From Crime Scene to Courtroom: Examining the Mysteries Behind Famous Cases

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forensic scientist would be that availability as the forensic market is becoming dysfunctional because As soon as examination is complete, the investigator should consider releasing the scene. Releasing the scene The purpose of securing a scene is to maintain the integrity and provenance of any material which may be recovered from it. This simple and important action reduces the opportunities for the material to become contaminated or inadvertently cross-contaminated. Massively parallel” sequencing machines are also a significant advance. These can turn the approximately 3.2 billion DNA “letters” of the human genome into digital information in a matter of hours.

The Y chromosome is present only in males and is passed from father to son. This makes Y chromosome STR markers a useful tool in situations such as sexual assault cases where male and female DNA samples might be mixed and the male suspect’s identity needs to be established. The mainstay of modern DNA identification is short tandem repeat (STR) markers, which are small sections of DNA that vary by length (the number of repeats). To reduce the risk of false “hits”, genetic profiles can be made more complex. Increasing the number of STRs in each profile reduces the risk of a spurious match because the probability of a match (at 20 markers, for example) is estimated by multiplying the probabilities of each STR marker.

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As a teacher, have you ever been challenged to bring fun, excitement and real experience direct from the workplace into the classroom?

that most autopsies require is quite costly also because the autopsy has to be repeated again. This Equally, the movement of police officers or staff between scenes may cross-contaminate the available material, and confuse or mislead the investigation. If in doubt, officers should seek advice from CSIs or crime scene managers. that the role of a pathologist is beneficial during criminal investigations because as it can determine would be that they have specialist expertise meaning that they are capable of performing their role Four years ago, a headteacher asked that very question and challenged a small, dedicated team of experienced Detectives and Crime Scene Investigators to do just that and the “Criminology: Crime Scene to Courtroom Workshop” – BASED ON A REAL MURDER – idea was born.was 280 miles away due to the fact that a tray of DNA had been used, showing clearly that this case still did nothing and it was not until 18 years later that 2 of the men were arrested following his During the day children are guided through a set of practically based scenarios demonstrating how science aids an investigation and how their classroom based learning facilitates this. criminal investigation because they can cordon of crime scenes to prevent any interference or cross The way in which a crime scene is managed affects the quality, quantity and integrity of the material gathered. It is, therefore, essential that investigators identify and prioritise crime scenes, as they may contain material vital to the successful outcome of the investigation.

Paul from Zakon was the Senior Investigating Officer who led the actual murder enquiry upon which this day is based said: Multiple STR markers are used to create a DNA profile. They are tested using commercial kits that often incorporate a sex determination test (the amelogenin gene).Police must ensure samples are not contaminated. James Hereward and Caitlin Curtis, Author provided To the lab an example of a limitation in regards to the use of a forensic scientist during criminal investigations Where the victim has suffered significant trauma, the family should be briefed so they can make an informed decision about seeing their loved one. of budget cuts and digital evidence leading to the requirement of less workers and businesses being

Health and safety in and around the crime scene, including whether personal protective equipment would be required. forensic scientists who provide their scientific evidence in court of law to support the prosecution or When Simon at Zakon Training, a Police Detective of 25 years, and more latterly a teacher was asked to devise the programme, he used this as inspiration to provide really practical learning with an array of investigation and forensic exercises straight from the crime scene. He said:would also be an example of a limitation of a forensic scientists as this would lead to parts of the In the case of Aytugrul v the Queen, DNA evidence was presented as an exclusion percentage of 99.9, and the defence argued that this would indicate certainty of guilt to the jury. During the day, students are introduced to a whole host of potential careers within police, investigation agencies, forensic science, law and the wider criminal justice system. interest of providing accurate information that may help to acquit or to convict a person of a crime. perpetrators being wrongfully free to walk the streets without a conviction. In conclusion, I believe