Forensics Week 09 Flashcards
What is evidence
evidence is any material which tends to persuade the court of the truth or probability of some fact asserted before
What are the three main types of evidence in queensland
Testimony
Documents
Real Evidence
What is a testimony
A witness sworn assertions of fact or opinion to the court in person on affidant
What is an affidant
a person who records witness statements, witness must be available for cross examination
Can document copies be used as evidence
They can as long as it can be proved that they are copies of the original
What is real evidence
Usually physical objects made relevant by oral testimony. Photographs of evidence are admissable
What is direct evidence
the evidence can be understood without furthe rinformation
What is circumstantial evidence
the evidence on its own does not allow guilt or innocence to be assessed
What is hersey
statements that are not directly attested to by the witness
What are the many forms of forensic archaeological evidence
written notes photographs the expert report collected physical evidence testimony
What is trace evidence
Very small physical evidence which usually requires a microscope or other instrument for analysis
What are the three main sources of trace evidence
Victim
Criminal
Crime scene
What is direct transfer
trace evidence transferred by an object touching the source of that evidence
What is indirect transfer
an object carrying trace evidence from another source comes into contact with a surface and transfers the trace evidence onto it.
Where can diatoms be found
In the lungs of drowning victims
What are natural fibres
Wool
silk
cotton
asbetos
What are manufactured fibers
nylon
carbon fibre
glass
metal
How is glass assessed
chemical composition and physical properties
Can drugs be quick tested
yes
What are the three branches of entomology
medico-legal
stored product pests
urban forensic entomology
Explain medico-legal entomology
carrion feeding insects that typically infest human remains. criminal cases of insect infestation of the living due to neglect
Explain stored product pests
Commonly food in food stuffs like food contamination
Explain urban entomology
insects that affect people and their immediate environment. May feed on both the living and the dead
how do you estimate time since death using insects
1) individual insect development cycles
2) insect species succession
Do flies come at night
no
When do the first fly larva emerge
after 8 hours
How long until the larva turn into adults
6-12 days
What conditions don’t beetles like
Alkaline
Where do flies intially target
Eyes, nose and mouth
LAck of insect activity could indicate what
tampering with the scene
What do early beetles feed on
The fly larva
What do late beetles feed on
Dried skin, tendon and bones
10 days @ 30 degrees equals what
300 ADD (Accumulated degree days)
What is the role of the expert witness report
provides a hard copy, accessible version of the expert’s conclusions, may avoid the need for an inperson testimony
What are the requirements for the expert witness report
The report must be signed The report must include the experts qualifications All material facts on which report is based References to any literature replied
