Understanding Trace Evidence

Trace evidence is best described as any small piece of evidence that has to be collected by Scenes of Crime Officers (SOCO) and places a suspect at the scene of a crime. What is Trace Evidence? Trace evidence normally takes on the form of one of the following: Hair Fibres …

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What is a Pathologist?

A pathologist is the senior doctor responsible for the performance of autopsies and for the determining as to how an individual died. This particular role within the forensic science sector is a demanding and sometimes harrowing job, which is not for those faint of heart. What a Pathologist Does Indeed …

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External Examination

An external examination of a corpse is essential at two stages in the forensic science process. The first time an external examination is carried out is upon discovery of a corpse. At this point the body should be checked for visible signs of injury and those injuries that are most …

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Performing an Autopsy

An autopsy is performed when there are suspicious circumstances surrounding someone’s death; or when no signs of natural causes can be located. Stages of an Autopsy An autopsy takes the form of six stages: Y-Incision Removal of Organs Stomach Contents Sample Collection Head and Brain examination Conclusion The Y-Incision is …

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Determining Cause of Death

Determining cause of death is the most important task a pathologist can perform during the course of an autopsy. In terms of legality it is a necessity for law enforcement to be able to prove beyond any doubt that the deceased has died of means other than natural causes. Indeed …

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Estimating The Time of Death

Estimating the time of death for the deceased is something else that the pathologist will have to do during the course of his autopsy procedures. In addition to this he or she may be called upon at the scene of a crime whilst carrying out their external examinations to try …

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The Rate of Decay in a Corpse

The rate of decay within the human body after death is normally split into two distinct categories. These are: Autolysis: A process of self-digestion where the body’s enzymes contained within cells begin to go into a post death meltdown. The process can be speeded up by extreme heat and likewise …

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Identifying the Victim

When it comes to identifying the deceased forensic science and forensic medicine are both crucial weapons in any law enforcement agency’s armoury. Difficulty in Identification Identifying the victim can sometimes not be as simple as looking at their face and matching them to a description given by a worried relative …

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Forensic Medicine

Where forensic science is the study of those things that may contribute – or be attributed – to the death of a victim, forensic medicine is the natural progression and is the study of how the body died. Most of us will see a corpse on television or at the …

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Forensic Science

To put forensic science in simply layman’s terms: it is the application of scientific procedures in conjunction with the law. Forensic science is the umbrella term for a collection of scientific procedures that can be employed when it comes to providing evidence that a crime has been committed and also …

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