Presented to:

Sir Azam Ali

Presented by:
Sana Ahmad
Saba Shabbir
1st semester
BASICS OF BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE
Mphill Forensic Sciences
Department of IMBB
THE UNIVERSITY OF LAHORE
TRACE EVIDENCE
 TRACE EVIDENCE

• Any material which, when left behind at scene or, on the body of victim or
assailant or, any other thing that acts as clue and can be presented in the
court as an evidence.
• The trace evidence helps identification objectively.
• It helps in the recognition of the evidence and its association with a
particular;
a. Person
b. Thing
c. Place
• The principal on which the trace evidence based on is ;
LOCARD’S EXCHANGE PRINCIPAL
• Sir Edmond Locard ( 1877-1966 ) presented two principals that are ;
a. Every contact leaves a trace
b. Exchange of a trace is a two way process
• Examples of a trace evidence cases are ;
o Sexual assault
o Physical assault
• SEXUAL ASSAULT :
In which transfer of a biological material such as semen, blood, saliva, hair etc
occurs from:
 Assailant to victim
 Victim to assailant
 From assailant & victim both to the scene of crime
 Non biological material from the crime scene to both assailant and to the victim.
 LOCUS

VICTIM
ASSAILANT
 STUDY OBJECTIVES:
• Identification of unknown.
• Confirmation of a previously known identity.
• An attempt is made to establish similarity or dissimilarity between two or
more objescts one of which has come from a known source.
• Comparing this trace with a control taken from the source where it is
suspected to have come, will confirm the character of a trace and its
association is established.
• Classification of trace evidence :
 Biological evidence
 Non biological evidence
 EVIDENCE
Biological evidernce
• These originates from human, animal
or plant source & mainly include
Body fluids (blood, semen, saliva,
urine, vomit, cerebro-spinal fluid )
Body tissues ( human hair,
scrapings, epithelium of skin )
Stains
Non biological evidence
Items of Personal Use (Clothes,
Spectacles, Purse, Wristwatches, or
other things in use.)
Other Materials found in the
Environment (Foreign Bodies) (fibres
from carpet, vegetation in the garden,
grit particles from the road.)
Other Non-Biological materials consists
of bottles, tablets, bullets or pellets,
weapons of offence or any other thing
used in the crime.
THE SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF THE SPECIMENS
PRE-REQUIRES:

Collection of Material from source

Its Preservation
 Despatch to the laboratory

• The study of trace evidence FOR THE PURPOSE OF UNDERSTANDING is divided

into:
1. Pre-Lab work
2. Lab Work
 PRE-LAB WORK
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS
• They are applicable to all specimans. • They are special instructions for each
speciman.
Consent for collection
o Authority • Packaging

o Written consent • Preservation

• Labelling
Identification of person
Collection of speciman • Sealing of speciman

o Source • Information to be sent along

o Site • Dispatch of speciman

o Quantity • Safe storage

o procedure • Transportation
1. Consent For Collection
Authority :
Request for collection is made by Police or Magistrate in writing.
Written Consent :
Of the person with signature or thumb impression. If the persons refuses to give
consent, then note it down and send the person back to authority.
2. Identification Of Person
Identification is important in both living or dead cases.
3. Collection of Specimens
A proper material from a proper site in a proper quantity by a proper method. (proper
collection)
FORMS OF SPECIMANS:
The specimen may be present in three forms:
• Dry form
• Wet Form
• Mixed with other Articles.
Dry form:
–Scrap the specimen and place in a funnel of glazed paper, or
– soak the cotton swab in normal saline and apply it over the dry stain, then
dry this swab in air and use this swab as specimen.
Wet Form:
-Dry the specimen and then scrap it or wipe it with wet cotton swab.
Mixed Form:
-Cut that portion and separate it.
PACKAGING:
• The Material of the Container should be appropriate, Which means it
should be chemically inert, generally a Glass container is
recommended. But as glass being fragile, plastic containers with lid are
also used.
• The Size and Shape of the Container should be appropriate, so that
material should be easily placed in it.
PRESERVATION:
• The preservation of specimens is done normally by two processes,
Desication or Dehydration
Freezing

• A proper preservative, in proper quantity having proper concentration .

A GOOD PRESERVATIVE SHOULD BE:
• Cheap
• Chemically Inert
• Easily available
• Effective for the purpose
Some common preservatives:
Super saturated salines
10 % Formal saline
95 % alcohol
Ca. Oxalate
Heparin
LABELLING:

• Each container should be labelled indicating,

• Number of jar, 1, 2, 3, ….. Should be mentioned
• Name of specimen, site of collection
• Preservative used
• MLC no.
• Date & Time
• Name of Person
• Examination required
• Name of Doctor, Signature & Official Seal should be affixed.
SEALING OF SPECIMAN:
• All the specimens should be sealed with Sealing wax to avoid tempering and
to maintain secret chain of custody.
• All the containers or jars should be packed in one box, and the box should be
labelled indicating,
• Address to be sent
• Arrow showing Upside
• Box should be sealed.
• Box should accompany a forwarding letter (Copy of MLR, Examination
required, Request letter containing the bio-data, name of specimen, Copy of
FIR, Copy of Inquest Report) .
DESPATCH OF SPECIMAN:
•Specimens should be collected, preserved, and despatched immediately after
autopsy.
• The only condition in which the specimens are allowed to be kept is that when
the autopsy is conducted at odd hours, when the lab is closed.

SAFE STORAGE:
• The specimens should be kept in lock and key in the freezers.
• The specimen should be registered.
• The seal should be intact, it should be compared with the specimen of the seal
provided.

TRANSPORTATION:
The specimens should be transported:
Through Police
Through Railway Parcel
Through Postal Parcel
Through Special Messenger by hand.
CHAIN OF CUSTODY

• Any and all who handle the specimens at a particular instant should be able
to certify the extent of handling i.e.
• What was collected?
• Why it was collected?
• To whom it was handed over?
• When it was handed over?
• For how long it remained in custody?
 Chain of custody should be maintained to avoid adulteration and tempering.
 Chain of custody should be maintained till the specimens are presented in
the court.
 Handling should be certified i.e. It must be on written receipt.
PRINCIPLAS OF CHAIN OF CUSTODY:

• Shorter the chain, Better it is.

• By involving less and less persons.
• Surer the chain, Better it is.
• Every surrender should be on a written receipt.