Forensic Science News

The Newsletter of the South Australian Branch of the Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society

In this Issue.... Issue 1, Autumn/ Winter 2011

Feature Article: From the President’s Meetings: From the National The SA Committee: 2011 is not only the Laptop: A recap of the Barry Executive: Contact details, new international year of All the latest news and Collins Memorial Wine The key points from the members and upcoming Chemistry, but also a events, direct from the laptop night, the February, recent address to the SA meeting dates. of the SA Branch President. celebration of women in March and May meetings. Branch by the ANZFSS Page 13-15 science. National President. Pages 5-11 Page 2 Page 4 Page 12

Next Society Meeting Wednesday 13th July 2011 When the Crime Scene comes to Casualty A special bonus meeting is being held in July – come along and hear Associate Professor Daniel Sheridan talk about his experiences not only in developing a program for training forensic nurses but also as a consultant and expert witness in cases involving the abuse and neglect of the elderly, disabled and disadvantaged. Associate Professor Daniel Sheridan is based in the School of Nursing at John Hopkins University where he has developed a forensic nursing clinical specialist masters program. Dr Sheridan is a Visiting Scholar in Residence at the Flinders University School of Nursing & Midwifery, where he has been assisting in developing a similar program for nurses here in . Dr Sheridan has over 25 years experience working with survivors of domestic and family violence, and consults for the Oregon Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Senior Services Divisions in relation to cases of abuse and neglect of the elderly or disabled. He is widely published and often an invited speaker on the international stage.

7pm for 7:30pm start ANZFSS Members: Free The German Club Non-Members: $10 223 Flinders St, Adelaide

RSVP to Carolyne Bird: Phone 8226 7700 or [email protected]

Forensic Science News 1 A N Z F S S - S A B r a n c h

2011: The International Year of Chemistry and a

Celebration of Women in Science

2011 is the not only the International Year of Chemistry, but also a celebration of women in science. One hundred years ago, Marie Curie was awarded the Nobel Prize for her work leading to the discovery of radium and polonium. The Nobel Prize awarded in 1911 to Marie was in fact her second, the first being jointly awarded with her husband Henri Becquerel for their work in the discovery of radioactivity. In light of this anniversary, 2011 is a combined celebration – women and chemistry, and the work of Marie Curie sums this up beautifully. With all this in mind, here are three inspirational women of forensic science:

Sara Bisel: Sarah Bisel was a pioneer in the field of anthropology. She is most well known for her analysis of skeletons found at Herculaneum, a town destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD. However, whilst her discovery and characterization of this site was of archaeological importance, the techniques she utilized would leave a lasting legacy on analysis of skeletal remains. Her research revealed that excavation can lead to deterioration of such remains and the importance of preserving skeletal remains for analysis, as these can provide much information about the life of that human. She was one of the first Image: http://www.corbisimages.com/stock- photo/rights-managed/JB003869/excavating- to undertake chemical analysis of bone, which revealed important skeleton-in-herculaneum/?ext=1 dietary information about the population. By using chemical analysis, Sara also found traces of lead in some individuals, indicative of lead poisoning. Her lifetime of work demonstrated the use of chemical analysis of bones and teeth, and how this can be used to understand the life of an individual.

Clea Koff: Clea Koff is known as the “Bone Woman” due to her work with the identifying individuals of mass and war. A forensic anthropologist, her work with the UN helped in identifying victims of the genocide, and in Bosnia, and Yugoslavia identifying victims of war. Her work, whilst important in identifying unidentified victims, provided evidence to bring the perpetrators of genocide and war crime to trial. As well as her work with the UN, she founded the Missing Persons Identification Resource Centre in the USA, which in conjunction with the US Coroner’s office, focuses on matching the families of missing persons to unidentified bodies. Her life is outlined in her autobiography “The Bone Woman: Among the dead in Rwanda, Bosnia, and Croatia”.

Image: http://www.forensicscience.net/famous- forensic-scientists

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Kathy Reichs: Probably one of the most well known women in forensic science, Kathy Reichs is most well known for her books, based on the character of Temperance Brennan. Temperance is a crime-busting forensic anthropologist, who has been brought to life on the TV show ‘Bones’. But all the creativity and imagination of her thrilling crime stories is in fact based on her own career. She has worked as a consultant to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in North Carolina, has trained FBI agents in detection and recovery of human remains, and in between writing her next crime thriller, consults Laboratoire de Sciences Judiciaires et de Médecine Légale, in Image: the Quebec, . Internationally, Reichs has testified at the UN http://www.thetvaddict.com/2010/05/06/todays- tv-addict-top-5-things-you-didnt-know-about- Tribunal on Genocide in Rwanda, has exhumed mass graves and bones-author-kathy-reichs/ identified victims from World War II and the September 11 World Trade Centre attack. And it doesn’t end there! Kathy has held

positions in a number of forensic science institutions and associations,

and is also a Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the

University of North Carolina-Charlotte. Certainly an inspiring woman

of science, who has used her expertise to not only bring closure to

families of missing individuals, but has entertained the masses and

inspired the next generation of forensic anthropologists.

Like Marie Curie, these women have done remarkable things in their field, enhancing what we know about the world around us and inspiring many around the world. And closer to home, every day women in labs across Australia are not only using science in forensic investigation but researching and improving our understanding and use of science in solving crime.

For further information on 2011: The International Year of Chemistry: http://www.chemistry2011.org/

Notice of AGM

The SA Branch of the Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society will hold its AGM in conjunction with the August meeting on Wednesday 17th August 2011.

Nominations are now being taken for the 2011-2012 ANZFSS SA Committee for all positions, to be voted in at the AGM: • President • Vice President • Treasurer • Secretary • Editor • Merchandising Officer • 8 Ordinary Committee Members

A nomination form was sent to all members recently. If you wish to nominate yourself or someone else with their consent, please forward this form to the Branch Secretary, Carolyne Bird on 8226 7700 or email: [email protected]. If you require a form please contact contact Carolyne. Nominations close Friday 22nd July 20011.

Forensic Science News 3 A N Z F S S - S A B r a n c h

From the President’s Laptop

July - it is hard to think that we are half way through the year. We have had a number of interesting and thought provoking meetings. We have some more meetings lined up for the rest of the year.

In July we are delighted to have a visitor, Associate Professor Daniel Sheridan from John Hopkins University, who is in South Australia to work with Flinders University School of Nursing & Midwifery on their Forensic Nursing program. Forensic Nursing acts at the interface between the victim and the medical nurses and doctors who attend to their medical needs.

Another event in July, that may be of interest to our members, is being presented by the Royal Australian Chemical Institute and the Royal Institute Australia on Tuesday 26th and Wednesday 27th July. The Exchange Place Adult Chemical Murder Mystery, which has been written, produced and presented by a local author and scientist, invites people to ‘come back in time to solve a crime’ as they go back to a murder committed at the opening of the Exchange in 1901. Initially using forensic science methods from 1901, the participants then come up-to-date with the methods that would be used in 2011 and then move into the future as they see the work being done by SA researchers to improve the methods available for forensic investigators in the future. Numbers are limited and tickets, $20 that includes the scientific activities, a glass of wine and nibbles, are available from the RIAus website. More details available from [email protected] or RIAus: http://www.riaus.org.au/

STOP PRESS: This week ANZFSS-SA have been awarded a grant from the SA branch of National Science Week to host a special event in Science Week. This event: Clever Chemistry Combating Crime C4, will be our contribution to the International Year of Chemistry, and aims to showcase what chemists are doing to assist forensic science in the ‘war against drugs’ and the ‘war against terror’. This event will be held during National Science Week in August and coincides with our AGM.

Nominations for ANZFSS SA Branch committee positions have been called for and I’d encourage you to consider either continuing to be an active committee member or putting yourself forward to support your local branch of the ANZFSS by nominating to be on the committee.

Looking into the future, we have been active in the early preparations for hosting the ANZFSS Symposium in 2014 and I’d like to thank the sub-committee, David Eitzen, Darren Bails, Ted Silenieks and Natasha Mitchell for the work they have put in so far.

We look forward to the rest of this year’s events.

4 Issue 1, Autumn/Winter 2011 A N Z F S S - S A B r a n c h

The Barry Collins Memorial Wine Night

Bundaleer Wines wine, and based on the volunteer information compared the chemical compounds from wines which the The wines for the evening were provided by Bundaleer volunteers said were high or low pepper. Using the Wines, and were presented by Angela Meaney. results from this, a chemometric model was applied to Bundaleer is a small family-owned vineyard located near Shiraz in order to predict the pepperiness of the wine. Jamestown and the Bundaleer Forest on the Southern By correlating the chemical results with the volunteer’s Flinders Ranges – hence the name! The vineyard results a candidate compound was found. The produces Cabernet and Shiraz grapes and the white compound – alpha-ylangene is correlated to pepper grape varieties are sourced from Clare. Whilst the first aroma but not pepper taste, therefore wasn’t the vines were planted in 1997 and 1998, the family has a correct compound. long history in Jamestown. 2001 saw the first harvest of grapes and wine production commenced. And now, So where did this leave Alan? As he explained, the most Bundaleer has grown to produce approximately 3500 sensitive detector of aroma at his disposal was the cases of wine a year. human nose. So he combined this with chemical detection to try to combine detection of the aroma Dr Alan Pollnitz – Pepper Aromas in Shiraz with a chemical compound. The result was a trace compound, however it was rather volatile, and nothing Alan Pollnitz spent about 20 years at the Australian similar seemed be known in wine research. Upon Wine Research Institute (AWRI), and one of the studying the wider scientific literature, a name for this projects he took part in involved isolating the candidate compound emerged – Rotundone. This compounds which make a wine peppery. Pepper tones compound had been all but ignored in the wine in a wine are incredibly popular, imparting a spicy research. However it can impart a peppery smell unlike flavour, and by understanding what the chemical alpha-ylangene. Alan then used a variety of chemical compounds which form this taste are, winemakers may analysis techniques and was able to successfully confirm be able to tweak wines to create blends which suit its presence in the Shiraz. consumer’s palates. The most popular wine in Australia is Shiraz, and Alan’s work focused on this wine, in its So finally, the question arose as to how strong the varying degrees from strong peppery and spice to more rotundone is, and how people responded to it. Using balanced or lesser undertones of the flavour. the same volunteers from the earlier tests, he gave them rotundone spiked samples. By using a set The black pepper taste in Shiraz has been described concentration Alan attempted to correlate the amount definitively, and was found to be associated with grapes of rotundone to people’s ability to smell the peppery grown in a cool climate. However the taste is not tones in the wine. But it wasn’t quite that simple. As it generally associated with the fresh grape but rather turns out, the detection of the peppery smell is comes out during fermenting. Aside from cooler somewhat reliant on the individual. Some people are climates and season, the peppery vintage has been very sensitive to it, others not so. This may go a long associated with wines produced in certain regions such way to explaining why people describe the same wine as the southern Flinders Ranges. The actual compound very differently, and why some people love the peppery which imparts the peppery taste was unknown, and it tones in Shiraz, and others dislike them! The amount of was left to Alan and his team to try to figure out what rotundone in the Shiraz correlated very well to its the source was. The cause of heat, piperine was well perceived pepperiness. Alan compared the rotundone characterised, and it was thought that perhaps the levels in Shiraz from 2002 and 2003, from different compound was related to this. vineyards, and found the correlation carried through – cool weather, meant high pepper aroma which in turn In order to determine what the compound was, Alan meant high rotundone. Alan was also able to quantify started with a taste test. A panel of volunteers was the amount of rotundone in the Shiraz wine samples. assembled to smell and taste a number of Shiraz wines. On average it was about double used in the spike test. He found a peppery aroma correlated to peppery taste, Rotundone is so potent that a single drop will make an and that this pepper note was not linked to sweet fruity Olympic swimming pool smell peppery. About one gram aromas. He then used Gas Chromatography Mass of rotundone is contained in the entire annual grape Spectrometry (GCMS) to separate compounds in the crush of SA. This goes a long way in demonstrating why

Forensic Science News 5 A N Z F S S - S A B r a n c h it is in trace amounts in wine, and so hard to detect in However, rotundone is not alone. There are at least 14 the first place. compounds in wine that make up the aroma on their own, and others work together, thus what makes up the Alan’s study allowed not only the determination of the characteristics of a wine is very complex. Furthermore, compound which makes Shiraz peppery, but he was also the individual response to compounds such as able to measure rotundone to low levels. By comparing rotundone means that often what makes a good wine different vintages, Alan also was able to show the are heavily debated. However, Alan’s work has allowed amount of rotundone varied from season to season, a key component of Shiraz to be characterised, and this thus affecting the amount of pepper aromas. The understanding of what imparts the peppery aroma amount of rotundone to impart a peppery aroma to should assist with producing grapes which are Shiraz was produced with cool temperatures. guaranteed to impart the much loved peppery characteristic of Shiraz.

Upcoming Law Society Event:

Wednesday 20 July 2011 CPD Seminar “Forensic Evidence: The Good the Bad and the Ugly” 5.25pm - 7.00pm Level 2, 132 Franklin Street Cost: $150

For Further Information: http://www.lawsocietysa.asn.au/members/cpd.asp

6 Issue 1, Autumn/Winter 2011 A N Z F S S - S A B r a n c h

The February Meeting: Disaster Victim

Identification

Stephen Sargent

Director, DVI Response Team

The Australian Federal Police

Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) is the process of An open disaster is one in which victim identities identifying victims in the event of a mass fatality. cannot be narrowed down, and often remains have Stephen Sargent, Director of the AFP DVI response to be compared to a missing person’s list. Identities team, walked SA branch members through the in such lists are broken down into “possible”, process of DVI, highlighting many examples and some “probable” and “undoubtable” to help triage the of the challenges associated with DVI. identification process. Stephen used two recent examples to highlight the processes employed in DVI With a DVI situation, there is a legal obligation to – the Kokoda track plane crash in 2010, and the identify the victims. Both a DVI manual developed by Christmas Island boat disaster in December 2010. INTERPOL and local guidelines govern this process of identification. However, as DVI situations vary The plane crash near the Kokoda track was classed enormously, it is rare that a DVI situation can be as an open disaster. Whilst the list of passengers was processed by the book. However, the chain of available, as per a closed disaster, the remote site and custody and movement is of paramount importance, high impact of the crash made identification difficult. with a carry through of paperwork alongside remains The Christmas Island boat accident highlights the right from the scene to lab, and then to the final difficultly of working with open disaster situations, identification board, who sign off on the final and presented unique challenges. Not only did the identification of the individual. This process must be disaster area fall into an area of ocean, but a mass performed despite often chaotic situations, as mix effort between multiple countries was needed to ups can add further trauma to an already distressing narrow the missing persons list down and confirm situation. identities. Forty-three survivors, and thirty bodies were initially recovered, with 90 -120 individuals Simple visual identification is not acceptable for DVI remaining on the missing person list. A second boat identification. Factors such as decomposition and the was missing between Indonesia and Australia. The effects of the trauma on family members, who often process of triage of the missing was time consuming – make such identifications, can result in not only due to the DVI scene, but also due to the misidentification. Thus visual confirmations are used challenge of working with countries with multiple only to assist in identification and more rigorous languages and different DVI practices. Of course standards are used throughout the process. Methods whilst identification is important, the process of DVI used for identification are either primary or takes into account that maintaining the dignity of the secondary. Primary methods – fingerprinting, dental deceased is priority. records or DNA - can be used as a stand-alone means of identification. Secondary methods, such as The process of DVI is broken into phases – this medical records, personal property or photography, assists with managing the often complex and large can also be used, but must be used in conjunction scale of the situation, and provides revision post-DVI with each other to form a strong enough case for for further improvements in the recommendations of identification. DVI. Phases are as follows:

In order to apply the most efficient strategies to PHASE ONE: Scene disaster situations, disasters are categorised. Closed Procedures are established for managing the scene. disasters are classified when victims are known to a DVI scenes are treated as crime scenes. Remains and high degree of certainty, for example a passenger property are searched and recorded. As an example, aircraft accident, where passenger lists are available. the Kokoda crash site was a particularly difficult scene. The location was very remote, the weather

Forensic Science News 7 A N Z F S S - S A B r a n c h was very poor and the plane was totally destroyed, deceased, or from family members. Dental records resulting in highly fragmented materials. Each item or or any other possessions and records of use may be remain recovered was tagged individually. Logistics retrieved. Stephen highlighted that dental records were very difficult – due to the mountainside location can be crucial in identification, particularly in mass and constant fog, food and equipment was near fatalities. In most cases, individuals have had dental impossible to fly in, and furthermore the recovered work done, and the process of dental identification is remains had to be shipped to Port Moresby for far more rapid than DNA identification. Furthermore, processing. In some cases such as mass graves or the DNA may be too degraded whereas teeth survive. boxing day tsunami, entire communities are Therefore, where possible, it has become standard devastated and as no family groups or property practice to perform dental examinations on remains, the decision has had to be made to not unidentified remains. undertake DVI due to the near impossibility of being able to meet DVI requirements. The ante mortem information and paperwork is then compared to the information and paperwork from PHASE TWO: Post Mortem the scene and post-mortem. These two sets of This stage deals with storage of human remains and paperwork remain side-by-side for the remainder of forensic examination. Autopsy however, has a the identification. Fingerprints and DNA taken from different priority in DVI to standard criminal cases. property may be run through databases in the hope The cause of death is generally not the priority but of a match. DNA may also be compared to family rather the focus is on finding identifying features. members to attempt identification through kinship Cause of death in DVI situations can usually be put analysis. down to mass trauma; hence little time needs to be spent on establishing the cause. Certain issues are PHAST FOUR: Reconciliation pertinent to managing DVI at the morgue. Often A covering report to both the post mortem and ante there are issues with facilities such as storage of mortem is prepared which contains the final remains, tracking samples and property, identification. This paperwork is then put to the documentation and often for the staff working the Identification Board which is made up of experts in cases, the long hours, and scale of the situation can the field. This board compares the post and ante result in stress and fatigue. mortem data. If the board can confirm the identification is up to a legally acceptable standard as In the case of international disasters, the per the DVI guidelines, the identification can be identification board ensures that remains are signed confirmed. The notification can then be made to the over to the foreign affairs office. Remains are handled relevant state or country bodies to finalise the in a specific manner to prevent mix-ups. For example, identification and release the remains to families. remains are sealed into coffins and labelled directly after the post-mortem phase to ensure no mix-up PHASE FIVE: Debrief can occur. In some cases remains may be The debrief phase is conducted after all the DVI unidentifiable. The coroner is contacted for a final casework has been finalised. Both postive and decision in regards to such remains. Families are negative aspects of the entire process are examined, informed, and in some cases will work together to and effectiveness in the processes used can be make a decision as what to do with the remains. The determined. Furthermore strategies to assist staff remains from Kokoda are an example of this – thee such as psychological baseline testing can be reviewed remains were so fragmented it was difficult to link and staff stress can be assessed. The role of this them back to individuals, so the families decided to process is to not only report findings but also to have the remains cremated and a memorial was recommend further actions and changes for future erected at the track in remembrance. DVI management.

PHASE THREE: Ante Mortem In conclusion, Stephen’s presentation highlighted the In phase three, the families of potentially identified protocols and unique challenges that DVI presents. individuals are contacted, and ante mortem From the initial challenges of a scene, to data information is collected. This allows the missing management and staff wellbeing, the process of DVI is persons list to be refined and narrowed down to the complex and difficult, and as Stephen showed with his remaining open cases. Ante mortem information examples, forms a necessary part of forensic allows for confirmation of the identification, so DNA investigations. samples may be taken from possessions of the

8 Issue 1, Autumn/Winter 2011 A N Z F S S - S A B r a n c h

The March Meeting: Recent Trends in the Illicit S - S A B r a n c h Drug Trade and Manufacture

Andrew Camilleri Forensic Science South Australia

80% pure methamphetamine. Ice, its crystallised cousin, is usually found in purities over 70% but contrary to the media’s depiction of the prevalence of ice, police seizures of ice are quite low and steady. Off-shore, there was an ice bust to the tune of 500kg in Suva which had an estimated street value of $870 million. If you know and can follow lab safety rules, perhaps it is time to give up your day job. Those offenders involved were of course caught though…

Next up was Methylenedioxy-methamphetamine, otherwise known as MDMA, or better known as ecstasy. This drug is usually manufactured overseas, somewhat not surprisingly in the , and imported to Australia. For the duration of the naughties, this drug was increasing in purity, peaking at 92% in 2008. But since 2010, this drug has come By David Rofe down to 10% in purity. It is now largely cut with Meth and Ketamine, a common horse tranquilizer. It On Wednesday 30th February at the German Club, sounds like one to stay away from. our society gained a glimpse into our fair city’s very own underbelly. That’s right, the presentation that Heroin is still so passé. It still has a low purity and is night was “Recent developments in the illicit drug imported through the golden triangle in South East market and manufacture”. German steins, however, Asia. Afghanistan is supplying the world with the were the only drug of choice. majority of its heroin.

Andrew Camilleri was kind enough to host the Cocaine seizures have been on the rise, probably due presentation at short notice. His knowledge and to the rise in quality in SA. It is no longer imported experience gained from Forensic Science South through the eastern states, but directly to Adelaide. Australia ensured everyone present was high on learning after the presentation…and high on that And gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB) has fallen of the only. His presentation essentially covered hard drugs map after a record seizure of 100 litres a few years manufacture and marketing, sprinkled with anecdotes ago… of clandestine laboratories (clan labs). For these The night wrapped up with several questions, given cooks, disobeying the criminal law wasn’t enough, the intoxicating subject matter. It seemed that all the they had to disobey laboratory safety rules too which members found the presentation a fascinating event, was literally a recipe for disaster! as did a few new faces… especially the girl with Methamphetamine was the first drug on the menu. It dread-locks who asked questions about magic is still Australia’s and South Australia’s drug of choice. mushrooms! It comes in varying purities, ranging from 3-5% to 70-

Forensic Science News 9 A N Z F S S - S A B r a n c h

The May Meeting: Chemistry Comes to the Crime

Scene Professor Claude Roux

President, ANZFSS National Executive University of Technology Sydney

not the subjectivity of the interpretation of the law. So what is forensic science? As Claude highlighted the term is quite broad, whereas something such as analytical chemistry has a very specific definition. Perhaps forensic science can be defined by its framework and principles: Locard’s exchange principle, Kirk’s principle of individuality, and through frameworks for interpretation of evidence such as the hierarchy of propositions. Several authors have undertaken philosophical assessment of what forensic science is, and how it can be defined, but even so, the term is still very broad. Furthermore, upon examining and analyzing evidence, then interpreting the results, when is it science and when is it opinion?

Claude Roux, the ANZFSS National President, Claude argued forensic science is a science, and it stopped off in Adelaide for the May meeting aimed starts at the crime scene. It is a process of at addressing just what forensic science is and how quantitative assessment, which should be based on chemistry is applied in forensic investigations. underlying scientific principles and not simply the Claude opened with the question of whether application of novel techniques, or opinion based. forensic science is valid. Are the techniques and Forensic science all comes down to the traces of methods used in a criminal investigation the activity at the scene – the remnants. Which underpinned by enough scientific knowledge to call brought Claude to the next stage – how does one it a science? With the recent National Academy of analyse such traces, and get the most information Science report some would argue that there are out of the little evidence of the events? large gaps in knowledge, and acceptance of expert opinions by judges needs improved scrutiny. The Analysing a crime scene, and later processing and science needs to be robust, and the opinions of interpreting collected evidence, is not just a expert witnesses need to be based on current checklist. It should be all about working in a manner scientific understanding. to try to recover as many of the traces of the event as possible. Claude stated for this reason, crime But that leads to the next question – who is scene processing should be an intelligent process, as responsible for improving things? If forensic science no two crime scenes are the same. This process is isn’t working in the legal system, the legal system about testing hypotheses at the scene, and then won’t take responsibility for fixing the science or collecting evidence based on the context. A issues around presentation of the science. Claude checklist may account for bias and quality assurance, advised that more credit to forensic science and its but it will mean key evidence may be missed, and role within the legal system, an improved whilst a trace may be small, its absence is great understanding of the science and increased when it comes trying to piece together the events recognition of its importance is what is required. which have occurred at that scene. The Science is objective, and the interpretation of the development of mobile crime labs does offer some law and arguments used in court can be quite hope for speeding up and directing initial crime subjective, and vary from case to case. Whilst this scene investigation. However, mobile analysis is still sets up a law versus science scenario, the law does in early stages with much validation needed. need to reflect the objectivity of the science, and Fortunately, the National Forensic Science Testing

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Centre (NFSTC) recognize the need for such trialing new reagents. Examples include targeting facilities and are working on it. Claude highlighted a amino acids contained in the print, the use of number of examples including lab on a chip fluorescent dyes, infrared analysis and other applications for both explosive testing and closed particles to visualize a print. These approaches are DNA sets. all tailored to the complex chemical matrix which makes up a fingerprint, more so than traditional In addition to at the scene processing, laboratory fingerprint detection methods. In turn this will give techniques are being developed to improve the forensic scientists and crime scene officers the ability to gain information from evidence. The ability to detect and recover more information from application of chemical analysis in different ways has a wider variety of latent prints. allowed for new methods to be developed. The use of Infra-Red Mass Spectrometry (IR-MS) has been Of course, there is also the interpretation – what used for comparison of fired versus unfired does it all mean? Surveys, such as fibre frequency or ammunition, for identifying explosives, and for ink trace DNA transfer, help add the criminalistics identification during document examinations. As element, answer questions about expected well as identifying compounds, new methods have frequencies and add to the science behind the allowed for improved discrimination. For example, interpretation. By looking outside the field for new analysing markers associated with particular batches approaches a holistic approach can be taken to of a compound. Of course, increasing the building the science behind forensic analysis and complexity of the analysis will increase the developing new methods. complexity of interpretation and this will have to be addressed before more complex methods can be Claude concluded by stating chemistry is indeed a adopted and presented in a courtroom. pillar of forensic sciences. The analysis of traces associated with crime should be central to method Whilst new methods offer improved ways to utilize development. Most uncertainties lie in the context evidence, by revisiting existing ‘standard’ forensic of the crime, not so much lab process. Although methods, improvements can also be made. Most of error rates are important, the crime scene and this work is based on increasing sensitivity and information obtained are critical. Hence checklists specificity. By altering a forensically valid method aimed simply at addressing quality assurance may be more useful information can be obtained. Claude ineffective. There are arguments for both obtaining highlighted two examples – analysis of fabric dyes evidence through understanding the context of the and fingerprint detection and recovery. crime, and the risk of bias. By not logically thinking about the circumstances of the crime, costs can be While both methods are well characterized, they do increased and more dangerously, elements which have their limitations. In the case of fabric dyes, by may provide important information about the crime using Capillary Electrophoresis Mass Spectrometry may be overlooked. By taking a more generalist and (CE-MS) and changing analysis parameters, intelligent approach, and continuing to develop new background noise was able to be reduced, and dyes methods, forensic science will be able to be utilized were able to be analysed at much lower to its fullest in order to gain maximum information concentrations with improved resolution. With from trace amounts of evidence. regard to fingerprints, much research is focused on

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Forensic Science News 11 A N Z F S S - S A B r a n c h

From the ANZFSS National Executive 2010 - 2012

President: Prof. Claude Roux Treasurer: Prof. Chris Lennard Vice President (Aust): Prof. James Robertson Secretary: Dr James Wallman Vice President (NZ): Mary-Anne Kregting Public Officer: Anna Davey (non-elected position)

ANZFSS Address: Claude Roux, National President

Whilst at the May ANZFSS SA Branch meeting, national president Claude Roux addressed the branch in regard to the national executive and their strategies and vision for ANZFSS. While the national executive oversees the society, ANZFSS also has a national council consisting of the state presidents and the national executive. The council is what governs ANZFSS, and in order to maximize feedback from the state branches, meetings between the council and national executive are now held quarterly. This will also allow for more involved management of ANZFSS from the states.

Several reviews are currently underway with a subcommittee being established to manage these. One of the major areas of review is membership. Currently there is no national database for membership, which has made logistics and understanding the membership base very difficult. ANZFSS is one society, and thus moves are being made to establish a national membership database to overcome these challenges. The review of membership is also aiming to address the needs of forensic professionals and possibly provide a more professional tier to the society to support forensic practitioners. However it is well known many people are general members, and it will be ensured that whatever any restructure of the membership brings, general members will still be able to remain part of, and of course contribute, to the society. Funding was another key area of concern, as in years without a symposium the society barely breaks even. The society’s major source of income are the symposia, and if ANZFSS is going to provide more services to its members, an increase in membership fees may be required to cover this. However a cost increase will mean expansion and greater value in the organization.

Claude also addressed several other areas of review and development: • Governance and Policy: The policies of the society need to be made more explicit, and a simple and coherent set of guidelines established for management of and membership in the society • Areview of the code of ethics • Symposia: The high quality and the importance of the Symposia and support for upcoming symposia (Hobart in 2012 and Adelaide in 2014) • Media Policy: The establishment of a media policy in the event members are asked to comment to the media about relevant cases and topics • Website: The ANZFSS website is in need of updating, and as it is the face of the organization, will need to reflect the members and principles of ANZFSS. Furthermore an update is required to make the website easier to navigate • National newsletter: the first edition of this has been circulated to all members. This newsletter aims to communicate developments and news at the National level of ANZFSS Through evaluation and development of strategies in all these areas the National Executive aims to build on the already dynamic organization which is ANZFSS and to increase the value of the society to its members.

12 Issue 1, Autumn/Winter 2011 A N Z F S S - S A B r a n c h

From the Editor:

The winter chill is here, and along with it, the first edition of the SA ANZFSS Branch Newsletter for 2011. Once again there are lots of good reads, including updates from the National Executive and a recap of previous meetings. The local branch has many more excellent speakers in store for 2011, so keep an eye on your inboxes for upcoming information.

At the May Branch meeting, the President of the SA Branch, Stewart Walker, presented Dr Colin Manock, who recently retired from the SA Branch, with a letter thanking him for his contribution to the society. Colin was a founding member of the SA Branch, and continued to be active in the society over four decades.

Remember contributions to the newsletter are always welcome. Many thanks to David Rofe who provided the article covering the March Meeting.

It is that time of year again – membership fees are due. Membership costs for 2011-2012 are: $40 for full membership, $25 for student, associate or affiliate membership. Members can pay at the meetings, or contact the branch secretary to arrange another method. The society belongs to its members, and your feedback is important to the committee. If you have suggestions for the committee, please contact us.

Hope to see you at a meeting soon, and until then, try to stay warm!

$9 $10

$9.50 $40

$35 $18

$40 $ 6 $9

$2

Forensic Science News 13 A N Z F S S - S A B r a n c h

Welcome to new ANZFSS SA Branch members:

David Rofe Law student S/C Jenny Dunstan SAPOL, South Coast CSI Dmitriy Khodakov Academic Flinders University of South Australia, DNA analysis Renee Ottens Student, Flinders University of South Australia Josie Nunn Student, Flinders University of South Australia Kahlee Redman Senior Forensic Scientist (Chemical Criminalistics), Forensic Science SA Judith Rushton General interest Dr Jeremy Austin ARC Future Fellow, Australian Centre for Ancient DNA, The University of Adelaide Lauren Brown Student, Flinders University of South Australia

Schedule of Upcoming Events

Below are the tentative dates for 2011 meetings. Stay tuned for date confirmations and more information regarding venues and presenters.

Wednesday 17th August – National Science Week

Tuesday 27th September – Nuriootpa Siege

Wednesday 26th October

Friday 2nd December – The Annual Barry Collins Memorial Wine Night

14 Issue 1, Autumn/Winter 2011 12

A N Z F S S - S A B r a n c h

SA Branch Committee Members 2010-2011

President: Stewart Walker General Committee: Vice President: Darren Bails Adrian Linacre Immediate Past President: Carolyne Bird David Eitzen Secretary: Carolyne Bird Jessirie Dilag Treasurer: Natasha Mitchell Amanda Ellis Editor: Janette Edson Julianne Henry Andrew Murphy Merchandising Officer: Sherryn Ciavaglia Ted Silenieks Please direct all correspondence to the Secretary:

Email: Post: [email protected] ANZFSS SA Branch Inc Phone: 8226 7700 GPO Box 194 Fax: 8226 7777 Adelaide SA 5001

WARNING: The ANZFSS (SA Branch) Committee wish to advise that the material presented at some ANZFSS meetings can be of a graphic or explicit nature. Some of the material presented may disturb or offend some people. Persons attending meetings do so at their own risk. For this reason, we recommend that persons under the age of 17 years do not attend meetings.

The Australian and New Zealand “ A learned and impartial Forensic Science Society, SA society working to Branch Inc enhance the quality of GPO Box 194 Forensic Science” Adelaide SA 5001 Telephone: 8226 7700 Facsimile: 8226 7777 Email: [email protected]

Views and opinions expressed within this publication are not necessarily those of the Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society or the SA Branch. Forensic Science News 15