Medico-Legal Aspects of Identification

Question 1

is the recognition of an individual s determine, by characteristics which distinguish that
individual from all others.

Answer 1

Identification

Question 2

Importance of Identification of Person

Answer 2

1. To establish the identity of the offender and that of the victim in the prosecution of the criminal offense
   otherwise it will be a ground for the dismissal of the charge or acquittal of the accused.
2. To identify a person missing or presumed dead in order to facilitate the settlement of the estate, retirement,
   insurance, and other social benefits. It vests on the heirs the right over the properties of the identified
   person.

Question 3

Rules in Personal Identification

Answer 3

1. The greater the number of points of similarities and dissimilarities of two persons compared, the greater
   is the probability for the conclusion to be correct.
   Take Note: It is known as the Law of Multiplicity of Evidence in Identification.
2. The value of the different points of identification varies in the formulation of conclusion.
   Example: In a fresh cadaver, if the fingerprints on file are the same as those recovered from the crime scene, they
   will positively establish the identity of the person while bodily marks, like moles, scars, complexion, shape of
   nose, etc. are merely corroborative. Visual recognition by relative or friends may be of lesser value as compared
   with fingerprints or dental comparison.

Question 4

Methods of Identification

Answer 4

1. By comparison
2. By exclusion

Question 5

Identification criteria recovered during investigation are compared with records available
in the file, or postmortem finding are compared with ante-mortem records.
Examples:
a. Latent fingerprints recovered from the crime scene are compared with the fingerprints on file of an investigating
agency.
b. Dental findings on the skeletal remains are compared with the dental record of the person in possession of the
dentist.

Answer 5

By comparison

Question 6

If two or more persons have identified and all but one is not yet identified, then the one
whose identity has not been established may be known by the process of elimination

Answer 6

By exclusion

Question 7

Points of Identification Applicable to Living Persons Only

Answer 7

Characteristics which may easily be changed

Characteristics that may not easily be changed

Question 8

Characteristics which may easily be changed

Answer 8

Growth of hair, beard or mustache

Clothing

Frequent place of visit

Grade of profession

Body ornamentations

Question 9

This may easily be shaved or grown within a short time. Arrangement
may be changed artificial hair may be worn or ornamentation may be placed to change its natural condition

Answer 9

Growth of hair, beard or mustache

Question 10

A person may have special preference for certain form, texture, or style.
Example: Certain groups of people are required to have specific cut, color or design, as in uniforms, worn by
students, employees of commercial or industrial establishment, or groups of professionals.

Answer 10

Clothing

Question 11

-A person may have a special desire or habit to be in a place if ever he has the
opportunity to do so.

Examples: “Sari-sari” stores, barber shops, coffee shops, beer gardens and recreation halls are common venues
of visit of certain class of people. A wanted criminal may suddenly prevent himself from going to the place he
used to visit for fear that he may be apprehende

Answer 11

Frequent place of visit

Question 12

A medical student of the upper clinical year may be recognized by the stethoscope, a
graduate or student nurse by her cap, a mechanic by his tools, a clergyman by his robe, etc. A change of grade,
trade, vocation or profession may be resorted to as a means of concealing identity

Answer 12

Grade of profession

Question 13

Earrings, necklaces, rings, pins, etc. ^-^usually worn by persons may be points to
identify a person from the rest.

Answer 13

Body ornamentations

Question 14

Characteristics that may not easily be changed:

Answer 14

Mental memory

Speech

Gait

Mannerism

Question 15

A recollection of time, place and events may be a clue in identification. Remembering
names, faces and subjects of common interest may be initiated during interview to see how knowledgeable
a person is

Answer 15

Mental memory

Question 16

A person may stammer, stutter or lisp. However, if the manner of talking is due to some physical
defects, like harelip and cleft palate, that have been corrected by surgery, there may be a change

Answer 16

Speech

Question 17

It refers to the manner of walking and it may show in some person on account of disease or some
inborn traits.

Answer 17

Gait

Question 18

Stereotype movement or habit peculiar to an individual.

Answer 18

Mannerism

Question 19

Forms of Gait

Answer 19

1. Ataxic gait
2. Cerebellar gait
3. Cow’s gait
4. Paretic gait
5. Spastic gait
6. Festinating gait
7. Frog gait
8. Waddling gait

Question 20

A gait in which the foot is raised high, thrown forward and brought down suddenly is
seen in persons suffering from tabes dorsalis.

Take Note: Tabes dorsalis is a form of neurosyphilis, which is a complication of late stage syphilis infection.
Syphilis is a bacterial infection that is spread sexually. When syphilis is untreated, the bacteria damages the spinal
cord and peripheral nervous tissue. This leads to the symptoms of tabes dorsalis.

Answer 20

Ataxic gait

Question 21

A gait associated with staggering movement is seen in cerebellar diseases

Answer 21

Cerebellar gait

Question 22

A swaying movement due to knock-knee

Answer 22

Cow’s gait

Question 23

Gait in which the steps are short, the feet are dragged, and the legs are held more or
less widely apart.

Answer 23

Paretic gait

Question 24

A gait in which the legs are held together and move in a stiff manner and the toes
dragged.

Answer 24

Spastic gait

Question 25

Involuntary movement in short accelerating steps.

Answer 25

Festinating gait

Question 26

A hopping gait resulting from infantile paralysis

Answer 26

Frog gait

Question 27

Exaggerated alternation of lateral trunk movement similar to the movement of the
duck.

Answer 27

Waddling gait

Question 28

Take Note: A scientific investigation of the gait pattern may be useful for purposes of identification and
investigation of the crime scene. Gait pattern is the series of foot marks by a person walking or running.
Examination of the gait includes the direction line, gait line, foot angle, principal angle and the length and breadth
of the steps.

Answer 28

Gait pattern.

A: direction line;
B: gait line;
C: foot line;
D: foot angles;
E: principal angle;
F: length of step;
G: breadth of step.

Question 29

Expresses the path of the individual

Answer 29

Direction line

Question 30

The straight line connecting the center of the succeeding steps. It is more or less in zigzag
fashion especially when the legs are far apart while walking. Stout, elderly people and those who want
stability while walking have a more zigzag gait line

Answer 30

Gait line

Question 31

The longitudinal line drawn on each foot mark. There may be a difference in the foot line
of the left and right foot.

Answer 31

Foot line

Question 32

The angle formed by the foot line and the direction line. In normal walking the foot
angle is very characteristic of a person and cannot be altered immediately. However, it may be altered
when a person is running, carrying a heavy weight or moving on a rugged terrain

Answer 32

Foot angle

Question 33

The angle between the two succeeding foot angles

Answer 33

Principal angle

Question 34

When the distance between the center points in two successive heel prints of the two
feet exceeds 40 inches, there is a strong presumption that the person is running.

Answer 34

Length of step

Question 35

The distance between the outer contours of two succeeding foot marks or steps.
The more apart the legs are while walking, the greater is the breadth of the step (Crime Detection by Ame
Svensson & Otto Wendel, p. 58).

Answer 35

Breadth of step