CHAPTER 5:

TYPES OF EVIDENCE
Edukop Services Sdn Bhd in collaboration with Unikop College

CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION / DPI 2444

DIPLOMA IN POLICING & INVESTIGATION
LECTURERS:
NORASHIKIN OTHMAN
ABD RAHIM HAMZAH BIN OTHMAN

CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (DPI

2444)

2016

LESSON LEARNING OUTCOME

At the end of the lesson the

student will be able to explain

how to identify physical
evidence at scene of crime.

CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (DPI 2444)

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CONTENTS
1. Material Evidence
2. Locards Principle & Trace Evidence
3. Biological Evidence
4. Other Evidence

CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (DPI 2444)

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MATERIAL EVIDENCE
Material evidence means

existing evidence that, by itself

or when considered with
previous evidence of record,
relates to an unestablished
fact necessary to substantiate
the claim.
It also known as real evidence
or physical evidence.
Physical evidence is any type
of evidence with an objective
existence, that is anything with
size, shape and dimension.
(Barry A.J Fisher & David R.Fisher,2012)
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THE VALUE OF
PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
1. Physical evidence can prove a crime has been
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

committed or establish key elements of a crime.

Physical evidence can place the suspect in contact
with the victim or with the crime scene.
Physical evidence can establish the identity of persons
associated with the crime.
Physical evidence can exonerate the innocent.
Physical evidence can corroborate the victims
testimony.
A suspect confronted with physical evidence may
make admissions or even confess.
Physical evidence may be more reliable than
eyewitnesses to crimes.
(Supt. Dr. Yew Chong Hooi,2008)

CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (DPI 2444)

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LOCARD EXCHANGE PRINCIPLE

LOCARDS
EXCHANGE
PRINCIPLE

In every contact between

surfaces, there will be mutual
exchange of matters across the
contact boundary.

CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (DPI 2444)

Evidence
transfer is
illustrated in
the diagram
with the most
common
direction of
transfer
indicated by
(Supt. Dr. Yewthe
Chong
Hooi,2008)
arrows.

2016

CONTACT TRACE EVIDENCE

All persons are to some extent marked by

their environment or they leave marks on

their environment.
In every crime, the criminal will leave or be
contaminated with physical evidence.
In Forensic Science, these marks or
physical evidence are called contact trace
evidence.

(Supt. Dr. Yew Chong Hooi,2008;

Dsp Soo Me Tong,2008)
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TRACE EVIDENCE
Definition:

Trace evidence is minute quantities of

natural and man-made materials that readily
transfer between objects or between people
and objects.
Characteristic:

Always very small in size, not readily seen.

Human fail to find it, examine it and fail to
understand or interpret it can reduce its
value.
Factual evidence - cannot lie.

(Dsp Soo Me Tong,2008)

CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (DPI 2444)

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TRACE EVIDENCE
Hair
Fibers
Paint
Fingerprints
Glass fragments
Blood stains and pattern
Tool marks.
Teeth and bite marks
Footwear impressions
Arson and explosives
Gun shot residues (GSR)
Narcotics and controlled drugs
Clandestine laboratory sample
Biological sample - DNA
Miscellaneous trace evidence
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COMPARISON
EXAMINATION
Examination between
the known sample
with unknown sample
retrieve from the
crime scene.
Comparison
examination
performed to identify
similarities and
differences between
these samples

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EXAMINING EVIDENCE
Questioned Sample

Materials collected as or from items of

evidence that have a known location but

an unknown origin.
For example, loose fibers collected from

a victims clothing.

Known Sample

A subset of a large population or

sample originating from a verifiable

source, collected as representative of
that large grouping.
For example, 2 x 2 section of carpet

from suspects living room.

(Dsp Soo Me Tong,2008)

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EXAMINING EVIDENCE
Class Characteristics

Evidence that can be associated only

with a group and never with a single

source
A group of items that share the same

properties or characteristics.

Individual
Characteristics

Evidence that can be associated with

a common source with an extremely

high degree of probability.
Traits that define and identify an item

as unique and exclusive of all other

items.

(Dsp Soo Me Tong,2008)

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CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (DPI 2444)

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BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE
Biological evidence refers to samples of biological

material such as hair, tissue, bones, teeth, blood

semen or other bodily fluids.
It is also refer to evidence items containing
biological material (NIJ, 2013)
The table in the next slide shows the examples of
sources of biological evidence (NIJ, 2002)

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EVIDENCE

LIKELY LOCATION OF
DNA EVIDENCE

SOURCE OF DNA

Baseball bat or similar

weapon

Handle end

Sweat, skin, blood,

tissue

Hat, bandana, mask

Inside

Sweat, skin, blood

Eyeglasses

Nose or ear piece,

lens

Sweat, skin

Facial tissue, cotton

swab

Surface area

Mucus, blood, sweat,

semen

Dirty laundry

Surface area

Blood, sweat, semen

Toothpick

Tip

Saliva

Used cigarette

Cigarette butts

Saliva

Stamp or envelope

Licked area

Saliva

Tape or ligature

Inside/outside surface Saliva or skin

Bottle, can or glass

Side, mouthpiece

Used condom

Inside/outside surface Semen, vaginal or rectal

cells

Blanket, pillow, sheet

Surface area

Sweat, hair, semen,

urine, saliva

Bullet from a dead

body/victim

Outside surface

Blood, tissue

Bite mark

Persons skin or

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CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (DPI 2444)

Saliva, sweat

Saliva

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BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is a molecule

present in all life forms.

It determines an organisms traits, and the
way those traits are passed on from
generation to generation.
DNA is different for each person, except for
identical twins.
Genetic DNA profile can be used to strongly
link a suspect to a crime scene, a victim, a
weapon etc.
The identity of a person can be determine
(Bruce L.Berg, 2008)
from the DNA profile obtain from the biological
CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (DPI 2444)
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15 samples.

BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE: BLOOD

Blood is the most common forms of evidence at

the scene of serious and violent crime.

Blood may be found in trace amount, spatters,
smears or droplets, wet or dried condition.
Dried spills or drops of blood are referred as
bloodstains.
Blood samples may be collected from suspects
and victims for examination and comparison.
Blood evidence can help narrow the group of
suspects, support the identification of a suspect,
and guide reconstruction of a crime.
(Bruce L.Berg, 2008)
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Projected blood
spatter

Transfer bloodstains

Blood drop
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BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE: BLOOD

Evidential value of blood evidence:
1. Finding blood with the victims genetic markers

(ABO blood type, DNA profile) on the suspect

or on something in the suspects possessions.
2. Finding blood with the suspects genetic
markers on the victim or on something in the
victims possession.
3. Investigative information determined from
blood spatter or blood location (the nature of
the attack, velocity and direction of impact etc)
(Bruce L.Berg, 2008)
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BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE: SEMEN

One of the most probative pieces of evidence in

dealing with sexual assault case.

Articles with for semen stain examination need
to be submitted to laboratory immediately.
Semen grayish-white fluid produced by testes
and ejaculated during orgasm.
Sperm is the cell that contain in the semen.
DNA is derived from sperm not from the semen.

(Bruce L.Berg, 2008)

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CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (DPI 2444)

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BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE: SEMEN

Sperm evidence is of value for the following

cases:
Death victims body and clothing, bedding,

towels and articles at the crime scene.

Rape and other sex offenses semen and sperm
evidence often found as physical evidence in sex
offenses.
Through DNA typing it is possible to match

semen stains (containing sperm) with a person

blood sample or other biological specimens
(saliva, skin, etc).

(Bruce L.Berg, 2008)

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BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE: HAIR

Unlike body fluids and skin,

human hair generally retains its

structural features for a very
long time.
Hair is an ideal source of
information about an individual
and can be used to identify both
the sex and the race of a person
(Moenssen, Inbau & Starrs, 1986)
However hair cannot absolutely
identify a particular individual
specifically.
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CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (DPI 2444)

(Bruce L.Berg, 2008)

2016

BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE: HAIR

Certain drugs and chemicals remain in hair for

many months.
For example, 2-inch length of hair taken from a
suspect could offer information about
substances that the suspect ingested during the
past 2 years.

(Bruce L.Berg, 2008)

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OTHER EVIDENCE:GLASS
Windows, automobile glass, broken bottles and

other glass objects may be crucial evidence in

burglaries, murders, hit-and-run and many other
types of crimes.
As a result of hit-and-run accidents, headlight
lenses and other lamps are broken.
Any person standing in close proximity to glass
when it is broken can pick up fragments of the
broken glass, particularly on clothing.
The scene of the accident and the clothing of the
victim can be sources of glass fragments.
(Bruce L.Berg, 2008)
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CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (DPI 2444)

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OTHER EVIDENCE:GLASS
Glass can provide the following information (evidential

values)
1. Fragment of glass chemical analysis can be perform
to establish the mixture/chemical composition of
glass. This will provide the information about the type
of glass.
2. Fragment of glass refractive index for different
types of glass are different. This will also provide the
information about the type of glass.
3. Fractures on a glass panel understanding the
direction of point of impact and the back of impact.
4. Conducting physical matching of fragment of glasses
to obtain the original object (source of origin)
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OTHER EVIDENCE:FIBER
Textile fibers can be

exchanged between
individuals, between
individuals and objects, and
between objects.
Textile industry has
produced a wide variety of
natural and synthetic
materials.
Examining a lone fiber can
yield information such as
color and possible origin.
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CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (DPI 2444)

(PT.Jayaprakash, 2008)
2016

OTHER EVIDENCE:FIBER
The following may be determined from fiber

examinations:
1. The type of fiber (e.g. natural or synthetic,

animal fiber, glass fiber, etc.)

2. The possible product uses for the fiber (e.g.
carpet fiber, clothing fiber, etc.)
3. The degree of similarity between evidence
fiber(s) and a fiber source

(PT.Jayaprakash, 2008)
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OTHER EVIDENCE:FIBER
Types of fiber:
Under microscopic examination natural fibers
exhibit a more random texture.
Synthetic fibers exhibit a uniform, un-natural
texture.
There exist a wide range of synthetic fibers,
each class exhibiting its own particular
characteristics.

(PT.Jayaprakash, 2008)
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DIFFERENT TYPE OF FIBER

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CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (DPI 2444)

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DIFFERENT TYPE OF FIBER

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DIFFERENT TYPE OF FIBER

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CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (DPI 2444)

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OTHER EVIDENCE:PAINT
Paints are used as surface

coatings for a variety of

surfaces such as vehicles,
structures, and appliances.
Many crimes, such as
burglaries, hit and run
vehicle investigations, and
others involve forceful
activities that can result in
the transfer of paint from the
original source to another
place, person, or thing.
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CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (DPI 2444)

(PT.Jayaprakash, 2008)
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OTHER EVIDENCE:PAINT
Paint examinations can

determine (evidential
value):
Whether evidence paint
sample(s) are similar to a
paint standard
2. The type of paint
(vehicle, architectural,
etc.)
3. Possible make and model
of a vehicle by using
Paint Data Query (PDQ),
a computerized database
1.

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(PT.Jayaprakash, 2008)
2016

OTHER EVIDENCE:PAINT
In most cases, it will not be possible to

conclude with certainty that questioned and

known samples share a common origin.
However theres few exceptions where paint
fragments can be use to determine the
common origin. This includes:
Physical match of an irregular contour
between the questioned and known samples.
2. The presence of extrinsic surface markings
e.g. scratches which exhibit continuity
between the two samples.
1.

(PT.Jayaprakash, 2008)
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PAINT MICROSCOPIC
EXAMINATION

Physical
Features
Color
Layer Sequence
Thickness
Surface
Layer features
Weathering
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Photomicrograph (50 X) of a
paint flake showing a
complex nineteen layers,
varying in thickness
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REFERENCES
1. Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation (8th Edition)

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

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(2012). Barry A.J Fisher & David R.Fisher. CRC PRESS.

USA.
The Biological Evidence Preservation Handbook (2013)
National Institute of Justice (NIJ). USA.
Biological evidence. (2008) PT.Jayaprakash. USM
Health Campus, USM.
Criminal Investigation (4th Edition) (2008). Bruce
L.Berg. McGraw-Hill Higher Education. USA.
Contact Trace Evidence (2008). DSP Soo Me Tong.
Ketua Seksyen Kriminalistik, Makmal Forensik PDRM .
CSI Malaysia Forensic Investigations (2008). Supt. Dr.
Yew Chong Hooi. Quality Manager, Forensic
Laboratory. Royal Malaysia Police.
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TUTORIAL
1. What is DNA? (2m) Why is it important to criminal
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

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investigation? (3m)
How can knowing a suspects blood type assist in
some criminal investigation? (4m)
What information can a blood spatter tell the
investigator? (5m)
In what type of cases can semen stain evidence
be of value? Explain your answer. (6m)
Why hair evidence is important for drug use
investigation? (4m)
What is the evidential value of glass and paint
evidence? (6m)
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CASE STUDY
You have arrived at the scene of a gang-related execution
of two teenagers, one male and one female. The female is
completely naked and lying on her back. She is 17 years
old, has a long black hair, is about 4 ft 3 in. tall and
weighs about 45kg. The male is lying face down about 3
feet from her. His hand and feet have been bound with
duct tape. He, too, is about 17 years old. He has short,
black hair, is about 5 ft 8 in. tall, and weighs about 60kg.
His head is resting in a small pool of blood that appears to
be coming from a wound on his left temple. The females
mouth is filled with a piece of cloth. There are bruises on
the inner portion of her thighs and near her vagina. There
is also what may be dried semen on her stomach. Like the
Questions:
male, she has what appears to be a single gunshot
1.
What items
of left
evidence
will you collect for this case? (5m)
wounds
to her
temple.
2.

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What are the evidential value of the evidences you had stated in
question 1? Explain how will it help the process of investigating
this case? (15m)
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