1. Evidence

2. Evidence What is the role of evidence in a court of law? Evidence does one of two things: 1.Links a person suspected of committing a criminal offense to a crime scene. 2.Corroborate (confirm) one’s testimony and exonerating a suspect of committing a criminal offense. “Sir, why is the victims blood on your clothes?” Obviously this person has some explaining to do.

3. Evidence In a court of law there are two types of evidence which can be presented to a jury. Testimonial Evidence Physical Evidence

4. Evidence Testimonial Evidence is eyewitness accounts of events. It can come in a written or spoken form. Pros Cons Jury’s are impressed when a story is told to them by another human being. “I was the defendant entering the crime scene prior to the murder” One’s memory can be faulty. The time between an eyewitness seeing an event and a trial may be several months or even years.

5. Evidence Physical Evidence is something which has size, shape, and dimension. As the definition would imply it can be collected and analyzed. It is impossible to list all types of physical evidence which could be encountered at a crime scene, however here are some which we will look at throughout this course:

6. Evidence Blood, Semen, and Saliva. All suspected blood, semen, and saliva present in a form to suggest a relation to the offense or persons involved in a crime. Documents. Any handwriting submitted so that source or authenticity can be determined. Fibers. Any fiber whose transfer may be helpful in establishing a relationship between objects and/or persons. Hair. Any human or animal hair present which may link a person with a crime. Impressions. Tire markings, shoe prints, handprints, etc.

7. Evidence Fingerprints. All prints have a physical nature. Firearms and Ammunition. Any firearm, as well as discharged or intact ammunition, suspected of being used in a criminal offense. Tool Marks. Any object suspected of containing the impression of another object that served as a tool in a crime. Explosives. Any device containing an explosive charge, as well as objects that are removed from a crime scene containing residue of the explosive..

8. Evidence Types of Physical Evidence 1.Evidence which can be associated with a common source with a extremely high degree of probability is said to possess Individual characteristic. Examples: FingerprintsBullet Striations Shoe ImpressionsDNA AND….MANY… MORE Maggots

9. Evidence Types of Physical Evidence 2. Evidence is said to possess class characteristics when it can be associated only with a group and never with a single source. Examples: Dexter’s hair color. Dexter’s eye color. Dexter’s skin color. Dexter’s cotton shirt. Someone else’s blood on Dexter?

10. Evidence Class or Individual Evidence? Denim Jeans?Class Broken glass which can be pieced together? Individual.45 Caliber Ammunition (unspent)? Class.45 Caliber shell casing (spent)? Individual