SIMULATED CRIME SCENARIO

It was a case of a suspected rape slay inside an old van parked near a cemetery. The crime scene
investigators went to the crime scene to document and search for material evidences in order to solve
the case. The first thing that they noticed was the door of the van was forcibly opened. They also noted
that the windshield fronting the driver and the passenger had three distinct holes. A screwdriver and a
hammer were also discovered just below the seat of the victim. They recorded that the victim's clothes
and underwear were scattered inside the van and the victim sustained a gunshot wound in the chest.
The wound is located at the anterior chest about .5 cm x 5 cm in diameter with abrasion collar. Likewise,
strands of hair were recovered from the hands of the victim as well as hair and fibers on the car seats
near the victim's seat. Continuous search for pieces of evidence showed that there were shoeprints on
soft grounds outside the van. Two witnesses pointed to a group of men who were seen slowly walking
away from the area in the early morning before the body was discovered

Questions:

1. As the crime scene investigator, what steps are you going to do to solve the case?

Ans.

By following the Six golden rule

* Go slow. * Be thorough. * Take notes

* Consult others. * Use imagination. * Avoid complicated theories

2. What evidences are you going to collect and what laboratory examinations are you going to request
or perform?

Ans.

Screwdriver and hammer= metallurgy and toolmarking ( comparison test)

Clothes and underwear,Semen= detection f semen and semenal stains

Hair strands= hair analysis

Fiber= fiber analysis

Bullet if there is any= ballistic

Photography of shoe print= footwear and tire tract examination

Photography of windshield = glass analysis

3. What is the possible distance or range of the gunshot? Why?

Ans.

Base on the data presented I cannot identify it's distance of the gun when it was shot for the gun model
is not presented because tr

4. What possible circumstantial evidences are you going to elicit or gather to identify the
perpetrator/perpetrators?

Ans.

Screwdriver, hammer=metallurgy and toolmarking( comparison test)

Clothes, underwear,semen=detection of semen and seminal fluid stain( rape case)

Hair= DNA

Guide Questions: A. Toolmarks

1. The door of the van was forcibly opened. What would you do with the toolmarks found on the door
lock?

Ans. Examine the toolmark and identify what tool was used and preserve the area as it will be examined

2. What would you do with the tools that you discovered inside the van if you suspect that they are the
same tools used to forcibly open the door of the van?

Ans.

Properly wrapped it with papers and submit it to the laboratory as an evidence, and check any reports
regarding a carnapping incident as the van may be carnapped and was used for dumping the body of the
victim

3. What important things must you consider to determine if the same tools are used in opening the door
of the van?

Ans.

By submitting it to the laboratory to be subjected to metallurgy and comparison test

B. Glass Fractures

1. The windshield of the van fronting the driver and the passenger has three distinct bullet holes. If the
radial fracture of the bullet hole fronting the passenger is interrupted by the radial fracture of the bullet
holes fronting the driver, which is shotfirst?

Ans.
An examiner can establish the sequence of the shots by considering the radial fracture's termination
points. The first shot's radial fractures will extend completely while the subsequent shots' radial
fractures will be stopped or cut off as they come into contact with prior fractures

2. Where can you possibly find small glass fragments?

Ans.

*Radial: inside

*Concentric: outside

3. What does it mean if the shape of the bullet holes on the windshield is spherical?

Ans

Cone fracture crack or fracture is formed when a high velocity projectile object such as bullet
penetrates the glass which exceeds its elasticity limit

C. Suspected Rape Case

1. What actions are you going to undertake to establish the rape incident? What laboratory
examinations are needed to validate the rape case and to identify the perpetrator?

Ans.

Make sure: (1) the offender had carnal knowledge of the victim; and (2) such act was accomplished
through force or intimidation; or when the victim is deprived of reason or otherwise unconscious; or
when the victim is under twelve years of age.

*Detection of semen and semenal stain * DNA testing

Make a summary of what you have learned from all the lectures that you think are useful when you
become a police investigator in the future.

Factors that must be considered when collecting specimen for examination:

a. Sufficiency of Samples

As much as possible, the investigator should collect sufficient amount of

specimen for examination. So that in case of doubtful results, the Chemist can still have enough

samples to repeat or to proceed to the succeeding examinations.

b. Standard for Comparison

When the evidence in question is located in or added with the foreign substance,

a sample of such foreign substance must be submitted for analysis. For instance, if blood is

found on linoleum, a sample of the unstained linoleum must be submitted together with the

stained portion. In cases of adulteration or unfair trade competition, a genuine sample must

be submitted for comparison. In the examination of hair, textile fiber, soil, etc., standard samples

must be submitted for comparison.

c. Maintenance of Individuality

Each piece of evidence must be collected and preserved as a separate sample.

d. Labeling and Sealing

each sample must be labeled properly

concerning the nature and source of the sample, date and time of collection, case number, if any and
name of the person collecting the sample.

Actual Examination of Specimen

The 1st step is to scrutinize it carefully and write down in the laboratory logbook/record book a
complete description of the external appearance including the manner in which it is secured and the
particulars of the sealing. If possible take a photograph

Six Golden Rules in the Practice of Forensic Chemistry

1. Go Slowly

Good work cannot be hurried, therefore, take all the time necessary to make the

case complete no matter how urgent it may appear.

2. Be thorough

Make careful and minute examination of everything and do not be satisfied with

a quantitative analysis if a quantitative one is possible. It always pays to do too much rather than too
little and it is difficult to foresee what will or will not be required in court.

3. Take Notes

Keep a full neat and clean record of everything seen and done.
4. Consult others

Many cases will lead the expert into paths with which he is not familiar and when

this happens he should consult those who know better.

5. Use imagination

An expert with a wide and uncontrollable imagination is considered as the most

dangerous creature. Though his being imaginative is sometimes useful, an expert witness does

not have to be solely imaginative but he has to be skilled in the field of Forensic Science. He

must bear witness within the limits of science.

6. Avoid complicated theories.

The simplest explanation is fundamentally the right one. Interpretation of results

is often the most difficult part of the expert’s task that is why a wide knowledge and scientific

experience are the essential elements to obtain the right forensic examination results.

Accompanying Drop

A small blood drop produced as a by-product of drop formation.

Altered Stain

A bloodstain with characteristics that indicate a physical change has occurred.

Angle of Impact

The acute angle (alpha), relative to the plane of a target, at which a blood drop strikes the target.

Area of Convergence

The area containing the intersections generated by lines drawn through the long axes of individual stains
that indicates in two dimensions the location of the blood source.

Area of Origin

The three-dimensional location from which spatter originated.

Backspatter Pattern
A bloodstain pattern resulting from blood drops that traveled in the opposite direction of the external
force applied; associated with an entrance wound created by a projectile.

Blood clot

A gelatinous mass formed by a complex mechanism involving red blood cells, fibrinogen, platelets, and
other clotting factors.

Bloodstain

A deposit of blood on a surface.

Bloodstain pattern

A grouping or distribution of bloodstains that indicates through regular or repetitive form, order, or
arrangement the manner in which the pattern was deposited.

Bubble Ring

An outline within a bloodstain resulting from air in the blood.

Cast-off Pattern

A bloodstain pattern resulting from blood drops released from an object due to its motion.

Cessation Cast-off Pattern

A bloodstain pattern resulting from blood drops released from an object due to its rapid deceleration.

Directionality

The characteristic of a bloodstain that indicates the direction blood was moving at the time of
deposition.

Directional Angle

The angle (gamma) between the long axis of a spatter stain and a defined reference line on the target.

Drip Pattern

A bloodstain pattern resulting from a liquid that dripped into another liquid, at least one of which

was blood.

Drip Stain

A bloodstain resulting from a falling drop that formed due to gravity.

Drip Trail
A bloodstain pattern resulting from the movement of a source of drip stains between two points.

Edge Characteristic

A physical feature of the periphery of a bloodstain.

Expiration Pattern

A bloodstain pattern resulting from blood forced by airflow out of the nose, mouth, or a wound.

Flow Pattern

A bloodstain pattern resulting from the movement of a volume of blood on a surface due to gravity or
movement of the target.

Forward Spatter Pattern

A bloodstain pattern resulting from blood drops that traveled in the same direction as the impact force.

Impact Pattern

A bloodstain pattern resulting from an object striking liquid blood.

Insect Stain

A bloodstain resulting from insect activity.

Mist Pattern

A bloodstain pattern resulting from blood reduced to a spray of micro-drops as a result of the force
applied.

Parent Stain

A bloodstain from which a satellite stain originated.

Perimeter Stain

An altered stain that consists of the peripheral characteristics of the original stain.

Pool

A bloodstain resulting from an accumulation of liquid blood on a surface.

Projected Pattern

A bloodstain pattern resulting from the ejection of a volume of blood under pressure.
Satellite Stain

A smaller bloodstain that originated during the formation of the parent stain as a result of blood
impacting a surface.

Saturation Stain

A bloodstain resulting from the accumulation of liquid blood in an absorbent material.

Serum Stain

The stain resulting from the liquid portion of blood (serum) that separates during coagulation.

Spatter Stain

A bloodstain resulting from a blood drop dispersed through the air due to an external force applied to a
source of liquid blood.

Splash Pattern

A bloodstain pattern resulting from a volume of liquid blood that falls or spills onto a surface.

Swipe Pattern

A bloodstain pattern resulting from the transfer of blood from a blood-bearing surface onto another
surface, with characteristics that indicate relative motion between the two surfaces.

Target

A surface onto which blood has been deposited.

Transfer Stain

A bloodstain resulting from contact between a blood-bearing surface and another surface.

Void

An absence of blood in an otherwise continuous bloodstain or bloodstain pattern.

Wipe Pattern

An altered bloodstain pattern resulting from an object moving through a preexisting wet bloodstain

MEDICOLEGAL SIGNIFICANCE OF DETECTION OF SPERM & SEMEN

Rape, Sodomy (Anal intercourse), Bestiality (Sexual intercourse by a human being with a lower animal
like dogs, calves, sheep etc.),In case of false Accusation by a women , Incest (Sexual intercourse in blood
relation) and Sexual Murders.
● Human spermatozoa and human semen are very important items of evidence in rape cases.

● The occurrence of sexual relation can be shown by the presence of seminal fluid which can establish in

part the crime of rape.

Why is semen important in an investigation?

● Evidence in sexual assault cases

● Can help prove a crime was committed

● Can identify the perpetrator

Where to look for Seminal Stains

1. Clothes : Underwear, Bed sheet, Carpet, Towel, Pillow cover.

2. Body :Perineum, thigh, Vagina & pubic hair.

3. Seen of crime : On the floor or grass etc.

Method of Collection

Handling of articles bearing stains should be done very carefully to avoid damage to spermatozoa.
Vaginal / anal / penile swabs should be sent along with their smears on slides. Swabs should be taken on
sterile gauze / cloth and their smears prepared on sterile slides. These should be dried in air at room
temperature (37 degrees celcius) and swabs dispatched in sterile test tube and slides in clean wrappers.

Collection, Preservation, Packing and Transit of Specimen:

1. Seizure of apparel must be done as soon as possible.

2. In packing of wearing apparel there should be no friction between the apparel and the stain.

3. Specimen should not be rolled for transit.

4. Smaller objects like hair should be placed in a test tube and corked.

5. Specimen should be thoroughly dried before packing.

6. Fluid semen should be placed in a test tube. It may be preserved by a few drops of 10% solution of
formalin during hot weather.

Four Methods Applied for Detection of Seminal Stains are Classified as:

1. Physical Examination
2. Chemical Examination

3. Microscopic Examination

4. Biological Examination.

Physical Examination: Include Visual Examination. To naked eye seminal stains generally appear
translucent or opaque spots, at times with yellowish tint and darker border depending on colour and
thickness of substrata, which, if absorbent, also acquire stiffness due to dried semen. On good substrata
seminal stains may appear to be fluorescent under ultraviolet light.

A. Semen when dry gives stiff, starchy feeling to the cloth and produces slight deepening of the color
with the disappearance of the odor.

B. Seminal stains exhibits bluish fluorescence under the ultraviolet light.

C. Grayish white, sometimes yellowish stain which is typical of seminal fluid.

D. Have appearance or outline of contour map.

E. May have a reddish tint in case of old man.

How does Glass break?

When the blow strikes the glass on one of its side, the front for example, the glass breaks along radial
lines starting from the point where the destroying force is applied originating from the opposite surface
of the glass, because this is the portion or surface which is more subjected to stretching by bending. The
front

surface is only pushed. While the radial fractures are taking place the newly created glass triangle
between the radial rays also bend away from the direction of the destroying force. By this bending the
glass is stretched along the front surface and when the limit of elasticity is reached the glass breaks in
concentric cracks.

These originate on the front of the glass because of stretching.

The Examination of the Glass Fractures is based on the following Theories:

1. The glass will bend towards the direction where the force is applied.

2. Stretching of the glass occurs opposite the glass surface where the force is applied.

3. When the tensile strength of the glass is exceeded, the glass breaks.

How does Glass break?

Forensic Fracture Analysis

Radial

- Begin at a point and radiate outward from point of impact

- Initial crack is on the side opposite the applied force

Concentric

- Motion of the projectile through the glass puts tension on the front surface of the glass, causing
concentric

fractures.

-high-speed projectile [a rock] penetrates the glass, it leaves an exit hole larger than it's entrance hole.

-helps to determine the direction on impact.

Metallurgy – the art of extracting and working on metals by the application of chemical and physical

knowledge.

Metallography – branch of metallurgy that involves the study of the microstructures of metals and
alloys.

Application of Metallurgy in Criminal Investigation:

1. Robbery 2. Theft 3. Hit and run

4. Bomb and explosion 5. Nail examination 6. Counterfeit coins

7. Restoration of tampered serial numbers

Counterfeit Coins: Coins made to imitate the real thing and used for gain.

TWO kinds of Counterfeit Coins:

1. Cast Coins – coins made in molds or coins made by casting method. An impression of genuine coin is
taken by use of plaster of paris, clay or bronze. The plaster molds bearing the image of a good coin are
filled within a low temperature alloy made with lead or tin. Sand

molds are used for high temperature metals such as copper or silver alloys.

• Cast coin has poor imitation

• It can easily be detected.

• The surface is usually pitted and uneven.

• The edges of letterings and designs are rounded instead of sharp.

2. Struck Coins:

Made by striking or stamping method or these are coins made by means of dies. Consists of making an
impression of a coin on a metal blank by pressure. Stamping is done by way of steel dies.

Often well executed.

• Its detection is not easy since weight, specific gravity, composition may all be good.

• Careful comparison of smaller details of the designs with those of the genuine should be

What constitute Arson?

1. Willfulness – means intentional and implies that the act was don e purposely and intentionally.

2. Intent – is the purpose or design with which the act is done and involves the will. An essential
elemens of crime, motive is not.

3. Motive – is the moving cause which induces the commission of a crime. Something that leads or
influences a person to do something.

4. Malice – denotes hatred or will or a desire for revenge. Is the intent to do injury to another.

❖ A fire can only be considered as arson if all accidental and natural cause of fire can be eliminated.

The mere burning of a building does not constitute the body of the crime.

❖ To prove the body of the crime it is necessary to show:

a. First, that the building in questioned burned.

b. 2nd, it was burned as result of the intentional criminal act of the accused.

5. Burning – to constitute burning, there must be some burning or charring, i.e. the fiber of the wood
must be destroyed, its identity change. It is not necessary that the building be seriously damaged. A
mere smoking, scorching or discoloration of the wood is not sufficient.

Indications of Arson Fire:

1. Burning faster and larger than normal

2. Often having multiple points of origin

3. Use of accelerants
4. A time delay device ( a matchbox and cigarette is a 22 minute fuse)

5. Cans and containers are usually found at the crime scene.

BASIC LINES OF INQUIRY IN THE INVESTIGATION OF ARSON:

1. Origin of the fire

2. Motive

3. Identification of prime suspect

4. Identification of fire setter

GUIDES IN THE INVESTIGATION OF THE FIRE SCENE:

The first scene holds the key to the origin of any fire. A careful, methodical and thorough search of the
scene of a suspicious fire is a basic part of the initial investigation. The following points must be given
due

attention.

1. The scene must be protected so that the evidence is not destroyed or removed either by careless

persons or the guilty party.

2. Mechanics of search

3. Collection and preservation of physical evidence

4. Laboratory aids.

COLLECTION AND PRESERVATION OF ARSON EVIDENCE:

1. Two to three quarts of ash and soots debris must be collected at the point of origin of a fire.

2. Specimens should be packed immediately in an airtight container.

a. Can use clean paint cans with friction lids.

b. Wide-mouth glass can be used provided they contain airtight lids.

c. Leave an airspace in the container above debris

3. Plastic polyethylene bags are not suitable for packaging.

4. Fluids found in open bottles or cans must be collected and sealed.

5. Thorough search of the scene should be undertaken for igniters.

6. Collect clothing of the suspect/perpetrator and place in a separate airtight container.

7. Freeze samples containing soil or vegetation.