MCJ 2023/2024

11th Oct 2023

PRIMULAPATHI JAYA
pathijaya@gmail.com
 Introduction to Forensic Science
CONTENTS
• Definitions

• Brief history

• Organization of a Forensic Science Laboratory

• Forensic Related Laws and Acts of Malaysia

• Duties of a Forensic Scientist / Ethics

• Importance of Physical Evidence

• Classification of Physical Evidence

• Quality Assurance

• Important considerations in Forensic science

 What is Forensic Science ?
Forensic science is the application of science to the criminal
and civil laws for enforcement in a criminal justice system.

➢ Application of science to the law

➢ It provides evidence and accurate information for
investigation and resolving criminal and civil disputes
➢ Comes from Latin “forensis” = forum, a public place where, in
Roman times, senators and others debated and held judicial
proceedings.
 What is Criminalistics?
➢ Criminalistics is the application of science to answer
questions relating to examination and comparison of
physical evidence.
i.e. the scientific examination of physical evidence for
crime investigation and legal purposes.

[Compare with Criminology:

Criminology is the scientific study of the nature, extent,
causes, and control of criminal behaviour in both the
individual and in society]
❑Father of Blood Typing

❑Discovered that blood can be grouped

into different categories – A, B, O and AB

❑Was awarded the Nobel Prize in

Physiology and Medicine for his
discovery
• Crime laboratories in US and Europe 1930s – 1950s

• First crime lab in U.S. - 1923 Los Angeles Police Dept

• The first FBI crime lab opened in 1932

• Paul Kirk – 1950 help establish CRIMONOGLY as an academic discipline

through his work as the Head of School of Criminology, UC Berkeley
• Published the book “Crime Investigation”, reference for forensic
scientists on scientific investigation and lab techniques (1953)
Technological advances and instrumentation
• Development of automated identification systems –
fingerprints (AFIS), ballistics (IBIS) etc.
• Development of databases
• Development of DNA technologies
•
 TERMS and DEFINITIONS
• chain of custody – chronological record of the handling and storage of an
item from its point of collection to its final return or disposal
[note: contributes to the integrity of an item]

• contamination – undesirable introduction of a substance to an item at any

point of the forensic process
[note: includes undesirable transfer within an item or between items (cross-contamination)

• control sample – material with known properties, analysed in order to

evaluate the performance of the test and to ascertain that the data obtained
are valid

• examination – act or process of observing, searching, detecting, recording,

prioritizing, collecting, analyzing, measuring, comparing and/or interpreting
[note: examination can include collecting items from persons]
 TERMS and DEFINITIONS
• forensic – related to methods, techniques and processes used to establish
conclusions and/or opinions and findings which can be used for legal
proceedings

• forensic process – set of interrelated or interacting forensic activities

[note: can include item handling and control, examination, reporting and
testimony]
• forensic service provider – organization or individual that conducts and/or
supplies forensic services
• interpretation – use of professional judgement to provide conclusions
and/or opinions based on findings and information gathered through the
forensic process
• item – object, substance or material that is collected, derived or sampled
as part of the forensic process
 TERMS and DEFINITIONS
• peer review – evaluation of the reports, examinations, notes, data and
findings by others competent in the same field to assess that there is an
appropriate basis for the conclusions and/or opinions

• reference sample/reference specimen – material from a known source used

for comparison purposes in a forensic process
• [note 1: this includes biological material taken from a person (e.g. hair, blood, saliva)
and non-biological material (e.g. carpet, paint, soil)]
• [note 2: a reference sample can be taken from an item as a control to ensure the
substrate has no adverse reaction on the performance of the test]
• [note 3: a reference sample can be used to address the question of the source of an
unknown sample; one would compare the unknown sample with the reference sample]

• substrate – surface or material upon which a substance is deposited

 FORENSIC SCIENCE DISCIPLINES
Narcotic Drugs (Forensic Chemistry)
Forensic Toxicology (Forensic Chemistry)
Forensic DNA/Serology (Forensic Chemistry/Biology)
Criminalistics and Trace Evidence (Forensic Chemistry/Physics)
• Firearms/Tool marks Identifications
• Explosives/Explosion Investigations
• Arson/Fire Investigations
• Trace evidence
Question Document Examination (Forensic Chemistry/Physics)
Crime scene investigation (Forensic Sciences)
Latent prints / Fingerprints (Forensic Chemistry/Physics)
Digital Forensics
 OTHER FORENSIC SCIENCE SPECIALITIES
➢ Forensic Medicine/Pathology – autopsy/post mortem findings
➢ Forensic Anthropology – study of human skeletal remains

➢ Forensic Odontology – identification of bodies thro’ dental patterns and

records; examination of bite marks
➢ Forensic Entomology – use of the knowledge of the life cycles of flies and
other insects (that feed on dead bodies) to estimate time of death
➢ Forensic Psychiatry – to address someone’s sanity or competence to
stand trial, sign documents etc.

➢ Forensic Botany – study of plant residues (fragments, seeds, pollen etc.)

to link suspect to crime scene
 FORENSIC LABORATORIES IN MALAYSIA
➢ DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY MALAYSIA (JABATAN KIMIA MALAYSIA)
- history of more than 100 years
- independent laboratory under MOSTI
- multi-disciplinary services
- national network of laboratories
- services to PDRM and other law enforcement agencies

➢ POLICE LABORATORY (MAKMAL PDRM) - Set up in 2002

- Crime Scene Investigation/ Fingerprint Identification /Digital forensics
- Training
- In-house forensic services to complement JKM’s services

➢ UNIVERSITIES – mainly teaching

➢ PRIVATE CONSULTANCIES – few; small scale / outsource testing; document

examiners, forensic investigations relating to insurance frauds.
 ORGANIZATION OF A FORENSIC
SCIENCE LABORATORY

o Comprises various forensic science disciplines

o Can be independent or part of the law enforcement authority

o Usually a government agency, can also be a corporate/private

organization

o Staff (Forensic scientists) – specialists or generalists

 ORGANIZATION OF A FORENSIC SCIENCE LABORATORY
(DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY MALAYSIA)

FORENSIC DIVISION

DOCUMENT
NARCOTICS CRIMINALISTICS
EXAMINATION
SECTION SECTION
SECTION

SEROLOGY/DNA TOXICOLOGY
SECTION SECTION

The setup may vary with different organizations, according to their respective capabilities
 CORE/BASIC SERVICES (UNITS)
Narcotics
Serology/DNA (Biology)
• Analysis of drugs – heroin,
• Processing of biological evidence –
cannabis, methamphetamine etc.
blood, semen, hair
• Drug profiling
• DNA profiling
• Clandestine lab investigation
• Paternity and Identification tests

Criminalistics Toxicology
• Firearms identification • Blood Alcohol
• Explosives and Explosions • Human Poisoning
• Fire investigation • Animal Poisoning
• Vehicle Examination • Drugs in Body Fluids
• Trace Evidence • Scheduled (medicinal) drugs
• Tool marks Identification

Questioned Documents
• Handwriting and Signature forgeries
• Paper and Ink Analysis
• Typewriting and Printing processes
• Counterfeit – currency, ID documents
 OPTIONAL SERVICES

Crime Scene Investigation Digital Forensics

Fingerprint Identification Forensic Medicine

Photography Unit
 Crime Scene Investigation

This includes all aspects of forensic science and how they

come together when
• searching a crime scene,
• collecting evidence,
• marking, labeling and packaging evidence, and
• analyzing evidence in the lab.
 Crime Scene Investigation
• Provide forensic expertise at any type of crime scene; includes
search and collection of evidence; note taking; photography etc.
- Process rape and/or murder scenes
- Investigate fire scenes and establish cause
- Investigate fatal traffic accidents and hit and run cases
- Interpret and reconstruct events at explosion scenes
- Assess toolmark damage at burglary scene
Investigation agencies-Police, Forensic Medicine/Pathology
Customs, Military etc., Material Unit (Hospitals)
evidences from SOC/ Biological Material from
Victim/Suspect Victim/Suspect

Forensic Science Laboratory

Processing /analyzing material evidences and
renders scientific opinion / report to the submitting
law enforcement agency/Judiciary

Law Enforcement Agency and Judiciary

 Forensic Science Services in Malaysia
- Related Laws and Acts
Supporting Criminal Investigations and Prosecutions under:
➢ Criminal Procedure Code

➢ Dangerous Drugs Act, 1952

➢ Firearms Act 1960

➢ Explosives Act 1957

➢ Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act 1958

➢ Poisons Act, 1952

➢ Road Transport Act

➢ Optical Disc Act 2000

➢ DNA Identification Act 2009

 Section 399 CPC
Reports of certain persons
399. (1) Any document purporting to be a report under the hand of any of the
persons mentioned in subsection (2) upon any person, matter or thing
examined or analysed by him may be given in evidence in any inquiry, trial or
other proceeding under this Code unless that person shall be required to
attend as a witness—

(a) by the Court; or (b) by the accused, in which case the accused shall
give notice to the Public Prosecutor not less than three clear days before
the commencement of the trial:
Provided always that in any case in which the Public Prosecutor intends to
give in evidence any such report he shall deliver a copy of it to the accused
not less than ten clear days before the commencement of the trial.
 Section 399 CPC
(2) The following are persons to whom the provisions of this section apply:
(a) officers of the Institute for Medical Research;
(b) *Government Medical Officers;
(c) chemists in the employment of any Government in Malaysia or of the
Government of Singapore;
(d) any person appointed by the Minister by notification in the Gazette, to be a
Document Examiner;
(e) Inspector of Weights and Measures appointed as such under any written
law relating to weights and measures in force in Malaysia; and
(f) any person or class of persons to whom the Minister by notification in the
Gazette declares that the provisions of this section shall apply.
(scientific officers employed in Jabatan KIMIA Malaysia have been gazetted
under this provision)
(3) The persons referred to in subsection (2) and the Registrar of Criminals are by
this Code bound to state the truth in report made under their hands.
Duties of the Forensic Scientist
…..Related to Evidence

• Search and detect evidence.

• Documentation
• Collection and preservation.
• Examination and analysis of evidential material
• Interpretation of Results.
• Report
• Expert Testimony.
 Duties of the Forensic Scientist
• Conduct crime scene investigation, document the crime scene, search
and collect physical evidence;
• Preserve, package and transport the evidence to laboratory;
• Examine and analyse the physical evidence;
• Record and summarise results of examination/analysis;
• Interpret results in accordance with established scientific principles
• Prepare report on the findings
• Have report and findings peer-reviewed
• Expert testimony - Present evidence in court in an unambiguos, fair and
impartial manner (….. The ultimate test)
• Ensure all documentation is accurate and complete
 Requirements
to be a competent forensic scientist
Personal attributes
➢ A bachelor’s degree in science
➢ Some forensic science services require advanced degrees
➢ Good communication skills – speaking, note-taking, writing
➢ Ability to write a science report that a non-science person can
understand.
➢ Ability to pay attention to details
➢ Honesty and Integrity
➢ Maintenance of skills and expertise thro’ continuous education and
training
 Requirements
to be a competent forensic scientist
Competency requirements
➢ An understanding of the different forensic disciplines;
➢ Item handling, control, and chain of custody;
➢ Loss, degradation, contamination & alteration prevention
➢ Recognition of items of potential forensic value
➢ Specific examination and/or collection methods
appropriate for the forensic process
 Requirements to be a competent forensic scientist

Expert witness

There are three basic criteria that are generally required to qualify a person as an
expert witness:

▪ Academic qualifications (minimum - degree),

▪ Training received
▪ Number of years of occupational experience in the field

Additional criteria which would be an advantage :

▪ Membership in professional organizations
▪ Professional articles or books that the person has published;
▪ Presentations at conferences
▪ What about prior experience as an expert witness ?? ……
“If the Law has made you a witness, remain a man
(woman) of science.
You have no victim to avenge, no guilty or innocent
person to ruin or save.
You must bear testimony within the limits of science.”
—P.C.H. Brouardel
 Basic Principle of Forensic Science
‘’ EVERY CONTACT LEAVES A TRACE’’
Edmond Locard*,(1877 - 1966)
▪ Dr. Edmond Locard’s work formed the basis for what is
widely regarded as a cornerstone of the forensic sciences,
the Locard’s Exchange Principle.
▪ “That when any person comes into contact with an object
or another person, a cross-transfer of physical evidence
occurs. By recognizing, documenting, and examining the
nature and extent of this evidentiary exchange, criminals
could be associated with particular locations, items of
evidence and victims.”

(* Director of the 1st Crime Lab i.e. in Lyon, France)

Basic Principle of Forensic Science

(* Director of the 1st Crime Lab i.e. in Lyon, France)

 Testimonial Physical
eyewitness material associated
speaking under with crime/ suspect/
oath victim

Documentary Demonstrative
written, audio or illustration or scale
video recording model e.g. mock-up
of crime scene
 TYPES OF EVIDENCE
Evidence can be defined as something legally submitted to a court of law as a
means of determining the truth.

Testimonial Physical
eyewitness material associated
speaking under with crime/ suspect/
oath victim

Documentary Demonstrative
written, audio or illustration or scale
video recording model e.g. mock-up
of crime scene
PHYSICAL
EVIDENCE
 Physical Evidence – The Silent Witness

"Wherever he steps, whatever he touches,

whatever he leaves, even unconsciously, will
serve as a silent witness against him –
fingerprints, footprints, hair, fibers from his
clothes, the glass he breaks, the tool mark he
leaves, the paint he scratches, the blood or semen
he deposits or collects - all of these and more bear
mute witness against him.
Dr. Paul L. Kirk, Crime Investigation, 1st Ed. (1953)
 Physical Evidence – The Silent Witness
This is evidence that
• does not forget.
• is not confused by the excitement of the moment.
• not absent because human witnesses are.
• It is factual evidence.
• cannot be wrong,
• cannot perjure itself
Only in its interpretation can there be error.
Only human failure to find it, study and understand it,
can diminish its value.”
Dr. Paul L. Kirk, Crime Investigation, 1st Ed. (1953)
 Physical evidence - definition

Physical evidence has been defined as "any and all objects that
can establish that a crime has been committed or can provide a link
between a crime and its victim or a crime and its perpetrator"
(Saferstein, Criminalistics (6th Edition), Prentice Hall, 1998 P.36)

{ Physical evidence is part of the important three components of solving

crimes -- physical evidence, witnesses, and confessions.
Without one of the first two, there is little chance of even finding a suspect }
 Physical evidence - definition

▪ Physical evidence is anything that is real (has substance)

and helps to establish the facts of a case .
▪ Physical evidence can be seen, touched, smelled and so on.
▪ It must be material and relevant .
▪ It includes not only fingerprints and footprints, but also hair,
fibers, blood, arson accelerants, glass, or almost anything
that can be deposited and collected.
Can be classified into two categories
• Class
• Individual
 Class Characteristics Individual Characteristics
• Properties that all the members of a • Properties attributed to a single source
certain group of objects or substances with extremely high degree of
have in common certainty.
• recurring characteristics shared by one • Can be identified as having originated
or more other objects in that group. with a particular person or source
• Have some value in that the evidence • Can be used to distinguish members of
can be refined to a smaller pool/group. the same class
• Useful in the process of elimination • Examples are multi layered paint, DNA
• Examples are Blood (ABO grouping), from biological evidence, Striation
Single layered paint, Soil, Glass marks on bullet, glass fragments which
fragments too small to fit back form a complementary fit.
together, Hairs, Fibers.
 Sources of Physical Evidence

• Victims

• Suspects

• Crime Scenes

• Weapons and Objects

 Importance of Physical Evidence
• Indicates that a crime has been committed.
Bloodstains on victim’s clothes, tears, cuts

• Link between suspect and victim / scenes of crime / weapon

- Blood, hair, fibers could be transferred to the suspect during the act of committing the
crime.
- Semen left at the crime scene in rape cases.
- DNA profile matching suspect’s on handle of parang

• Identifying or eliminating the suspect

Fingerprints, DNA profiles can be used to identify/ eliminate the suspect.

• Confirm or discredit an alibi

• Corroborate statement of victim/suspect.

In accident cases, e.g. hit-and-run, can prove that the vehicle had collided with the victim
although the driver may deny it.
 Importance of Physical Evidence
• Information on the modus operandi
Characteristics of the mode of crime – e.g. tools used in burglary and method of break-in
and exit; type of accelerant used in arson cases

• Provide leads in investigation

DNA profiles, firearms examination can provide further leads to law enforcement officers

• Provide evidence to link serial murders or rape case.

• Provide facts to the judge/jury which may assist in the determination of

the guilt or innocence of an accused.

• Aid in the Reconstruction of the Crime Scene & Sequence of Events

 Classifying Physical Evidence

Two major ways of classifying or grouping physical

evidence:

1. Scientific classification – according to the branch of

natural sciences; and

2. Classification according to the nature of its occurrence or

formation
1. Classifying forensic physical evidence –
according to the sciences

Biological Chemical

Forensic
Physical
Evidence

Physical
Miscellaneous
nature
 1.1 Biological Evidence

• DNA • Organs
• Blood • Urine
• Semen • Faeces
• Saliva • Animal Material
• Sweat • Insects
• Hair • Bacterial/Fungal
• Bone/Skeletal remains • Plant material
• Tissues
 1.2 Chemical Evidence
• Fibers • Paper
• Glass • Ink
• Soil • Cosmetics
• Gunpowder • Paint
• Metal • Plastic
• Mineral • Lubricants
• Narcotics • Fertilizer
• Drugs
1.3 Evidence of Physical Nature

• Fingerprints • Printing
• Footprints • Serial numbers
• Shoe prints • Tire marks
• Handwriting • Tool marks
• Firearms, bullets • Typewriting
and casings • Pirated CDs
 1.4 Miscellaneous
• Voice recordings
• Polygraphs
• Digital evidence
- computers
- telephones / mobile phones
(e-mails, digital photographs, ATM transaction logs, word
processing documents, instant message histories, files saved from accounting
programs, spreadsheets, internet browser histories, databases, the contents
of computer memory, computer backups, computer printouts, GPS tracks, logs
from electronic door locks, and digital video or audiofiles etc.)
 Classifying forensic physical evidence –
according to its occurrence/formation
Transient Evidence Transfer Evidence Trace Evidence
e.g. gasoline odour e.g. blood, hair, semen, e.g. tiny glass fragments,
DNA

Striated Evidence Pattern Evidence Chemical Evidence

e.g. bullet striations e.g. blood splatter e.g. narcotics, flammables

Indented/Impression Evidence Geometric Evidence

e.g. shoeprint, tool marks e.g. broken no. plate, paint chips,
broken headlamp
Some examples of physical evidence can overlap into more than one of the above categories.
Physical evidence which provides links between crime scene, offender, victim and/or objects is also known as
associative evidence
All of these can be class or individual evidence
1. Transient Evidence
Temporary, expected to be lost, changed or degraded within a short time
frame or lost, and is usually observed by the first officer at the scene.
Examples:
• Odour – putrefaction odour, perfume odour, gasoline odour, urine
odour, burning odour, explosives odour,
• Temperature - of room, car hood, coffee in a cup, water in a bathtub;
body temperature of a cadaver
• Imprints and indentations – moist footprints on hot or dry surfaces;
teeth marks in perishable foods; tire marks on the beach at low tide;
footprints on snow certain surfaces
• Markings – blood splatter on movable objects, bloodstains on
clothings immersed in water
2. Transfer Evidence

Is defined as any evidential substance or particle such as

blood, semen, hairs, fibers, paint, glass, soil or any other
biological, physical and chemical evidence that is exchanged
between an assailant and the victim or the scene of the crime
or when forcible contact occurs between persons, vehicles,
or objects (e.g. paint in a car crash).
3 Trace Evidence
Physical evidence that results from the transfer of small
quantities of materials (e.g., hair, textile fibers, paint chips,
glass fragments, gunshot residue particles).

• As trace evidence occurs in minute quantities, it can be

fragile and easily lost
e.g. glass fragments or fibres on a clothing;
footprints in the dust on a floor;
4. Indented or Impression Evidence
• Footprints or shoe prints
• Writing surfaces, like a
pad of paper with the
top sheet removed
• Tool marks e.g. screwdrivers
• Tire marks

Shoe impression
These can possess class or individual
characterisics
 5. Striated Evidence
• Marks left on objects in forceful
contact, when one object is harder
than the other.
• Striations on bullets are a good
example.
• Striations can also be produced by
cutting tools e.g. on cut cables
• Possesses individual characteristics

Photomicrograph of two bullets fired from

the same gun.
 6. Pattern Evidence
A variety of physical patterns can be found at crime scene
Valuable in the reconstruction of the crime Blood splatter pattern

Examples:
• Blood splatter patterns
• Tyre skid marks
• Glass fracture patterns
• Track-trail pattern
• Clothing pattern
• Fire burn pattern Glass fracture pattern
 7. Geometric Evidence
• Pieces of Broken Evidence
- Glass fragments from headlights in hit
and run accidents.
- Broken number plate
- Paint chips Physical Match of Broken Fragments

Physical Match of
Paint Chip Edges
8 Chemical Evidence
• Narcotics
• Flammables
• Alcohol
• Chemicals associated with
clandestine labs.
 Analytical Techniques
The spectrum of analytical techniques and instrumentation
used to analyse the wide range of forensic evidence:
• Microscopy (various types)
• DNA Analysers
• Infra Red (IR) Spectrometry Microscopy
• UV-Vis microspectrophotometry
• Gas Chromatography (GC)
• GC-Mass Spectrometry (GCMS); GCMS-MS
• High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
• Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (LCMS);
• Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)
• X-ray fluorescence (XRF)
• Etc.etc.etc.
 Forensic Databases*
(* American examples)
• The Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS), a national
fingerprint and criminal history system maintained by the FBI.
• The Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) is a DNA Databank which enables
federal, state, and local crime laboratories to electronically exchange and compare
DNA profiles.
• The National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN) allows firearm
analysts to acquire, digitize, and compare markings made by a firearm on bullets and
cartridge casings.
• The International Forensic Automotive Paint Data Query (PDQ) database contains
chemical and colour information pertaining to original automotive paints.
• The Shoeprint Image Capture and Retrieval Database (SICAR) is a shoeprint
database.
 QUALITY ASSURANCE
QA begins at the scene of crime! (avoid “rubbish in rubbish out”)

In the Laboratory: Quality Manual

• Quality System / Accreditation Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)
• Manuals and Documentation Test Methods Manual
• Staff Development Training/Monitoring Reagent Records
• Facilities Calibration Manual/Records
• Evidence Handling Equipment Maintenance Rec.
• Analytical Procedures /QC Proficiency Test Records
• Equipment Calibration/Maintenance Lab Safety Manual
• Proficiency Tests LIMS Manual
• Audits Audit Records
Staff and Training Records
CASE FILES
 Important Considerations
• Proper Documentation and Detailed Examination of Crime Scene
• Recognition, Collection, Preservation and Packing of Evidence
• Chain of Custody – Integrity of evidence
• Security of Evidence
• Correct approach to examination/analysis
• Proper interpretation
• Impartial and Truthful Communication of findings – report,
testimony
 CONCLUSION

THE EVIDENCE NEVER LIES

It doesn't get excited at the moment something is happening--like

people do. It is there and waits to be detected, preserved,
evaluated, and explained. This is what physical evidence and
forensic science is all about.

In the course of a trial, defense and prosecuting attorneys may lie,

witnesses may lie, the defendant certainly may lie.
Only “The Evidence Never Lies”
82
83
 TV vs REAL LIFE
TV SHOWS REAL LIFE

Forensics - easy, exact, fast, and glamorous Very long, tedious, and difficult task. No
science. glamour!
Investigation is misrepresented – Complete division of labor - crime scene
multitasking! investigator will usually not analyze the
evidence or interview witnesses or
interrogate suspects
TV Forensic scientists carry guns, Usually civilians without police powers;
interrogate suspects, make arrests! work strictly with evidence

Forensic scientists – stylishly dressed, never Sweaty look; stained clothings; soot or
get messy fingerprint powder all over.
84
 TV vs REAL LIFE
TV SHOWS REAL LIFE
Results of DNA tests instant – like At least 48 hours for preliminary results
“Maggie” noodles
Investigators quickly retrieve intact stray Bullets often become severely deformed
bullets from the crime scene. or break up into fragments, must be
removed with care

Pick weapon with handkerchief Handkerchief might contaminate possible

DNA evidence
Conclusive matches from database Often generates a list of matches; requires
searches – e.g. fingerprints lifted from human interpretation for a conclusion
crime scene
85
 TV vs REAL LIFE
TV SHOWS REAL LIFE
Autopsy bodies – healthy complexion and Badly swollen faces and grey complexion;
handsome features
Can routinely magnify and enhance blurry Not uncommon to have a digital image
photos and surveillance images – to reveal turned into indecipherable mass of pixels!
faces, license plates and other details

All surfaces of crime lab, even the walls, We need bright lighting to examine
are glass! Only available lighting is blue! evidence.

Forensic scientists respond to all possible Most work is done in the laboratory.
crime scenes – shootings, car crashes,
explosions, collapsed buildings etc.
86
 References
1. James E. Girard (2008). Criminalistics – Forensic Science and Crime, James and
Bartlett Publishers, USA
2. Richard Saferstein (2017). Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science,
Pearson, USA
3. B.R. Sharma (2020). Forensic Science In Criminal Investigation and Trial, Lexis
Nexis, India
4. Kathy Mirakovits, Jay A Siegel (2021) Forensic Science The Basics, Fourth Edition
CRC Press, USA
5. Kasinathan Nadesan (2007). Forensic Medicine and Science for Malaysian
Lawyers, Lexis Nexis, Malaysia
6. Jane Moira Taupin (2014) Introduction to Forensic DNA Evidence for Criminal
Justice Professionals, CRC Press, USA
7. Harold Franck, Darren Franck (2020), Ethical Standards in Forensic Science,
CRC Press, USA

And other forensic science texts and Internet resources

 Two Continuous Assessment Tests
CA1 and CA2
• Each CA Test – 2 Parts
• Part 1 – Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) True/False
Answer ALL.
Total 40 marks

• Part 2 – Short Essay Questions (SEQs)

Each Q – 10 marks
 MCQs (True/False)
Regarding types of physical evidence
A. Tyre marks are impression evidence
B. Markings on bullet are striated evidence
C. Indented handwriting is a transfer evidence
D. Blood splatter is a impression evidence
E. Broken window glass pieces fitted together is a pattern evidence

The following can be classified as chemical evidence

A. blood stains on a knife

B. drugs in a sachet
C. paint smears on a screwdriver
D. fingerprints on a drinking glass
E. gunpowder residues on a victim’s clothing
 Short Essay Questions (SEQs)
1. a What do you understand by the terms “forensic science”,
“criminalistics” and “criminology”? (4 marks)

b Explain “Locard’s Exchange Principle” and give examples to support

your answer. (3 marks)

c “Evidence not found does not mean that evidence is absent”. Briefly
explain the meaning of this statement.
(3 marks)

2. Discuss the importance of physical evidence in the investigation of

crimes. (10 marks)