Forensic Science - Exam Prep

Describe the procedure you would follow to examine a body at a scene while ensuring evidence isn’t compromised.

• Secure the area.

• Wear PPE to avoid contamination.

• Create a crime scene log, continuously add to this. Include the people who are there in this log.

• Take photos of body from multiple angles, make detailed notes.

• Assess visible injuries without disturbing the body.

• Look for fibres, hair and other evidence on victim’s clothes or body.

• Cover body with sheet if needed due to environment.

A knife is found near the body. Outline the steps to collect and analyse it. Include how you would link it to the victim or suspect.

• Photograph in original position.

• Collect using gloves.

• Put in sterile sharps tube.

• Photograph after removal.

• Presumptive test for blood (LMG).

• Swab for DNA to identify victim or suspect.

• Examine fingerprints or toolmarks to link knife to someone.

Discuss how you would document and interpret blood spatter at the scene. Include an explanation of how BPA could contribute to the investigation.

• Photographs.

• Presumptive test using LMG or KM.

• Photograph patterns.

• Measure distance between stains.

• Use size and shape of drops to find direction and force of impact.

• arcsin(W/L).

• Patterns such as cast-off and arterial spurt can show type of injury or weapon used.

• Some patterns show travel.

• Void patterns can show if something was removed.

Describe how environmental factors in an urban setting, such as traffic and weather, could

impact the preservation of forensic evidence

• People or vehicles destroy evidence.

• Rain or wind can wash away trace evidence.

Outline the forensic techniques used to determine the presence of accelerants at a fire scene and

how these findings could assist in reconstructing the events

• Forensic scientists use GC-MS, headspace extraction or solid phase extraction.

• These involve collecting samples from scene (debris, soil, materials in vehicle) and analyse them.

• Identifying accelerants is crucial for knowing if fire was deliberately set.

• Can provide insight into the fire’s origin and sequence of events.

Traces of soil were found on the victim’s shoes. Explain how soil analysis could assist in

determining whether Emily was at another location before arriving at the scene.?

• Collect soil samples from shoes and crime scene.