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A Criminalistic Approach to Biological Evidence : Trace DNA and Volume Crime Offences

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A Criminalistic Approach to Biological Evidence : Trace DNA and Volume Crime Offences University of Technology, Sydney A Criminalistic Approach to Biological Evidence: Trace DNA and Volume Crime Offences Jennifer J. Raymond A thesis submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Science) 2010 ~ i ~ Certificate of authorship and originality I certify that the work in this thesis has not previously been submitted for a degree nor has it been submitted as part of the requirements for a degree except as fully acknowledged within the text. I also certify that the thesis has been written by me. Any help that I have received in my research work and the preparation of the thesis itself has been acknowledged. In addition, I certify that all the information sources and literature used are indicated in the thesis. NAME: Jennifer Joan Raymond SIGNATURE: DATE: 9 June 2010 ~ ii ~ Acknowledgements Acknowledgements First and foremost I would like to give my utmost thanks to my supervisors, from whom I was inspired, educated and supported throughout this long journey. Dr Roland van Oorschot; I couldn’t ask for more from a supervisor, thanks so much for your tireless dedication and advice despite the distance, particularly in the experimental design and reviewing. I could not have completed this without your endless support and encouragement. Prof Claude Roux; your advice into criminalistics, help with administrative requirements and support for conference attendance were incredibly appreciated. Dr Simon Walsh; thank you for your advice and ideas, I never failed to walk out of our meetings feeling positive and enthusiastic about my research. Dr Peter Gunn; your help with the practical work, reagents and equipment was much appreciated, and also with the data from the outsourcing project. Secondly, my undying gratitude goes to my long‐suffering volunteers for the experimental work and participants in the methods survey. For their quick and friendly assistance in accessing the trace DNA casework data I would like to acknowledge Alex Lucca from Genetic Technologies, and Dr Tony Raymond and Wendy Tufts from the NSW Police Force. I was fortunate to work with several dedicated Honours and Masters students during the course of this project; Laura Evans, who assisted with real‐time PCR methods, Kate Howson who conducted an informative project on screening methods for trace DNA (referred to in section 1.5.1.1), and Rachel Morton who tested transfer of DNA with glove use (section 6.4). And finally, to my family and friends; Mum and Dad for the years of support to get me here, and Dad for your patient editing of this beast, Gill for the inspiration to study forensics in the first place, and Cam, for keeping me grounded with all your love and laughs. Also to the countless UTS forensic PhD students for their empathy, particularly the other part‐timers who understand the agony and the ecstasy of concurrent work and study. This work is dedicated to my wonderful Nanna; for giving me some of her stubborn spirit but who unfortunately didn’t get to see the final result. ~ iii ~ Table of contents Table of contents LIST OF FIGURES .............................................................................................................................VII LIST OF TABLES ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….IX ABBREVIATIONS ...............................................................................................................................X ABSTRACT ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………XV CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................2 1.1 DNA TECHNOLOGY AND ITS USE IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ..........................................................3 1.1.1 DNA Technology: New innovations and challenges .............................................................5 1.2 DNA FROM TOUCHED OBJECTS: TRACE DNA ......................................................................................8 1.2.1 DNA in skin .........................................................................................................................10 1.3 TRACE EVIDENCE AND CRIMINALISTICS..............................................................................................12 1.4 VOLUME CRIME AND DNA EVIDENCE..............................................................................................13 1.4.1 DNA Databases...................................................................................................................15 1.4.2 Measuring the effect of DNA on volume crime ..................................................................17 1.4.3 The use of trace DNA in Australia.......................................................................................20 1.5 TRACE DNA – ISSUES AND CHALLENGES ..........................................................................................22 1.5.1 Determining the source of the DNA....................................................................................22 1.5.2 Background DNA ................................................................................................................26 1.5.3 DNA Primary and Secondary Transfer................................................................................27 1.5.4 Interpreting Trace DNA Evidence .......................................................................................30 1.5.5 Court Challenges of trace DNA ...........................................................................................35 1.5.6 Getting Back to Basics ........................................................................................................38 1.5.7 Developing an interpretive framework for trace DNA........................................................39 1.6 RATIONALE AND STRUCTURE OF THESIS ............................................................................................41 1.6.1 Aims....................................................................................................................................43 CHAPTER 2: AUSTRALASIAN SURVEY OF TRACE DNA METHODS.................................................45 2.1 INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................................45 2.2 RESULTS.....................................................................................................................................48 2.2.1 2004 Survey ........................................................................................................................48 2.2.2 Section 1: Crime scene investigators ..................................................................................48 2.2.3 Section 2: Laboratory staff. ................................................................................................53 2.2.4 Section 3: Managers...........................................................................................................59 2.2.5 2009 follow‐up survey ........................................................................................................61 2.3 DISCUSSION................................................................................................................................69 2.3.1 Training and Research........................................................................................................69 2.3.2 Methods and Processes......................................................................................................71 2.3.3 Results and Opinions. .........................................................................................................75 2.3.4 2009 update .......................................................................................................................77 2.4 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS .......................................................................................................82 2.4.1 Conclusions.........................................................................................................................82 CHAPTER 3: CASEWORK DATA...................................................................................................85 3.1 INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................................85 3.2 METHODS ..................................................................................................................................87 3.3 RESULTS.....................................................................................................................................88 3.4 DISCUSSION................................................................................................................................91 3.5 CONCLUSIONS.............................................................................................................................94 CHAPTER 4: METHODS ..............................................................................................................97 4.1 INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................................97 ~ iv ~ Table of contents 4.2 DNA SAMPLING..........................................................................................................................97 4.2.1 Double swab method:.........................................................................................................97 4.3 DNA EXTRACTION .......................................................................................................................98
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