The incidence of scarring on the dorsum of the hand

When undertaking image comparison of the hand between accused and perpetrator, it is not unusual for scars to be identified on the back of the hand. To investigate the occurrence of scarring in a discreet sample, a database of 238 individuals was examined, and the dorsum of the right and left hands was gridded for each individual. The position, size and type of scar were recorded within each grid. It was found that, in general, males exhibited a higher incidence of scarring than females. However, males were more likely to show scarring on their left hand whereas females were more likely to exhibit scarring on their right hand. Contrary to the literature, scarring was not most prevalent along the borders of the hand but occurred more frequently in association with the index and middle finger corridor regions. Surgical scars were rare as were large scars whereas linear scars smaller than 6 mm were the most frequently identified. Close to half of the sample did not exhibit scarring on one hand. The importance of understanding the pattern of scarring on the back of the hand is discussed in the light of forensic image comparison analysis

Admissibility

This chapter is a brief exploration of general issues of courtroom admissibility, including the definition of an expert witness and their role in court. This is a rapidly developing and often controversial field, and in order to introduce the reader to debate surrounding key cases and issues in forensic human identification, references have been chosen that are easily accessible on the Internet

Admissibility of Expert Evidence

The significance of the concept of reliability cannot be overestimated in a criminal trial, particularly in relation to the presentation of evidence, and this is even more pressing when scientific methods and the evidence produced are of a highly technical or specialised nature, to help a jury reach a decision on the guilt of a defendant/s. All courts are governed by rules that detail what types of evidence are admissible. One key aspect for the admission of evidence is whether it proves, or helps prove, a fact or issue in that case. Here we will consider the current approaches to courtroom admissibility of expert evidence in the United States and England and Wales, in light of recent reports that have aimed to highlight and offer solutions to some of the ongoing problems. There are two types of witnesses who proffer evidence in a trial: lay witnesses, who speak only of their own experiences, and experts, who are called upon to assist the jury understand the evidence being presented to them

Mothers who murder: and infamous miscarriages of justice

Child murder: A social taboo and one of the most abhorrent acts most of us can imagine. Meet the women found guilty of murdering their own children. They represent some of the most hated women in Australia. The infamous list includes psychologically damaged, sometimes deranged, women on the edge. But, as we will see, accused doesn't always mean guilty

Is this the face of Jack the Ripper?

On this day 123 years ago, Jack the Ripper claimed his first victim. But who was this serial killer? This new e-fit finally puts a face to Carl Feigenbaum, a key suspect from Germany. Jack the Ripper is the world's most famous cold case - the identity of the man who brutally murdered five women in London's East End in autumn 1888 remains a mystery. More than 200 suspects have been named. But to Ripper expert Trevor Marriott, a former murder squad detective, German merchant Carl Feigenbaum is the top suspect. Convicted of murdering his landlady in Manhattan, Feigenbaum died in the electric chair in New York's Sing Sing prison in 1894. His lawyer suspected him of the Ripper murders too. No photos of Feigenbaum exist. So Marriott has produced this new e-fit for BBC One's National Treasures Live, created from the description on the admittance form when he was in prison on remand in New York. Why does Marriott think Feigenbaum is Jack the Ripper? Evidence, in the form of police documents and hundreds of letters to the authorities and newspapers, give us some clues

The Lockerbie Bombing, December 21, 1988

On Wednesday, December 21, 1988, at 6:25 p.m., Pan-Am Flight 103 "Maid of the Seas" took off from London Heathrow Airport en route from Frankfurt bound for J.F. Kennedy Airport in New York with a designated flight path over Scotland. At 7:02 p.m., the Boeing 747 was given oceanic clearance from Shanwick Ocean Control, but the transmissions were not acknowledged. Flight 103 disappeared from radar screens at this time, and no further radio communications were received. Multiple primary radar returns were then seen fanning out downwind for a considerable distance. At 7:03 p.m., while at 31,000 feet, the plane had exploded over the Scottish town of Lockerbie due to an improvised explosive device (IED) concealed in the cargo hold. All 259 persons onboard were killed, including 243 passengers and 16 crew, as were 11 residents of the town from falling debris onto a residential area. The victims represented 21 nationalities, the average age being 27 years

Rail Incidents

Train travel has been a popular means of transport since the early 1880s when the first steam trains were introduced in the United Kingdom, with a network of rail lines developing quickly, cover most of the United Kingdom. As they became more popular with improved design and comfort, so came the associated increase in size of the trains themselves and increased potential top speeds. This also resulted in amplified passenger capacity, as it was by far the most efficient way to access areas of the country. Unfortunately, ever since there has been a history of rail travel, there has been a history of rail accidents. As with any series of disasters the numbers of victims, both those that lose their lives and those who are injured, is dependent on the circumstances of the incident and the ability of others to respond to the disaster efficiently and effectively. The number of fatalities in any one incident can vary depending on a number of factors. In fact, these incidents may result in relatively few fatalities in relation to the number of people involved. For example, consider the accident in Abergele, North Wales (1868) in which around 30 people died although the definitive number of deceased and injured victims is unknown; Ladbroke Grove (1999) in which 31 people died; or the incident at Ufton Nervet, Berkshire (2004) when 7 people were killed and a further 71 injured. That these events do not always result in large numbers of deceased in no way detracts from their significance; every death is of intense importance to the families of the loved ones left behind

The Hillsborough Football Stadium Disaster, April 15, 1989

On Saturday, April 15, 1989, the worst disaster in English football history occurred in terms of loss of life. In total, 96 men, women, and children died as a result of events on that day, the youngest being just 10 years old. At approximately 3:00 p.m., at the Football Association's (FA's) semifinal match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, football fans died from crush-related injuries, and 766 were injured. This mass fatality event occurred at Hillsborough Football Stadium in Sheffield. South Yorkshire Police were policing the event and already engaged in crowd control, as thousands of fans were expected to attend the stadium as a result of the match. The ground had been used as the venue for the FA Cup semifinal the year before involving the same teams, and the fixture had been played without any significant crowd problems. Due to the high level of staff required, it was necessary to have plain-clothed police officers working in uniform to provide additional staff. On an occasion such as this (with approximately 54,000 spectators expected), the policing operation was complex. In all, some 1,122 police officers were deployed that day - almost 38% of South Yorkshire Police's personnel (Figure 9.1). Included in the mounted section of 34 were officers from Liverpool and Nottingham, who were present to assist with marshaling their own supporters. Sheffield Wednesday Football Club provided 376 stewards, gate staff, and turnstile operators on the day (Taylor, 1989)

Hell is Other People: The Importance of Controlling Pedophilic Activity

"Hell is other people" are Garcin's words in Sartre's 'Huis Clos' (Sartre, 1990: 95). The three key characters in this play "are in hell precisely because they are prevented by their own choices from establishing any proper relations with those around them" (Manser, 1967: 98). The notion of proper and improper relationships is central to the theme of this chapter - child sexual abuse, arguably the ultimate form of an improper relationship. The three "characters" of this paper are the people who are engaged in committing, reporting and controlling pedophilic activity. The community's and society's engagement with this crime involves a degree of fear, which can obstruct the development of preventative solutions. The community (in this discussion) are all people affected by the acts of the offender, such as victims and their family, friends, as well as police, lawyers, journalists and commentators. Cases of child sexual abuse cause a significant degree of alarm for a number of reasons. Part of the panic arises from the range of social identities of those found guilty; generally speaking, offenders cover a broad demographic and they cannot be easily differentiated from other members of society. Another aspect of the fear is the lack of power felt by parents and society in general when trying to protect their children - a strong societal and familial impulse - as statistics demonstrate that in the majority of cases, children are not molested by strangers, but rather by family members and friends. These issues collide to cause an overwhelming and emotional response to cases of alleged child molestation, which often results in public demand for increased punishment and control of offenders, regardless of whether empirical evidence suggests that the sanctions proposed offer any additional safety to children

The 'Marchioness' Riverboat Disaster, August 20, 1989

This chapter focuses on the disaster victim identification (DVI) processes undertaken following the sinking of the 'Marchioness' passenger vessel, which collided with the dredger 'Bowbelle' on the River Thames, on August 20, 1989. A total of 51 people died as a result of this incident. The responding force was the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), the largest police force in the United Kingdom with excess of 25,000 officers at the time of the accident (Figure 10.1). This incident is of additional significance in terms of legislation due to the subsequent public inquiry undertaken by Lord Justice Kenneth Clarke (2001) and his influential recommendations