Understanding Miscarriages of Justice and Forensic Failures

Miscarriage of Justice

Wrongful conviction of an innocent individual.

Error of Impunity

Failure to hold guilty parties accountable.

Wrongful Acquittal

Innocent individual found not guilty.

Forensic Evidence

Scientific evidence used in legal proceedings.

Individual Misconduct

Actions by individuals undermining justice integrity.

Personal Gain

Seeking importance through evidence manipulation.

Bias

Conscious favoritism affecting judgment.

Laziness

Failure to perform duties adequately.

Unethical Behaviour

Actions violating moral or professional standards.

Sonja Farak

Chemist who abused drugs at work.

Massachusetts Crime Lab

Location of Farak's misconduct and drug use.

Drug Tampering

Altering evidence affecting legal cases.

Supreme Court Ruling

Dismissed drug convictions due to misconduct.

Convictions Overturned

11,162 convictions affected by Farak's actions.

Absence of Scientific Standard

Lack of established protocols in forensic science.

Subjective Methods

Non-objective approaches leading to unreliable results.

Quality Control

Processes ensuring accuracy and reliability in labs.

Scientific Validation

Confirmation of methods through rigorous testing.

Bite Mark Evidence

Example of unreliable forensic evidence.

Improper Testimony

Inaccurate or misleading statements in court.

Misleading Language

Ambiguous terms influencing jury perceptions.

Human Error

Mistakes made due to lack of training.

Insufficient Resources

Limited funding affecting forensic lab capabilities.

Tunnel Vision

Narrow focus leading to investigative errors.

Guy Paul Morin

High-profile miscarriage of justice in Canada.

Christine Jessop Case

Murder investigation highlighting police failings.

Evidence Collection

Process of gathering information for investigations.

Psychological Harm

Mental distress resulting from wrongful convictions.

Evidence Collection

Numerous officers assisted in gathering crime scene evidence.

Snowstorm Pressure

Major snowstorm pressured police to process scene quickly.

Search Instructions

Officers instructed to empty pockets and avoid smoking.

Cigarette Butt

Found at scene; suspect was a non-smoker.

Guy Paul Morin

Next-door neighbor interviewed as primary suspect.

Surreptitious Recording

Tape recorded interview failed to capture full conversation.

Suspicious Comments

Morin made comments deemed suspicious during the interview.

Clarinet Player

Morin plays clarinet; noted as part of his profile.

Timecard Evidence

Morin's timecard indicated he left work at 3:32 PM.

Travel Time

Morin's travel home took 42 minutes, arriving at 4:14 PM.

Jessop Arrival Time

Jessops reported arriving home at 4:10 PM.

Interview Date

Fitzpatrick and Shephard interviewed Jessops on March 6, 1985.

No Formal Statement

No formal statement or detailed notes from Jessops.

Hair Evidence

Investigators sought proof of contact between Morin and Jessop.

Necklace Hair

Human hair found; not from Christine Jessop.

Abduction Theory

Necklace hair theorized to be from abductor.

Vehicle Hairs

Hairs found inside Morin's vehicle linked to investigation.

Linked Fibres

Fibres connected the body site to Guy Paul Morin.

Hair Testing

Preliminary hair comparison conducted before Morin's arrest.

CFS Biologist

Conducted initial hair comparison in investigator's presence.

Preliminary Opinion

Initial assessment suggesting hair could belong to Morin.

Forensic Significance

Importance of hair and fibre evidence in prosecution.

Single Dark Hair

Found on necklace, not from victim, linked to Morin.

Microscopically Similar

Hair analysis showing resemblance to Morin's hair.

Dissimilar Hairs

Three hairs in Morin's car matched Jessop's hair.

Fibres Collection

Fibres gathered from victim's clothing and Morin's car.

Forensic Technologist

Expert who testified on fibre similarities in court.

Laundromat Contamination

Concerns about evidence contamination from shared laundry.

Cigarette Butt Evidence

Cigarette found at crime scene linked to Morin.

Criminal Profile

Modified profile released, affecting jury impartiality.

Jailhouse Informants

Witnesses with questionable credibility used in prosecution.

Robert Dean May

Pathological liar with deficient social conscience.

Mr. X

Criminal with sociopathic tendencies, unreliable testimony.

First Trial

Morin acquitted of first-degree murder in 1986.

Court of Appeal

Ordered new trial for Morin in 1987.

Double Jeopardy

Legal principle allowing retrial after acquittal in Canada.

Comparison Hair Samples

Samples from class matched hair found on necklace.

Significant Changes

Alterations made to police notebook by Sgt. Michalowski.

Sexual Relationship Admission

Christine's brother admitted to inappropriate relationships.

Bones Discovery

Bones found by family not reported to defense.

Prosecution Misuse

Scientific study misapplied by prosecution in trial.

Exhumation

Process of digging up a buried body.

Dr. Jerry Melybe

Forensic expert assisting defense during exhumation.

Breastbone Injury

Half missing, indicating use of large weapon.

Forensic Pathologist

Expert analyzing evidence to verify identity.

Initial Autopsy

First examination missing extensive injuries documentation.

Massive Skull Fracture

Severe head injury indicating violent trauma.

Blood Loss Indicators

Injuries suggesting significant bloodshed at crime scene.

Time Frame for Crime

Longer duration needed due to extensive injuries.

Sergeant Michalowski

Investigator with conflicting notes in Jessop case.

Perjury Charges

Accusation against Michalowsky for false testimony.

Obstruction of Justice

Attempt to interfere with legal investigation process.

Credit Card Receipt

Found at body site, linked to investigation.

Milk Carton Evidence

Noted in second notebook, missing from first.

Underpants Discovery

Found near body, inconsistent reporting in notebooks.

CFS Evidence Submission

Items meant for forensic analysis found at home.

Divergent Entries

Conflicting information recorded in Michalowsky's notebooks.

Guy Paul Morin

Accused of murdering Christine Jessop.

First Degree Murder

Intentional killing with premeditation.

DNA Testing

Scientific method to identify individuals using genetic material.

Kaufman Inquiry

Investigation into Morin's trial and forensic evidence.

Forensic Evidence Contamination

Compromised evidence affecting trial outcomes.

Crown and Defence

Prosecution and defense teams in legal cases.

Independent DNA Expert

Neutral expert agreed upon by both parties.

Public Hearings

Open sessions for testimony and evidence review.

Recommendation 6

Forensic opinions must be documented in writing.

Recommendation 9

Avoid misleading language in forensic reports.

Recommendation 11

Challenge hypotheses instead of proving them.

Recommendation 13

Policy for documenting communications with third parties.

Centre for Forensic Sciences (CFS)

Agency providing forensic analysis in Ontario.

Semen Stain Analysis

Initial DNA testing from clothing evidence.

Contamination Origin

Unknown source of evidence contamination.