dichroic effects (anthraquinoid, indigoid) while other structures never demonstrate dichroic effects (sulphur, diphenylmethanes, triarylmethanes, phthalocyanines). In some cases a different dichroic behavior was found for the same dyes applied on cotton and on viscose.Dichroism measurements in forensic fibre examination: Part 3 — Dyed cotton and viscose fibresK. De Wael, L. Lepot10.1016/j.scijus.2011.03.001Science & Justice 51, 4 (2011)2011-04-08Science & Justice2011-04-08514S1355-0306(11)X0005-9Scientific and technical papers173186http://www.scienceandjusticejournal.com/article/PIIS1355030611000293/abstract?rss=yesAbstract: Textile fibres were transferred to a pig skin carcass and their persistence determined at daily intervals for up to a 12day period during which time the carcass was left outdoors exposed to the prevailing weather conditions and animal activity. In the absence of strong winds and precipitation, the loss of fibres was found to be exponential. Stronger winds and heavier precipitation caused an increase in the rate of loss of fibres. The results of this study showed that the majority of fibres transferred to a body deposited outdoors, can be expected to be lost after the first 2days, however, none of the experiments performed resulted in a complete loss of fibres, even after 12days exposure. These persistence characteristics differed from those observed in a similar study using small sections of skin, rather than carcasses.The implications of the results of the present study in relation to the examination of fibre evidence in cases of homicide are discussed.The persistence of fibres on skin in an outdoor deposition crime scene scenarioR. Palmer, G. Polwarth10.1016/j.scijus.2011.04.001Science & Justice 51, 4 (2011)2011-05-10Science & Justice2011-05-10514S1355-0306(11)X0005-9Scientific and technical papers187189http://www.scienceandjusticejournal.com/article/PIIS135503061100061X/abstract?rss=yesAbstract: Poaching is a crime that occurs worldwide and can be extremely difficult to investigate and prosecute due to the nature of the evidence available. If a species is protected by international legislation such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora then simply possessing any part of that species is illegal. Previous studies have focused on the identification of endangered species in cases of potential poaching. Difficulties arise if the poached animal is not endangered. Species such as deer have hunting seasons whereby they can legally be hunted however poaching is the illegal take of deer, irrespective of season. Therefore, identification of deer alone has little probative value as samples could have originated from legal hunting activities in season. After a deer is hunted it is usual to remove the innards, head and lower limbs. The limbs are removed through manual force and represent a potential source of human touch DNA.We investigate the potential to recover and profile human autosomal DNA from poached deer remains. Samples from the legs of ten culled deer were obtained (40 in total) using minitapes. DNA from samples was extracted, quantified and amplified to determine if it would be possible to recover human STR profiles.Low quantification data led to the use of an extended PCR cycling protocol of 34 cycles. Samples from seven deer amplified, however some samples were excluded from further analysis due to ‘drop in’ alleles or the low level of successfully amplified loci. Samples from five deer could be further analysed and gave match probabilities ranging from 6.37×10−3 to 9.53×10−11.This study demonstrates the potential of recovering human touch DNA from poached animal remains. There is the potential for this test to be used in relation to other species of poached remains or other types of wildlife crimes. This is the first time, to our knowledge, that human STR profiling has been successfully applied to touch DNA in regards to simulated wildlife crime.Recovery of human DNA profiles from poached deer remains: A feasibility studyShanan S. Tobe, James Govan, Lindsey A. Welch10.1016/j.scijus.2011.06.002Science & Justice 51, 4 (2011)2011-08-01Science & Justice2011-08-01514S1355-0306(11)X0005-9Scientific and technical papers190195http://www.scienceandjusticejournal.com/article/PIIS1355030610001383/abstract?rss=yesAbstract: This article introduces a method of collecting and analysing drug residues that integrates both electrostatic lifting and nanomanipulation-coupled to nanospray ionization mass spectrometry. The application of this hyphenated technique exhibits a useful means of collection and extraction of drug residues with ease and efficiency along with decreased limits of detection. From this method, it will be shown how increased sensitivity of analysis and lower limits of detection for drug analysis can be achieved. The same principles that allow lifting of dust prints by electrostatic lifting can be applied to lifting drug residues. Probing of the drug residues by nanomanipulation occurs directly from the lift, which provides a great platform for extraction. Nanomanipulation-coupled to nanospray ionization-mass spectrometry has been used for the extraction of trace analytes in previous experiments and is known as a very sensitive technique for the detection of ultra-trace residue. This method will demonstrate the electrostatic lifting of drug residue particles from a surface followed by extraction and ionization with nanomanipulation-nanospray ionization. The utility of this novel methodology allows for a more productive analysis when presented with ultra-trace amounts of sample.Ultra-trace analysis of illicit drugs from transfer of an electrostatic liftNicole Wallace, Edward Hueske, Guido F. Verbeck10.1016/j.scijus.2010.11.004Science & Justice 51, 4 (2011)2010-12-15Science & Justice2010-12-15514S1355-0306(11)X0005-9Scientific and technical papers196203http://www.scienceandjusticejournal.com/article/PIIS1355030611000967/abstract?rss=yesAbstract: The objectivity of forensic science decision making has received increased attention and scrutiny. However, there are only a few published studies experimentally addressing the potential for contextual bias. Because of the esteem of DNA evidence, it is important to study and assess the impact of subjectivity and bias on DNA mixture interpretation. The study reported here presents empirical data suggesting that DNA mixture interpretation is subjective. When 17 North American expert DNA examiners were asked for their interpretation of data from an adjudicated criminal case in that jurisdiction, they produced inconsistent interpretations. Furthermore, the majority of 'context free' experts disagreed with the laboratory's pre-trial conclusions, suggesting that the extraneous context of the criminal case may have influenced the interpretation of the DNA evidence, thereby showing a biasing effect of contextual information in DNA mixture interpretation.Subjectivity and bias in forensic DNA mixture interpretationItiel E. Dror, Greg Hampikian10.1016/j.scijus.2011.08.004Science & Justice 51, 4 (2011)2011-09-05Science & Justice2011-09-05514S1355-0306(11)X0005-9Scientific and technical papers204208http://www.scienceandjusticejournal.com/article/PIIS1355030611000888/abstract?rss=yesLet me start why saying that I am not one of the founders of the CAC but I did find the CAC many years ago when I was a student in a two semester criminalistics course at Cal-State Long Beach in 1963 or 4. And my association with the CAC has been a memorable and wonderful relationship for the many years that have followed. By the end of next month I will have been employed as a criminalist for 46years and a CAC member for 39years. By the middle of the following month I will be 71years of age.Reflection and direction: Founder's Lecture, Spring 2011 CAC, Long Beach, CALucien (Luke) Haag10.1016/j.scijus.2011.07.009Science & Justice 51, 4 (2011)2011-08-29Science & Justice2011-08-29514S1355-0306(11)X0005-9CAC Founder's Lecture209211http://www.scienceandjusticejournal.com/article/PIIS1355030611000608/abstract?rss=yesIn a recent Guest Editorial, Evett et al. express concern about the deliberations of the Court of Appeal in the case of R-v-T. As suggested in the editorial, the Bayesian approach can be used for assessment, but care is needed over how and in what form it is used.Re: Expressing evaluative opinions; A position statementOwen E. Facey, Roger J. Davis10.1016/j.scijus.2011.06.001Science & Justice 51, 4 (2011)2011-06-29Science & Justice2011-06-29514S1355-0306(11)X0005-9Letters to the Editor212212http://www.scienceandjusticejournal.com/article/PIIS1355030611001018/abstract?rss=yesWhilst generally supporting the position on the evaluation expressed in your recent Editorial (S&J 51 (2011) 1–2), there remain matters upon which we disagree, or at least seek clarification.Response to Aitken et al. on R v TDavid Faigman, Allan Jamieson, Carla Noziglia, James Robertson, Rhonda Wheate10.1016/j.scijus.2011.09.001Science & Justice 51, 4 (2011)2011-09-30Science & Justice2011-09-30514S1355-0306(11)X0005-9Letters to the Editor213214http://www.scienceandjusticejournal.com/article/PIIS1355030611001067/abstract?rss=yesWe are grateful to the authors for taking an interest in the position statement and to the editor for giving us an opportunity to respond. We must emphasise that it has not been practical to consult with all of the many signatories of the position statement so the following represents only the views of the five of us. Overall, we sense that there is no great difference between us and the authors of the letter; nevertheless we agree with the need for a healthy and constructive debate about these issues which are of great importance for the future of forensic science.Response to Faigman et al.C.E.H. Berger, J. Buckleton, C. Champod, I.W. Evett, G. Jackson10.1016/j.scijus.2011.09.006Science & Justice 51, 4 (2011)2011-10-24Science & Justice2011-10-24514S1355-0306(11)X0005-9Letters to the Editor215215http://www.scienceandjusticejournal.com/article/PIIS1355030611000992/abstract?rss=yes At a time when the future of forensic science in the country is undergoing massive uncertainty following the government's decision to close down the Forensic Science Service, it is perhaps appropriate to reflect on the career of Ian Holden that spanned a somewhat different era and whose death occurred in Newbury on 28 June 2011 at the age of 89.Ian George Holden BSc PhD AKC FRIC, 1922–2011Alan Scaplehorn10.1016/j.scijus.2011.08.006Science & Justice 51, 4 (2011)2011-09-12Science & Justice2011-09-12514S1355-0306(11)X0005-9Obituaries216216http://www.scienceandjusticejournal.com/article/PIIS1355030611001055/abstract?rss=yes Forensic science lost one of its gentlemen with the passing of Frank Fish earlier this year. Frank's introduction to forensic science arose from his work as a Lecturer in Pharmacognosy at the Royal College of Science and Technology in Glasgow, in the late 1950 and early 1960s, when he was approached by the City of Glasgow Police to assist in cases involving safe breakings and cannabis possession. His interest was piqued by the experiences, both as a scientist and an educator, and as a result he worked to establish in 1966 the pioneering Master of Science degree in Forensic Science at the College, which was by then the University of Strathclyde.Francis Fish, BPharm, PhD, OBE: 20 April 1924–26 April 2011W.J. Tilstone10.1016/j.scijus.2011.09.005Science & Justice 51, 4 (2011)2011-11-07Science & Justice2011-11-07514S1355-0306(11)X0005-9Obituaries217217http://www.scienceandjusticejournal.com/article/PIIS1355030611000621/abstract?rss=yesErrors in the published data analysis have been noted and corrected along with paragraphs in the discussion for clarity. SigmaPlot 11.0 software was used to analyse the data. The corrections are as follows:Corrigendum to “Are facial image analysis experts any better than the general public at identifying individuals from CCTV images?” [Science and Justice 49 (2009) 191–196]Caroline Wilkinson, Raymond Evans10.1016/j.scijus.2011.07.001Science & Justice 51, 4 (2011)2011-08-12Science & Justice2011-08-12514S1355-0306(11)X0005-9Corrigendum218221http://www.scienceandjusticejournal.com/article/PIIS1355030611000876/abstract?rss=yesThe main definition of geoforensics is given as ‘the application of selected geoscience techniques to criminal investigations of what happened, where and when it occurred and how and why it took place’. Currently there is an increased interest in the application of geosciences to criminal investigations by criminals and investigators alike. Geoforensics consists of ten chapters, each of which can be read independently, ranging from different instrumentation and techniques utilised in this field to a range of sampling methods and statistics. Throughout this book, a high number of case examples are given, some published and others from the authors' own case work, which highlight the importance of geoforensics to criminal investigations and how different techniques can be employed at crime scenes. The occasional incorrect terminology used by the authors should also be noted (e.g. footprints instead of footwear marks).Kevin Farrugia10.1016/j.scijus.2011.07.008Science & Justice 51, 4 (2011)2011-09-02Science & Justice2011-09-02514S1355-0306(11)X0005-9Book Reviews222222http://www.scienceandjusticejournal.com/article/PIIS1355030611000311/abstract?rss=yesThis is now a clearly established textbook offering the combined experience of some of the UK experts in the field. One might imagine that this would be a text for a select group of medical practitioners. Whilst clearly it satisfies this remit, it also offers a one-stop-shop for anyone with a professional interest in general or indeed specific aspects of the autopsy. Scientists, police personnel, medical staff — from nurse's doctors through to laboratory staff or the legal profession, all will find this a useful reference text for best practice as well as general considerations around the autopsy procedure and processes.John P. Cassella10.1016/j.scijus.2011.04.003Science & Justice 51, 4 (2011)2011-06-17Science & Justice2011-06-17514S1355-0306(11)X0005-9Book Reviews222222http://www.scienceandjusticejournal.com/article/PIIS1355030611001195/abstract?rss=yesEvents Guide10.1016/S1355-0306(11)00119-5Science & Justice 51, 4 (2011)2011-12-01Science & Justice2011-12-01514S1355-0306(11)X0005-9IIhttp://www.scienceandjusticejournal.com/article/PIIS1355030611001201/abstract?rss=yesCouncil Information10.1016/S1355-0306(11)00120-1Science & Justice 51, 4 (2011)2011-12-01Science & Justice2011-12-01514S1355-0306(11)X0005-9IIII