Intro to forensics

Question 1

Deaths reported to the coroner

Answer 1

• unusual, unexpected, unnatural, violent, unknown cause
• homicide
• suicide
• accidents
• deaths in custody (including mental health institutions)

Question 2

What does a coroner do?

Answer 2

investigates deaths
+/- inquest
- determines manner of death

Question 3

What are the 4 courts in SA

Answer 3

• coroners court (inquisitorial court)
• magistrates
• district
• supreme

Question 4

what is forensic pathology

Answer 4

autopsy for legal purposes

investigation of deaths referred to the coroner

Question 5

What do forensic pathologists do

Answer 5

attend scenes/court 
perform autopsies (1300/yr)

Question 6

What can an autopsy acheive

Answer 6

establish/confirm identity of deceased

- COD, mechanism OD, manner OD, time + place OD

Question 7

difference between cause and mechanism

Answer 7

what led to death = cause

pathophysiology (how) = mechanism

Question 8

What are the manners of death

Answer 8

natural vs unnatural

Question 9

what can an autopsy obtain

Answer 9

physical evidence from bodu
match injuries to weapons
exclude certain scenarios, witness statements, suspect claims
identify factors that contribute to death (avoidable factors) to prevent further death
contribute to ongoing medical research + education

Question 10

What does ab autopsy involve

Answer 10

history
external exam = identifying features, signs of natural disease + injury
internal exam - organ dissection
histology
toxicology- femoral blood, urine, vitreous, bile, liver, stomach contents
microbiology, neuropath, DNA, genetic studies

Question 11

Describe postmortem changes in the 1st period

Answer 11

cooling 1-2 days
rigor
lividity
…. decomposition, skeletonisation

Question 12

Describe gunshot injuries

Answer 12

rifled weapon vs shotgun

• appearnace of wound gives idea of firing range
• exit + entry usually have different appearances

Question 13

why do pathologists go to scenes

Answer 13

nature + time of death

discussion of other issues

Question 14

how can you tell time of death

Answer 14

using temp, lividity, rigor

Question 15

describe a death scene

Answer 15

confronting, dangerous, uncomfortable, chaotic, confusing

Question 16

what are ballistics

Answer 16

study of firearms, police specialists, weapons, projectiles, explosives

Question 17

describe document examination

Answer 17

exam of handwriting 
indented impressions 
machine generated documents
ink/paper analyses 
alterations/obliterations/erasures
document restoration

Question 18

toxicology + illicit drugs

Answer 18

analyses of postmortem + antemortem specimens
types of drugs + quantity
exam of illegal labs

Question 19

use of DNA

Answer 19

contact + trace
historical
locards principle = when 2 objects come in contact they leave traces on each other

Question 20

different methods of identification

Answer 20

visual 
dental 
fingerprints
DNA 
circumstantial

Question 21

describe human identity testing

Answer 21

forensic cases 
offender DNA databases 
parentage 
missing persons 
DVI
immigration 
disputed inheritance claims

Question 22

elements of blood spatter analysis

Answer 22

heavy drops from veins
fine spray from arteries
footprints
trails

Question 23

what is luminol

Answer 23

substance that reacts/reveals with blood

Question 24

What are the types of legal matters

Answer 24

courts + expert evidence
what lawyers want
the coroners court

Question 25

research activities in forensic path

Answer 25

texts, journal, presentations

Question 26

what’s a provisional report

Answer 26

for indigenous tribal deaths

to indicate no sorcery