Investigations of Sexual Offences

Group 4

Collection of Forensic Specimens

Laboratory Investigations

Collection of Forensic Specimens

The primary aim is to collect evidence that may help prove or dispose a link between individuals and/or individuals and objects or places.

Collection of Forensic Specimens

Close encounter of assailant, victim and crime scene may result in an interchange of traces of evidence.

Victim

Assailant

Locards
Principle

Scene

Collection of Forensic Specimens

The specimens collected can be used for,
Visual comparison Microscopical examination Biochemical investigations Serology DNA studies

Collection of Forensic Specimens

Principles for specimen collection:
Avoid contamination Collect as early as possible. (Better to collect before 24hrs of crime. After 72 hrs, value of specimens decreases dramatically.) Label accurately Dry all wet specimens Ensure the security Document all collection and handling procedures.

Collection of Forensic Specimens

From the victim:
Seminal stains Blood Hairs Saliva Nail scrapings Foreign material like mud, vegetations

They should be collected from clothing, vaginal canal, vulva, perineum, thighs, pubic area, bite injuries and finger nails.

Collection of Forensic Specimens

How to collect
Swabs
A swab from vulva is taken before taking vaginal swabs. Two swabs taken from lower vagina and upper vagina or posterior fornix. Smears are prepared from them immediately. If there was an oral or anal intercourse, additional swabs should be taken. Saliva can be obtained by taking swabs from the bite wounds. Swabs taken from perineum and thigh if there are seminal stains

Collection of Forensic Specimens

How to collect
Pubic hair Combing will bring out hairs which may have come from the assailant. If there is dried seminal stains in the pubic hair, they will be matted cut and removed for examination.

Nail scrapings
Nail beds may contain epidermal debris of the assailant.

Collection of Forensic Specimens

In addition,
5ml of venous blood A few plucked pubic hairs. A few plucked head hairs. Taken for comparison with blood stains and hairs found on the assailant.

Collection of Forensic Specimens

From the assailant:
Blood Pubic hairs Head hairs Nail scrapings

Smear from glans penis

Any other stains on the body Clothing

Vaginal epithelial cells may be left on the glans penis of the assailant, so a smear is taken.

Collection of Forensic Specimens

From the scene
Blood stains, seminal stains, condoms, hairs, etc
Clothes, buttons, safety pins dropped off from the victim or assailant, hair pins/clips. Samples of mud, weeds, etc

Laboratory Investigations
Semen:
Most conclusive evidence of a sexual assault.
Can be identified by,
Presence of spermatozoa Biochemical constituents.

Laboratory Investigations
Spermatozoa:
Motile up to 3hrs from the crime in the living. Unlikely to find living sperms after 10hrs. After 16hrs only the heads are visible difficulty in identification. Smears are stained with methylene blue or H&E. Using DNA techniques assailant is positively identified.

Laboratory Investigations
Biochemical investigations:
Identification of acid phosphatase Good test in the absence of sperms (vasectomised or azoospermic assailants). Creatinine phosphokinase Increased levels found in seminal fluid (a positive reaction may occur even after 6 months).

Serology Seminal blood group antigens

Laboratory Investigations
Vaginal epithelial cells:
Rich in glycogen stains dark brown with lugols iodine.

Saliva:
Identified by the amylase activity Contains blood group antigens in about 80% of Sri Lankans.

Hairs (pubic and head):

Morphological comparison to identify the origin. Hair bulbs can be used for DNA studies,

Laboratory Investigations
Blood stains:
To detect blood group ABO, Rh DNA studies

Nail scrapings:
Specific identification by DNA studies

Foreign material:
Comparison with those at the scene, on the victim and the assailant.

Reference
Clinical Forensic Medicine by Maclay

Group 4