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Duncan Colin Woods Forensics in 2010-2020 Forensic Overview

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Duncan Colin Woods Forensics in 2010-2020 Forensic Overview have little idea of the case context of their Dr Woods can also advise on evidence work. prepared under the Streamlined Forensic Reporting (SFR) regime: its value and its Forensic Overview limitations. The prosecution scientist is often limited to commenting on what evidence has Because of this, it is not uncommon for Keith Borer Consultants prepares over 2000 been found and not how it may have got experienced forensic scientists instructed by forensic reports each year for cases being there. the defence, such as Keith Borer Consultants’ heard throughout the UK, Ireland and further Dr Duncan Woods, to be the only forensic afield on occasion. The company employs all expert at Court able to provide an insight into its experts directly and invests in continuous the overall evidential value of the various professional development for all staff. Duncan Colin Woods strands of forensic evidence being presented. Detailed curriculum vitae for our experts can BSc, PhD, MCSFS, MEWI Dr Woods has been with Keith Borer be found at www.keithborer.co.uk . Consultants since its early days in the 1980s. Dr Woods is Chief Scientist at Keith He is a specialist in forensic biology, such as Borer Consultants. He is instructed Forensics in 2010-2020 in approximately 80 criminal cases blood pattern analysis and sexual assault each year including assaults, The provision of forensic science services to cases, and also has significant case experience murders, sexual offences and other the prosecution has seen significant change in fibre transfer and footwear mark evidence. offences involving contact transfer over the last few years and this has affected Dr Woods commented “I have sympathy for evidence. He has given evidence what is disclosed to you as solicitors and throughout the UK and Ireland. barristers. Forensic supply to the prosecution young reporting officers who are not in a position to answer questions at court that a is now fragmented between police in-house Dr Woods also lectures to the legal laboratories, which undertake initial testing of prosecution expert may have been able to in profession on the use of forensic exhibits and decide what further forensic work the past. These recent recruits are narrowly evidence and provides training needs to be purchased, and the private trained in one type of evidence, whereas the seminars to barristers. forensic suppliers which undertake analyses or courts often need assistance with the examinations to meet the police instructions. significance of evidence, which requires wider This process, together with Streamlined forensic experience. This can be especially Forensic Reporting, minimises the Crown’s important in murder cases such as Sarah spending on forensic examinations, but Payne and Stephen Lawrence where the value increasingly relies on junior scientists who of one type of evidence relative to another may need explanation.” Blood Patterns, Body Fluids Forensic Science Service, I was fully and DNA Analysis conversant with how the case would have been handled over and above my knowledge The last few years have seen a radical of the documentation.” restructuring of forensic science provision Those who have instructed Dr Davey have within the UK. This has seen an exodus of said: experienced professionals to careers outside forensic science. Keith Borer Consultants is ‘Dr Davey produces very thorough reports to a fortunate, therefore, to employ senior very high standard’ Copleys Solicitors scientists whose wide-ranging knowledge of forensics could be invaluable to your case. ‘Dr Davey explained everything in ways we Blood Patterns at Scenes and the client could understand and was very Experience is especially important in cases helpful throughout’ Slee Blackwell Solicitors Dr Davey also has extensive experience of where forensic evidence has been collected interpreting blood patterns at scenes. For the over a number of years and often by more defence, this is increasingly undertaken by a than one prosecution provider. For example, thorough examination of photographs taken in the recent trial and re-trial of Shahidul Dr Helen Davey at the time. Earlier this year, Dr Davey Ahmed for the murder of Rachel Manning in BSc(Hons), PhD, MCSFS prepared such a report in the case of DPP-v- December 2000, Dr Helen Davey was tasked Catherine O’Connor, for the murder of Dr Davey specialises in blood pattern with examining forensic work undertaken at analysis and complex DNA Jonathan Duke in a flat near Cork, Ireland. five prosecution laboratories over a 12 year interpretations. She was the site lead “The blood patterns visible in the scene period. As more sensitive tests were for DNA issues at the Forensic Science photographs, together with my examination developed, samples were re-analysed. Service Huntingdon laboratory. Establishing a chronology for the exhibits on of exhibits recovered from the scene, enabled which the prosecution were relying was She has been involved in many me to come to an opinion as to what was essential. complex and high profile cases likely to have taken place. Sometimes blood including the Soham murders, the patterns can be more complex; for example Dr Davey commented “Understanding what stabbing of Abigail Witchalls, the where there are overlying patterns or the happened to which exhibit in this complex Lincoln Prison Mutiny and the murder patterns have been disturbed by subsequent case entering its fourth trial necessitated of Danielle Jones. activity. Hence, a visit to the scene, even if it detailed scrutiny of around 7 crates of papers. has been cleaned, can significantly aid my As I was previously a senior scientist with the evaluation of events.” Illegal Drugs & Toxicology Cannabis Bush Buds Sarah Morley Valuations for POCA applications BSc (Hons), MSc The recoup versus penalty debate in relation Richard Brown to POCA applications continues unabated with BSc (Hons) divergent views being expressed from the Mrs Morley and Mr Brown each have judiciary. over 10 years of experience as expert witnesses in illegal drugs and toxicology Our expert involvement in the explosion of POCA hearings is in the valuation of illegal matters including alcohol technical drugs for the purposes of determining the defence. Their background is in pharmacology. likely benefit of the criminal conduct. Both Mrs Morley and Mr Brown regularly KBC has compiled its own database of drug advise and give evidence in Magistrates’ Drug Driving Offences prices. This enables geographical price and Crown Courts. variations and changes in prices over time to In March 2014, the Government moved a step be factored into our opinion. Reasons customers give for using Mrs further in its ambition to introduce legislation Morley and Mr Brown: with respect to drug-driving cases. It Mr Brown comments ‘There are many strands published recommended limits for 16 drugs, • ‘We have done so [instructed KBC] for of argument to be taken into consideration with the intention that it will be an offence to years and the standard is always high’ including purity, bulk purchase discounts and be driving whilst over the prescribed limits. condition and nature of packaging on seizure. • ‘Mr Brown attended at Court and was Blood samples will be analysed for the It is common to see only street values applied very helpful and knowledgeable’ concentration of the drugs listed. by the prosecution, even where the use of these may not be justified. In large-scale Currently there are no limits for drugs in the cases involving powdered drugs, the purity is Mrs Morley and Mr Brown have extensive body. KBC’s experts advise on the roadside often a very significant issue with the experience of hundreds of cases involving and custody accounts of the police and the prosecution adopting unfair or incorrect drug valuations and patterns of drug use. results of the medical examination and field methods for assessing the likely benefit. In They have advised in a wide range of cases impairment tests. When the new offences are cannabis cultivation cases, we also see the from enthusiastic amateurs to those involved introduced, KBC experts will be available to potential yield from immature or unviable in large-scale organised crime syndicates. advice on the scientific aspects for the plants being used to derive a benefit figure. defence. • Data sampling to check the accuracy supporting the prosecution case and being of the prosecution evidence irrelevant to their argument. Cell Site Analysis • Data manipulation to evaluate the Traditionally cell site evidence was often The principle of cell site analysis evidence is prosecution evidence encountered in serious cases such as murder straight forward: - was a particular mobile or drugs’ importation; however, it is phone used within a specific geographical area • Data presentation and report increasingly being used for less serious at a known date and time? Cell site cases preparation to summarise what the offences including car thefts and assaults. KBC involve vast amounts of data which need to be cell site evidence means within the can help you obtain the data, then test and analysed. Unfortunately, there is yet to be an context of the case evaluate the cell site evidence. agreed way of presenting this type of evidence in Court and its significance can be overstated. • In-house research to test assumptions made within the prosecution evidence. One of KBC’s experts, Thomas Marryat Thomas Marryat comments: “We can help solicitors ensure the BSc(Hons), MBCS, MIET appropriate request to obtain data is made to the network operating companies. Then, if Mr Marryat has a Bachelor of Science this can be sent to us electronically, we can with Honours in Software Engineering manipulate the data using computing tools to from the University of Durham. He speed up the process of finding joined Keith Borer Consultants in 2007 inconsistencies in it, saving time and money.” as a digital device specialist. He prepares approximately 50-60 reports As police budgets are cut, it is becoming more each year, predominantly in cases frequent to see police intelligence analysts involving telecommunications evidence undertaking work which previously would for use in criminal matters throughout the have been undertaken by an expert.
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