FRSC 3010 Flashcards
Motor vehicle theft/possession
Someone who steals a motor vehicle (s. 331.1(a) CC)
Everyone who commits theft is, if the property stolen is a motor vehicle, guilty of an offence and liable
(a) on proceedings by way of indictment, to imprisonment for a term of not more than 10 years, and to a minimum punishment of imprisonment for a term of six months in the case of a third or subsequent offence under this subsection; or
(b) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term of not more than 18 months.
Theft from vehicles
items are taken from either the expetior or interior of vehicle without consent/permission of the owner (theft under $5000, 334(b) CC).
Crime vehicles
a vehicle used/involved in the commission of a crime (various-impaired driving, fail to remain at an accident, fail to stop for police, break and enter, murder, dangerous driving).
Can a passenger be convicted for possession of stolen motor vehicle?
A passenger may be conviceted for possession of stolen motor vehicle if there are enough factors to determine control and knowledge.
A voluntary passenger in a stolen vehicle may be found to be an abettor as their presence may have the effect of encouraging the theft.
Rate of car theft in Canada in 2022
In 2022, a vehicle is stolen every 6 minutes in canada.
Three reasons a vehicle may be stolen
Joyriding
Sell false vehicle identification numbers (VINs).
Dismantled for parts.
Used to commit another crime (“crime vehicle”).
Sold abroad illegally
Rule of thumb for searching Vehicles
Level of examination should be proportional with the level of the offence committed
5 identifiers for a car
Make and model, colour, licence plates, VIN
CPIC
Canadian Police Information Center
Any officer or Police agency that runs avehicle in the future will be informed of its status as a stolen vehicle
Section 8 of the Charter
Everyone has the right to be secure against unreasonable search or seizure
What type of evidence should take precedence in vehicle examinations?
if there are areas that should be swabbed for DNA such as bloodstain or the mouthpiece of an opened drink container, then this should take precedence over fingerprinting.
4 vehicle rules when searching
Does it look wrong → check it out;
Does it smell? → drugs or alcohol;
Does it feel odd? → hidden contraband (seats);
Does it sound odd? → hidden contraband (hollows).
Steps for vehicle submissions
Call CRO in advance of submitting and prior to picking up a vehicle following CFS analysis.
Only include one vehicle per submission.
Include authority (a copy of the warrant/consent), as well as keys to the vehicle with the submission.
Indicate if the vehicle (outside and/or inside) needs to be protected for fingerprints.
If a bicycle is involved in an occurrence, submit the entire unit wrapped in paper
GPS
Global Positioning System
Counter measures for vehicle safety
Lock your vehicle.
Don’t leave FOBS near doorways and windows, store as far away as possible.
Place key FOBS in faraday bags.
Park vehicles in garages.
Motion senor lights tied into security system for app notification.
What does footprint evidence provide
Type and make of shoe
approximate size
number of suspects
pathway in
through and away from the crime scene
Possible sequence of events in a crime scene.
LlYOD HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION
Footwear impression found in snow at the scene.
Tire track impressions found at the scene in snow.
Tire impressions linked to a possible make of vehicle.
Williams went through a police checkpoint driving that make of vehicle.
When interviewed later, williams wearing the same boots as that day on the property of Lloyd.
Footwear and tire track evidence were very important to the case.
People remember the police interview but not what got them there
Reasons footprint evidence is overlooked(3)
Lack of training in the proper technique
The evidentiary value of the footwear impression is not understood.
Lack of education in the comparison of footwear and report writing
OJ Simpson Trial
Civil Trial
Lasted 11 months. OJ Simpson was in custody for 474 days. 4 hours to decide the verdict. Not guilty on 2 charges of murder.
101 witnesses, 41 days of testimony, found guilty of “wrongful death”, to pay millions to two families (33.5 million)
Civil Lawsuit
Simpson was found liable for the deaths and was required to pay families of the victims over 30 million in damages.
Now owes in the range of 70 million. Bruno Magil shoes were a key piece of evidence.
Bruno Magli footwear- bodziak.
Class Characteristics of Footprints
Manufactured.
Intentional or unavoidable characteristics that repeat during the manufacturing process.
Example: pattern
Accidental Characteristics
Random.
Size, shape, position and orientation of these characteristics are, to some degree, dependent on chance.
Commonly associated with the shoe having been worn.
3 footprint collecting techniques
Geltin Lifter
Electrostatic Dust Print Lifting Device
Casting
Gelatin Lifter
A sheet of rubber with a low adhesive gelatin layer on one side that can lift prints from almost any surface, including porous, rough, curved and textured surfaces.
Typically used with fingerprint powders on two dimensional surfaces.
Electrostatic Dust Print Lifting Device
Operates by charging a plastic film, which is placed over the dust print, which creates electrostatic adhesions and draws the film onto the surface.
Casting
Used for recording three dimensional footwear impressions. Typically use dental stone.
For impressions found in snow, sand or soul.
Steps to locating two dimensional prints
Examine:
1) movement within the scene.
2) point of entry.
3) disturbed areas,
4) point of exit
May be visible to the eye. Can use oblique lighting to examine surfaces in the scene.
Floor will be the main source of impressions. Use a fingerprint brush to search for impressions on the floor.
Steps to location three dimensional prints
Typically located on the outside of the scenes.
Involves depth in addition to length and width.
Point of entry/exit, observation.
Various substrates (surfaces).
Placement of scale on plane with bottom of impression key. Use oblique lighting.
Notes to be recorded on footprints
Direction of travel
detail in impression (pattern),
substrate (dirt/snow/tile),
Any development or enhancement technique used (fingerprint powder, spray paint)?
How many? How many different types?
Any footwear for elimination from witnesses, victim, suspect?
LCV
Leucrystal Violet
Used to enhance the appearance of blood and give contrast.
Which surface texture often leads to less splatter
Hard and less porous surfaces
Which surface may lead to irregularly shaped stains with serrated edges and satellite splatter
Rough surfaces
What is some information we can get from blood stain pattern analysis
Direction from which blood originated.
Angle at which a blood droplet struck a surface.
Location or position of a victim at the time a bloody wound was inflicted.
Movement of a bleeding individual at a CS.
Minimum number of blows that struck a bleeding victim.
Approximate location/position of an individual delivering blows that produced a bloodstain pattern.
What does the shape of a blood stain say about the crime/evidence
Direction of travel
- The pointed end of an elliptical bloodstain indicated the direction of travel.
Impact angle of blood on surface determined by measuring the degree of a circular distortion of the stain.
- More circle, closer to 90 degree angle.
Determining the Angle of Impact Equation
Sin A = width of bloodstain / length of bloodstain
What is impact splatter
Occurs when an object impacts a source of blood.
Forward spatter
When blood travels away from the source in the same direction as the force that caused the spatter (exit wound from bullet).
Back splatter
When blood travels (projected) backward from a source that caused the spatter (bullet entrance wound)
As the velocity of the impact increases, the diameter of the resulting blood droplets decreases.
Low Splatter Velocity
5 ft per second or less and producing drops with diameters of greater than 4 mm.
Normally produced by gravity alone
Medium Splatter Velocity
Applied force moves at 5 to 25 feet per second. Produces drops that are 1-4 mm in size.
Blunt force trauma
High Splatter Velocity
100 ft /sec or faster. Produced blood droplets with diameters of less than 1 mm.
Gunshot wounds
Area of Convergence (2D)
area on a 2D plane where lines traced through the long axis of several individual bloodstains meet.
Area of origin (3D)
The location in 3D space from which blood that produced a bloodstain originated.
What is gunshot spatter
possible blowback spatter on weapon’s muzzle caused by a firing at a close distant
What is cast off spatter and what can this indicate
caused when blood is flung form an object that has blood on it is in motion.
May show minimum number of blows delivered to a victim.
Arterial Spray spatter
A bloodstain pattern caused by spurts that resulted from blood exiting under pressure from an arterial injury.
An injury to a main artery or heart would cause this pattern.
Experated blood
A pattern created when blood is expelled out of the nose, mouth of respiratory system as a result of air pressure and/or airflow. May contain air bubbles. May be lighter in colour do to being diluted by saliva.
Void patterns bpa
An area free of spatter where an object or person blocked the deposition of blood onto a surface or object.
Transfer patterns bpa
When an object with blood on it touches another object that did not have blood on it.
Swipe pattern caused by movement of bloody object across a surface.
Usually gets lighter as less and less blood is deposited from the transferring objects surface
Flows bpa
Patterns made by drops or large amounts of blood flowing with the pull of gravity.
Flow direction may show movement of objects or bodies.
Pools bpa
A pool of blood occurs when blood collects in a level, undisturbed place.
Skeletonization occurs when edges of a blood stain dry to the surface.
Drip trail patterns
A series of drops that is separate from other patterns and is formed by blood dripping off an object or injury.
Typically forms a kind of line.
Two ways to document bpa
Notes, photos and sketches need to be done. Close-up photos with scane needed.
Grid method: set up grid of squares of unknown dimensions over entire pattern.
Perimeter ruler method: set up a rectangular border of rulers around the pattern.
Luminol
Reacts with iron in hemoglobin to release blue light. The reaction is not specific to blood.
Sprayed onto area of crime scene suspected of having blood present.
Extremely sensitive, can detect minute traces of blood.
Must be performed in complete darkness (spraying and photos).
Possible damage to DNA.
Two methods used to capture tire track evidence
Main techniques used are photography and casting
what to include on notes for tire tracks
Where found (inside/outside),
direction of travel,
detail in impression (pattern),
substrate (dirt/snow/roadway)
any development or enhancement techniques used (fingerprint powder, spray paint)?,
How many, how many different types,
Any tires for comparison/elimination purposes from witnesses, victims, suspects?
Examples of skills and techniques in CSI
Photography and video
Notes
Autopsy
Exhibits
Sketches & Drawings
Specialized skills/units
Processing
Lab submissions
Disclosure
Court
MCM
Major Case Management
What system are Homicides in Ontario obligated to abide by
MCM
Tell me about MCM
The Major Case Management (MCM) System is a case management methodology emphasizing accountability and a multi-disciplinary approach to investigations of major case criteria offences.
It comprises a centralized coordinating body, investigative standards covering all areas, standardized training, and common case management technology for use by all Ontario police services during the investigation of criteria offences.
Major Cases covered by MCM
Homicides and attempts
Sex assaults and attempts
Non familial abductions and attempts
Suspicious missing persons
Found human remains (suspected homicide)
Criminal harassment (unknown)
Campbell inquiry (1996) identified issues in the Bernardo investigation
Lack of co-operation
Lack of communication
Need for common automated case management software
How does MCM help solve major police investigations?
Providing an efficient way to keep track of, sort and analyse huge amounts of information about a crime (names, locations, vehicles, phone numbers, etc.)
Streamlining investigations
Making it possible for police to see connections between cases so they can reduce the risk that serial offenders will avoid being caught
Preventing crime and reducing the number of potential victims by catching offenders sooner
What does a major case manager do
A) Assumes overall responsibility and accountability for the investigation
B) Determine strategies regarding the direction, speed and flow of the investigation
F) Identifies, acquires and deploys the necessary investigative and support resources
I) Ensures compliance with the Ontario MCM manual
N) Liase with the Office of the Chief Coroner, Centre of Forensic Sciences and representatives from other disciplines and agencies as required
VICLAS
Violent Crime Linkage Analysis System
Bernardo Investigation
Green ribbon task force
Involved police services from Halton, Niagara and Toronto
In the beginning they all were working independently
Initial incidents were in Toronto (Scarborough Rapist)
Then missing girl’s body found near St. Catharines area
Followed by missing girl’s body found in Burlington area
Charges in the bernardo investigation
Homolka - charged and convicted of 2 counts of manslaughter after deal with crown - 12 years
Finger prints
an impression of the friction ridges of all of or any part of the finger.
SWGFAST
Scientific Working Group on Friction Ridge Analysis Study and Technoloogy.
Now known as organization of scientific area committees- OSAC.
Finger print theory (2)
1) Human friction ridge skin is unique. Each person possesses a unique (specific) arrangement of friction skin (no 2 fingerprints are same).
- Palmar: bottom of hands
-Plantar: bottom of feet
2) Human friction ridge skin is persistent (permanant) through the individuals life time.
Specifically, the sequence of the ridges and the arrangement of the minutia do not change throughout a person’s life. Except for an injury
When are fingerprints fully formed
6 month old fetus
Similarities with relatedness and fingerprints
unrelated persons of same race have very little similarity
siblings have slight similarity
identical twins have the most similarity
Thickest area of the skin
thickest area of the palms
Heels 4mm
Functions of skin
Acts as a container for the skeletal structure and internal organs.
Provides sensory input about external conditions such as heat and cold, wet and dry, sharp and soft.
Provides a means for the elimination of waste products such as salts, amino acids, ammonia and urea by sweating(controls body temperature as well).
Allows for the ability to grasp surfaces firmly and grip objects.
Anatomy of friction ridge skin
Has two distinct layers, epidermis (top) and dermis (bottom).
Epidermis
The outer layer of the skin.
Protective barrier for the underlying tissues.
It must constantly replace cells leaving the surface.
Consists of 5 different layers.
Layers of the epidermis– 28 day cell migration (Dust)
Skin layers
Stratum corneum
Stratum lucidum
stratum granulosum
stratum spinosum
stratum basale
Dermis
Dermis
The inner or bottom layer of skin.
A thick layer of fibrous and elastic tissue that
gives the skin its flexibility and strength.
Contains nerves, sweat glands, and blood vessels.
A layer of connective tissue that supports the epidermis.
A part of the sensory reception and temperature regulation process.
Fingerprint secretions
Almost 99% of a deposited print is composed of water.
Organic and inorganic salts, amino acids, and fats make up other 1%.
Chemical composition of residues changes with time.
As water evaporates, the print dries out and this effects the ability to visualize the print (therefore the need for different techniques).
As a result, the chance of developing a print is inversely proportional to the time since it was deposited.
Levels of examining fingerprints
Level 1- pattern
level two- ridge characteristics
level 3- ridge pores, ridge edges.
3 types of fingerprints
arch
loop
whorl
Loop pattern
65% fingerprints have this pattern
1 delta
lines enter on one side, recurve around & leave on same side.
Whorl Pattern
at lease 1 ridge does a complete circuit.
30% of fingerprints have this pattern.
2 deltas.
Arch Pattern
lines enter on one side and leave on the other side.
About 5% of fingerprints have this pattern.
No deltas.
Minutiae and Examples
Characteristics of ridge patterns. The average finger contains as many as 150 ridge characteristics.
Ridge ending, island or short ridge, bridge, eye or enclosure, delta, bifurcation fork, dot, spur, double bifurcation, trifucation.
Shapes of Ridge structures
Position of pores, edge shapes, creases, scares, and incipient ridges.
On their own, not used to identify a fingerprint.
Poor clairty of a print may limit the ability to see this level of detail.
Friction ridges that did not fully form. May appear as shorter and thinner in appearence .
Also known as “false” “rudimentary” or “nascent” ridges. Not used for classification purposes.
Incipient ridge
a immature friction ridge, thinner than those surrounding it.