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Author Archives: csidds
Forensics: Belfast Detective faked sexual assault tests to reduce caseload
“Working in the Metropolitan Police’s Sapphire sex crimes unit, he failed to send evidence including swabs and a condom for forensic and toxicological tests before recording “negative” results in the crime reporting information system (Cris).” http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/jail-for-detective-who-faked-results-of-forensic-tests-in-sex-crime-inquiries-34276502.html
Forensics: Freddie Gray death trial brings out all sorts of theories of what, where, and how
The opposing attorneys do battle with expert wits in a way that really highlights the entire legal adversary process in the US CJ system. The degree of physical impairment from the cervical injury is well described. The timeline of where … Continue reading
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Tagged American Academy of Forensic Science, Criminal Justice, CSI, Forensic science
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Forensics: Goulish story about vampirism myths in the United States
(What a crazy set of teeth. Awesome dental prosthetic from the “Nosferatu” silent film.) This confirms that New Englanders always have had a strange way about themselves. http://strangeremains.com/2015/11/01/the-vampire-slayings-in-19th-century-new-england/
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Tagged falsified evidence, junk science, misidentification, vampires
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When a forensic pathologist testifies for the defense, the testimony is always “controversial”
This is about the Freddie Gray related trial of police officers in Baltimore. Dr. Vincent Di Maio, a forensic pathologist and former chief medical examiner in San Antonio, said Gray’s injury was “so violent, it’s so high-energy” that it … Continue reading
Forensics: Arrests, Confessions and Convictions before substantive drug tests are finished.
The scenario: A “rush to justice” with considerable “war on drugs” overcharging of simple possession penalties leads to coerced plea bargains occurring months before definitive forensic testing is completed. http://www.takepart.com/feature/2015/11/20/houston-drug-war-exonerations?utm_source=Legal+Aid+DNA+Newsletter&utm_campaign=c1945f2fd3-DNA_Newsletter_144_28_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_332a53a218-c1945f2fd3-80240109&ct=t(DNA_Newsletter_144_28_2015)
Forensic Fraud: 4 lab pathologists under suspicion of DNA testing fraud in Mumbai
Noteworthy news about lab docs following the lure of getting paid from outside vendors for allowing them to cook-book medical DNA results. It is not limited to India by any means. http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-maharashtra-medical-council-files-chargesheet-against-4-pathologists-2152792
Forensics: Candid discussion on PTSD from noted Scot forensic expert
Professor Sue Black’s comments are short but extremely relevant. She should be commended for speaking of her personal experience. I suggest that forensic training courses and academic programs should recognize the subject of forensic-related PTSD prevention and treatment in their … Continue reading
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Tagged American Academy of Forensic Science, CSI, Forensic Science PTSD
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Forensics: White House Science and Technology opinion on Bitemark Identification
Here is the keynote speaker ( Jo Handlesman Ph.D) at a 2015 NIJ conference on forensic science speaking about the unenviable position bitemarkers have attained by showing no reliability in their opinions and being individually inconsistent in their courtroom testimony. … Continue reading
Forensics: Itel Dror is a pioneer in “cognitvie bias” effects on CSI and courtroom testimony
Image from a prosecution’s bitemark expert. All it shows are common dental features. Overstated forensic science opinions can lead suspects into false confession. This Irish Times article gives this an overview and covers Itiel Dror’s decades long work examining how prosecutorial … Continue reading
Valena Beety on the facts behind the new book “Cops in Lab Coats and Forensics”
A soon to be published law review.pdf article by Valena Beety (WVA School of Law and director of the WVA Innocence Project), describes in detail why “Cops in Lab Coats” correctly lobbies for independent crime labs to prevent wrongful convictions. The full book … Continue reading
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