Effective Application of Forensic

Sciences

Amidon Anan
Former Head of CSI
Royal Malaysia Police

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Introduction

Forensic science

Definition:

Science that is used in the service of justice system

Scientific detectives
In for science, we start with identification, then we
conduct a comparison and go on into
individualisation.
Ultimate goal : to individualize on them.

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Sepandai-pandai tupai melompat, akhirnya

jatuh ke tanah jua. Pepatah Melayu

Locards Principles

Law of individuality
Law of comparison
Principle of analysis
Law of probability

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Development

When youve eliminated the impossible,

whatever remains, however improbable
must be the truth. -- Sherlock Holmes, The
Sign of Four
Forensic aids in evidence interpretation
Damning
unless
its integrity is
compromised.

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Are criminals getting smarter?

Technology is developing therefore human
behaviour and mind are developing
concurrently.
Criminals
are
getting
sleek
with
advancement

But Locards Principle ensures that they wont get

away, even if they try to cover up their tracks.

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Examples of Crime Scenes/Cordoned

Areas

The largest crime scene

Tsunami Tragedy

Ground Zero, New York

September 11 2001
Thailand, Sri Lanka etc

The Highland Towers

Tragedy

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History

In 1248, A Chinese book, Hsi Duan Yu (the

washing away of wrongs), contains a
description of how to distinguish drowning
from strangulation. This was the first
recorded application of medical knowledge to
the solution of crime.

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History

The Whitechapel Murders Jack

the Ripper

Gruesome
murders
of
prostitutes
in
late
1800,
Victorian Era
Modern analysis has proven:

Potential
evidence
were
destroyed due to ignorance
Non-existence
of
forensic
protocols modern forensic has
yet to be discovered

Forensic
photography
was
applied for the first time
Criminal profiling was roughly
introduced

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History (cont) - The discovery of

fingerprints

Formed during early foetal life and remain constant during life until
decomposition after death.
Chinese used fingerprints to establish identity of documents and clay
sculpture, but without any formal classification system.
Malphigi
Sir William Hershel to prevent swindlers from claiming pensions in
India, early 1800
Sir Francis Galton Galton Details (Butiran Galton)
Sir Edward Henry Classification and Uses of Fingerprints, 1900
(basis for Scotland Yards fingerprint bureau)

Successful in convicting a murderer in 1905

Modern techniques Magnetic Brush, Superglue, Ninhydrin, etc

NAFIS

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The Quran [AL-QUR'AN 75:3-4]

"Does man think that WE Cannot assemble his bones? Nay,
WE are able to put Together in perfect order The very tips
of his fingers."

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Ninhydrin Print
Ninhydrin print

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and after
staining with
zinc chloride

Superglue Print on aluminium foil

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Microscopic Examination of
Fingerprint

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History (cont) - The discovery of DNA

Body fluids, tissues, hair,

epithelial
Deoxyribonucleic acid
The most important discovery
since fingerprints
Genetics - Gregori Mendel and
Mendelian Law
Watson & Crick
Important in identification

Forensic
Archaeology

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DNA Conviction

First successful conviction in 1986

Identified Colin Pitchfork as the murderer of two

girls in the English Midlands
Simultaneously exonerated an innocent suspect

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A little pop quiz

Q: Between fingerprints and DNA which possess
more individualistic characteristics?
A: Fingerprints
Why?
Q: Can a person remove/manipulate his
fingerprints?
A: No.

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Q: Can one manipulate his DNA?

Case study

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Dr. Schneeburger, Canada

Medical doctor who drugged raped his female
patients
Implanted a 15 cm Penrose drain filled with another
man's blood and anticoagulants in his arm. During
tests, he tricked the laboratory technician to obtain
blood sample from the place the tube was planted
Convicted from multiple samples taken from other
parts of his body hair, buccal and hair.

Physical Evidence - Trace

Hair and fibres

Glass
Paint
Drugs and poisons
Oil, grease and wax
Soil and vegetation

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Physical Evidence Marks &

Impressions
There is no branch of detective science which is so important
and so much neglected as the art of tracing footsteps Sherlock
Holmes, A Study In Scarlet

Shoeprints

Establishes entries and exits

Importance almost equal to fingerprints
no shoeprint is the same (due to random
damages, wear and tear)
Method: Casting, Plaster of Paris

Tyre marks
Toolmarks

Method: Permadyne, Silmark, Dental wax

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Toolmarks

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Photography

A picture paints a thousand words

Serves to corroborate evidence and statements
Must be very clear and detailed
To depict the scene as it was found, the paths taken by the
criminal to the scene, the point of entry, the exit, and the
escape route
To show items of physical evidence in the condition in which
they were found by the investigator prior to their removal
Take as many as possible try get useful shots!
To be accurate, it must represent the subject matter properly in
terms of colour, scale and form
Photographs must be in focus and should show the
relationships and distances between objects

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Bloody
fingerprint

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Footprint

Attitude

As a forensic scientist/officer, you are encouraged to

be:
Professional
Inquisitive science evolves all the time, so try and
keep up!
Non-judgmental dont discriminate, and NEVER
attack victims with your personal opinion -- keep it to
yourself!
Empathic, dont be sympathetic
Be objective Dont let emotions cloud your mind, do
your job!
Be practical and try think laterally

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Overview of Crime Scene Processing

Who?
When?
Where?
What?
Why?

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Key actions

Preservation
Recording
Construction
Systematic Search
Evidence recovery
Packaging and labelling
Storage

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Effective actions

Initial assessment of CS
Management of risks to health and safety
Interpretation
Communication
Assessment of intelligence value
Maintenance of integrity of physical evidence
Preparation of reports and statements
Presentation of evidence in court

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CSI Team

May include:

Police photographers
Forensic Scientists
Fire investigation specialists (if required)
Forensic entomologists (if required if there are decomps)
Forensic anthropologist (if required inv skeletal remains)
Bomb disposal experts (if necessary)
Engineers (if necessary to assess safety of structure)

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Halau mereka!

If they have no functional values

inside crime scenes:

Civilians
Reporters
Officers who are just there to nose
around needlessly, even if they are
senior than you YOU HAVE THE
RIGHT!

ALWAYS maintain the integrity of

crime scenes
REMEMBER: Only authorised
people are allowed in CS

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First Officers Attending (FOA)

The most important role

To save life
To maintain the value of physical evidence
To secure and preserve crime scene

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FAO Duty

Initial assessment of CS
Deal with emergency if theres any

Overriding rule is to preserve life, even if crucial evidence is

destroyed you will be forgiven

Call for assistance if necessary

Preserve the scene
Record your assessments and actions
Communicate those assessments and actions to the
CSI who will take over the crime scene
responsibilities
Provide appropriate information

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Initial Assessment

Take note of those who are present at crime scenes:

Injured person
Victims
Eyewitnesses (always separate them if theres more than
one to prevent conversations that could distort their
memories or descriptions and prevent evidence transfer)
Suspects (always separate them as well, from one another
if theres more than one and also from witnesses)

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Other appropriate conducts

Minimise impact of actions:

Note original position and posture of person being treated

Original direction of any blood or other fluids present
Location, condition or spatial orientation of any objects
including clothing that have to be moved to carry out first
aid
Presence of object at hand (eg: skin or fibres underneath
the nails of injured person)

Try make mental notations record these

observations when situation is under control.

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Common Approach Path (CAP)

Establish the focal point e.g: dead body

CAP functions as a way to access the focal point
early in investigation without damaging physical
evidence

From cordon to focal point

CAP is among the priority of FAO or a police officer

The course of CAP usually does not coincide with

the path taken by the perpetrator(s) or victim(s)
Advice emergency medical personnel about CAP

However must not interfere medical aid effectiveness.

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References

Jackson, R. W. & Jackson, J. M. 2004. Forensic science. London;

Pearson Education Limited.
DNA forensics
http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/forensics.s
html
Shoeprint http://forensic.to/shoeprint.html
Saskatchewan Doctor Sentenced for Rape
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/1999/11/26/saskdr991126.html
Toolmarks http://crime-sceneprocessing.suite101.com/article.cfm/toolmarks_at_a_crime_scene
Jack The Ripper
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1807923,00.html
Forensic Timeline http://www.forensicdna.com/Timeline020702.pdf

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