FORENSIC IDENTITY

Identification is the determination of the

characteristics by which one individual is
distinguished from others.
• It is important in identification of criminals ,
living persons and the dead.
Corpus Delicti
• “Body of offence”
• It includes the dead body of victim, any article
or object found at the scene of crime which
acts as evidence to prove the cause of death.
• Drawings and photographs of body of
deceased also form a part of corpus delicti.
 IDENTIFICATION OF HUMAN REMAINS
1. RACE
2. SEX
3. AGE
4. RELIGION
5. COMPLEXION
6. STATURE
7. HAIR
8. LIP PRINTS
9. PALATAL PRINTS
10.DACTYLOGRAPHY
11.FOOTPRINTS
12.SCARS
13.TATTOO MARKS
14.HANDWRITING
15.DNA FINGER PRINTING
RACE
Determined by
1. Complexion
2. Eyes
3. Hair
4. Clothes
5. Skeletal Study
6. Miscellaneous
1.Complexion
• The Skin complexion of Indians is Brown or
wheatish , Fair in Europeans , Black in negroes

2.Eyes
• Indians – Black or Brown Iris
• Europeans – Blue or grey Iris
3.Hair
• Indians – Black & thin and wavy hair
• Europeans – Grey ,light brown hair(blonde),wavy
hair
• Negroes – Thick, short curly hair

4.Clothes
• Style of clothing may help establish identity
especially in cases where body is disfigured.
5.Skeleton :
The cephalic index (skull)

CI = Maximum Breadth of skull X 100

Maximum length of skull

• Length & Breadth are measured by Calipers.

• Three types of skull exist which are
 Dolico-cephalic (long head)
 Mesati-cephalic (Medium head)
 Brachy-cephalic (Short head)
 Racial Differences in the Skull

Type of Skull Cephalic Index Race

Dolico-cephalic 70 to 75 Pure Aryans

Aborigines
Negroes
Mesati-cephalic 75 to 80 Europeans
Chinese
Brachy-cephalic 80 to 85 Mongolian
6.Miscellaneous
• Religion : Penis circumcised in Muslims and
Jews
• Sacred thread in hindus
• Tattoo marks
• Ear rings and pierced lobes , Nose ring etc
• Other ornaments bearing respective god
photo or cross as in christians
 INTERSEX
It is a condition in which characteristics of both sexes
are present in one individual including physical form,
reproductive organs and sexual behaviour.
• It results from a defect in embryonic development
• It is divided into 4 groups
 Gonadal Agenesis
 Gonadal dysgenesis
 True Hermaphroditsm
 Pseudo Hermaphroditism
1. Gonadal Agenesis : In this condition there is total
absence of testes or ovaries. Nuclear sex is
negative.

2. Gonadal Dysgenesis :In this the external sexual

structures are present at birth but by puberty age
the testes or ovaries fail to develop.
 Klinefelters syndrome : It is a condition in which
the individual is phenotypically male but
genotypically female. (47 XXY)
 Syndrome characterized by
• Delayed onset of puberty
• Behavioural disorders
• Sparse pubic and axillary hairs, Facial hair
• Gynaecomastia , azoospermia , decreased
testosterone , sterility
• Testicular atrophy
2.Turner’s syndrome
• In this condition the individual is phenotypically
female but genotypically male.
• 45 XO (deletion of one X chromosome)
• Syndrome characterized by
 Primary amenorrhea
 Sterility
 Lack of development of primary & secondary sexual
characteristics
 Short stature
 Male like excessive hair growth at all parts of body
 Ovarian dysgenesis
3.True Hermaphroditism
• Rare condition of bisexuality in which there is testis
one side and ovary on other side.
• Or two ovotestis are present with external genitalia
of both sexes.
• There may be uterus also
• Phallus may be penile or clitoral
• Bifid labia or fused resembling scrotum.
• Neither gonads are functional.
• Somatic sex chromatin may be male or female
4.Pseudo-Hermaphroditism
• In this condition gonadal tissue of only one sex
is present internally but external appearance
is of opposite sex.
Male Pseudo-hermaphrodotism
 Genotypically male
 Sex organs & characters of female (testicular
feminisation)
Female Pseudo-hermaphroditism
 Genotypically Female (XX)
 Sex organs and characteristics of Male.

Persons with XYY pattern are found to be

aggressive and criminal nature.
 STATURE
The approximate stature may be determined by
measurement of the trunk or the limbs.
1. The length from the tip of the middle finger to tip
of opposite middle finger when arms are fully
extended equals the height.
2. Twice the length of one arm + 30cm for 2 clavicles
+4cm for sternum equals the height.
3. Length of forearm measured from tip of olecrenon
to tip of middle finger is equal to 5/19th of height.
4. The length from vertex to pubic symphysis pubis Is
roughly half of stature.
5. The height of head measured by vertical distance
from top of head to tip of chin is about 1/7th and
length of skull is about 1/8th of total height.
6. Length from sternal notch to symphysis pubis
multiplied 3.3 gives the height.
7. The length of vertebral column is 35 percent of
height.
8. Length of entire skeleton + 2.5 to 4 cm gives height.
9.Maximum foot length divided by 0.15 gives height.