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Category Archives: AAFS
Forensics: Junk shoeprint matching and DNA catches up with another famed forensic expert.
This is a continuing story involving Henry Lee and the crime lab where he has been a decades-long teacher and examiner. Added intrigue has to do with a FBI footprint guru teaching how to “definitely” identify a defendant from a … Continue reading
Forensics: Noted NY bitemarker dentist involved in another exoneration litigation. “Just like fingerprints.” Wood River murder hinged on bite mark evidence | Belleville News-Democrat
John Prante, from a St. Louis MO suburb, was convicted of Karla Brown’s Wood River IL murder wants his named cleared and a court to declare him innocent because his trial used bite mark teeth comparison evidence that science has … Continue reading
Forensics: DNA contamination personified in this case from Australia.
In the US, prosecutors in San Diego investigated the lab worker whose DNA was mixed up in the crime scene samples. He later committed suicide. This case in AU has similar DNA problems. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-28/more-dna-contamination-claims-emerge-at-claremont-trial/12011756
Forensics: A DC judge calls out police junk forensics – then limits expert ballistic evidence.
A rare look into a judge doing his job by using scientific principles to reject decades-long use of exaggerated bullet matching assumptions. Good summation of issues by Radley Balko at WaPo. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/02/28/dc-judge-issues-much-needed-opinion-junk-science/
Forensics: Bogus pattern matching in Australia leads back to the US FBI
Using science to correct false convictions goes on around the world. In Aussieland, this man spent 25 years in prison due to a “1/1,000 match” from a single hair. https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2020/02/why-is-courtroom-science-so-unscientific/
Forensics. Clothing seam pattern matching is junk.
Experts have to lie and mislead courts into accepting this as an identification science. https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/02/the-wear-patterns-of-your-jeans-arent-good-forensic-evidence/
Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bite Marks, CSI, forensic fraud, junk forensic science
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Forensics: A “cavalier”and long-time shaken baby expert will not admit his decades of misdiagnoses.
Dr. Steiner’s “Saving the kids” mantra was later adopted by the bitemarkers. https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/investigations/3news-investigates-science-behind-shaken-baby-cases-under-attack/95-049076b8-261c-41d7-87b2-a631864b2e6f
Forensics: Canadian look at bias in expert testimony
An appellate judge says distorted expert testimony can “swallow the entire judicial process.” https://www.lakecountrycalendar.com/columns/kootnekoff-problematic-experts-in-legal-proceedings/
Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bite Marks, CSI, expert testimony, Forensic Science, Forensic Science Bias
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Forensics: Perjury by a Prosecution expert #AAFS2020
Not all experts tell the truth. Good read for forensic students. https://www.jurist.org/commentary/2020/02/daniel-j-wright-perjury-by/
Forensics: Psych tests mostly junk says NRC
Psych experts have free reign in deciding courtroom outcomes in civil and criminal cases. Only 3% get their unregulated opinions are scrutinized during trial. https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2020/02/16/science/ap-us-sci-psychology-tests.html https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2020/02/16/science/ap-us-sci-psychology-tests.html
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