subject context and history Flashcards
definition of forensic science
the application of scientific methods and techniques to issues or matter under investigation by a court of law.
the application of science to criminal and civil laws during criminal investigations, as governed by the legal standards of admissible evidence and criminal procedure.
why do we need forensic science:
provides expert witness and forensic evidence is scientific, factual and objective evidence.
erasistratus
250BC- erasistratus, an ancient greek physician, discovered that his patients’ pulse rates increased when they were telling lies.
Sung Tzu and the bloody sickle
1235- a murder was committed using a sickle. all those who owned a sickle laid them out in the sun. flies gathered on the murder weapon.
fingerprints
1686- professor of anatomy marcello malpighi notes in his treaties the ridges, spirals and loops in fingerprints.
bullet comparison
1835- henry goddard of scotland yard first uses bullet comparison.
petechial haemorrhages
1855- ambroise august tardieu first draw attention to petechial haemorrhages occurring in the asphyxial deaths.
founder of forensic toxicology
mathieu orfila (1787-1853) (poisons& animals)
founder of criminal identification
alphone bertillon (1853-1914)(anthropometry)
founder of fingerprinting
francis galton (1822-1911)
founder of blood grouping
leone lattes (1887-1954)
hans gross (1847-1915)
wrote the first book describing the application of scientific disciplines to the field of criminal investigation
edmond locard (1877-1966)
locards exchnage principle- every contavt leaves a trace. founder of the first forensic laboratory in lyons (1910)
1840, 1901, 1902, 1910, 1988
1840- first toxicology case- proof of arsenic poisoning of m. lafarge
1901- fingerprint classification scheme- sir edward henry.
ABO blood typing- karl landsteiner.
1910- every contact leaves a trace- edmond locard.
1988- 1st DNA court case- colin pitchfork.
