Forensic Access Newsletter - "Benchmark"
July 2008
The importance of crime scene examinations
Crime scenes offer can offer a wealth of information to investigators. Developments in the forensic examination of crime scenes have moved on considerably in the last few years, and investigators fully understand the urgency with which a crime scene should be sealed and preserved, following an alleged incident.
In these next two articles we describe a case in which Forensic Access scientists were asked to attend the scene of a very recent incident, but we also show how visiting a scene, many years after an event, can reveal extremely important facts for the individuals involved.
Speed is of the essence!
The evidence gathered at a crime scene can often form a very strong basis for a prosecution case, and consequently, the police often invest heavily in the examination of crime scenes. Forensic scientists are usually called to a scene very soon after the alleged incident, as it is well known that the value of forensic evidence can decrease rapidly over time. So doesn’t the defendant deserve to have an alleged scene investigated by a defence scientist? Many of our clients have become aware of the value of defence scene examination our scientists are on-call to attend scenes when you require them.
Speed is of the essence, and we don’t need to see the prosecution’s statements in order to visit a scene and make our own assessments. At scenes we can both check that correct procedures have been followed and carry out our own independent assessment and interpretation of any evidence. For example, we can examine the blood patterns to see if blood pattern analysis (BPA) supports (or refutes) the client’s or police version of events.
The attendance of our scientists at Case Conferences, either before or after a scene visit, can be of great benefit to the case. We can help direct the forensic strategy of a scene examination or help suggest the next steps in a defence investigation after visiting a scene and reviewing the findings. Our work can help focus work on a case, saving both time and unnecessary expenditure.
Earlier this year we were asked to attend a scene for a case in which 4 people had been charged with incarcerating and torturing a young woman. One of the men did not dispute his presence at the scene, but did dispute the prosecution’s version of events. Forensic Access’ experienced crime scene scientists, April Robson and Clare Stangoe, visited the scene and carried out a thorough examination of the blood patterns at the scene. They were able to provide the defence with valuable interpretations, which enabled the defence to construct their client’s case much more rapidly than if the scene visit had not taken place. Our early involvement in this case certainly helped focus the investigation and brought events to a much quicker conclusion.
Scene Examination 33 Years On!
In 2007 Forensic Access was instructed by Switalski's Solicitors in Bradford to carry out some detailed forensic work in the case of Ronald Castree who had been charged with the 1975 murder of Lesley Molseed, following the quashing of the conviction of Stefan Kiszco in 1992 (see article). As part of this investigation Forensic Access’ Clare Stangoe attended the scene (along with Access’ Roger Robson and Mr Castree’s lawyers), where, in 1975, Lesley’s body had been found. The original allegations were that Stefan Kiszco had carried Lesley’s body from the road, up a hill onto open moorland. When we visited the scene it was very evident that Mr Kiszco, who was not a fit man and had a broken ankle at the time, could never have carried the body of an 11 year old girl up this hill – it took all of us a lot of energy to get up the hill, with nothing to carry, and we were all fairly fit! It is a tragedy that this scene was not examined in this way, during the original investigation, as it would have been very apparent that Mr Kisko, who served 27 years in prison, could not have carried the victim to this location.
These two examples help demonstrate that getting Forensic Access involved early in a case can have great benefits: assisting at case conferences, visiting scenes and helping to direct the forensic aspects of a case. In addition, we must not forget that visiting a scene in older cases, particularly by experienced scene-going forensic scientists can in some cases, offer very valuable alternative lines of enquiry.
I hope these two examples help to show you both the importance of scene examination as soon after an incident has occurred, but also, that retrospective scene examination, can in some cases, offer very valuable alternative lines of enquiry.
To understand how we can assist you with scene examination, contact us.
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