Anti- Forensics: The Tampering of Videos

In the context of forensic investigations, the traditional understanding of evidence is changing nowadays where most prosecutors, lawyers and judges heavily rely on multimedia substantiations. However, the evolution of easy-to-use media manipulating tools, made it very easy for almost any (technical) person to alter the content of a digital media (e.g. digital image, audio or video) without leaving any traces that can be detectable by human's basic perceptions. Therefore, the validity of the digital media can no longer be guaranteed which in turn leads to a serious problem regarding digital crime investigation. As there are tools which can tamper media, there are also ones that can do the reverse: detect the tampering. This paper sheds the light on the available anti-forensics tools. Experiments were done using some of these tools to detect tampered media – more specifically video tampering. Our experiments showed the efficiency of these tools by differentiating between original and altered evidences.

Epidemiological and Forensic Aspects of Physical Abuse of Minors

Child abuse is a phenomenon whose magnitude remains unknown in Africa. It includes all forms of physical and/or emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, or commercial exploitation.This is a prospective descriptive study, with systematic case-by-case recruitment of victims of physical abuse of minors received in the forensic medicine department of the Ignace Deen National Hospital over a twelve (12) month period, from July 20, 2016 to July 19, 2017.The study included 218 cases of child abuse out of 1110 patients who were seen for any reason, a proportion of 20%. Victims aged between 11 and 15 years old were the most represented with 46.7% and more than half were out of school with 59.6%, girls were the most represented in our study with 73.3% with a sex ratio M/F = 0.36. The relationship between the victim and the aggressor was familial in (44%). The injuries were found all over the body. 77.60% of the victims had a total work disability of less than or equal to 20 days. Physical abuse is common in Conakry. Young subjects are the most affected, especially student summary. Minors constitute a fragile population, dependent and vulnerable to the assaults to which they are subjected, both inside and outside the family sphere.

From Crime Scene Investigation to Toxicological Sampling: Forensic Approach to Volatile Substance Related Deaths

The ready availability of volatile substances makes their abuse frequent, and especially widespread among adolescents and young-adults, with significant rates of morbidity and mortality. Even if this phenomenon has been described since 1960s, the abuse of volatile substances in forensic context is still a matter of debate. Scientific papers describe materials and procedures for sampling volatile substances when performing post mortem examination. However, proposed techniques involve the use of specific - and sometimes expensive - gas tightening materials that are not always available, whereas rapid identification of deaths related to volatile substance might be very important for the success of the whole investigation. This type of deaths could be mistaken for juvenile sudden deaths. Therefore, it is very important to search and collect all useful information, either form the crime scene or the forensic autopsy. In our work,we discuss the main pathophysiological mechanisms involved in deaths. In previous forensic papers, such mechanisms were considered less important than toxicological findings.

The Human Component

This contribution is written from the perspective of a trial attorney with more than 20 years of experience representing clients in the California criminal justice system. Proper representation of the accused often requires a multidisciplinary approach in which legal care, medical care and mental health care work in conjunction with one another. Often, a client is laboring through layers of physical pain, fear, grief, and a possible myriad of mental health issues when his or her liberty is dependent on the ability to provide an accurate picture of their lives. In order to assist the client in providing the most comprehensive description of himself or herself, the defense team requires an empathic approach; one that is respectful of boundaries; and one willing to explore the context of the information uncovered during the course of investigation and representation.This contribution will detail the case of Marissa B , and how her investigation and advocacy wed her data to the context and circumstances surrounding her case to reveal information behind the human being in need of representation.

Morphometric Methods for Examining the Liver in the Diagnosis of Acute and Chronic Alcohol Intoxication

The article presents the results of a morphometric study of the liver of persons who died from acute ethanol intoxication and chronic alcohol intoxication in persons with alcohol-induced liver pathology. The aim of the work was to carry out morphometry of the main vascular and parenchymal structural components of the liver, reflecting its morphological and functional state. Data were obtained on a decrease in the area of the vascular bed, cyto- and karyometric parameters, which reflect an increase in dystrophic processes in hepatocytes and inflammatory-proliferative processes in the connective tissue and indicate the tension of capillary-connective tissue structures, impaired blood circulation, bile and lymph outflow in the liver in chronic alcohol intoxication, especially with hepatitis and cirrhosis. The obtained morphometric data can be used as a comparison in studying the pathomorphological features of the liver in other pathological conditions.

Detection of Illicit Drugs using Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Rapid identification of drugs of abuse in different types of forensic evidences, including bulk street drugs as well as traces found in drinks, on fibers/clothing, in fingerprints, on fingernails, on bank notes, in body fluids etc., is of critical importance.Current forensic methods involved in identification and quantification of illicit drugs are destructive and slow, making it difficult for them to be used for rapid on-site analysis. Surface enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) offers distinct advantages to various law-enforcement agencies, working in the security field, as it provides rapid, sensitive, accurate and non-destructive technique for the identification and quantification of a variety of drug types. This review summarizes techniques for detection of contraband drugs, difficulties associated with them and discusses the future direction of research in this field.

Forensic Ballistic Studies of .32” Revolver and .22 Rifle Lead Bullets on Passage through Iron Sheets of Different Thicknesses

During criminal investigation, one may come across cases involving the passage of non-jacketed lead bullets through metal sheets. After these bullets have passed through the sheets, their forensic studies, holes or injuries caused may be of importance. In this paper, the authors have presented the results of passage of lead bullets fired from .32 revolver and .22 rifle through iron sheets of different thicknesses. Studies about their penetration, deformation, diameters of holes caused by them, formation of plug, maintenance of striations left by firearms on these bullets and their lethality etc. have been discussed. These studies revealed that striations left by firearms on their surfaces are maintained, holes caused in thicker sheets are of diameters larger than their calibres and these bullets are capable of penetration into human body.

Sudden Death in a Middle-Aged Gentleman

A sudden unexpected death in a healthy individual often leads to panic within a community and it’s frequently associated with malicious mischief. Suicide, infections, genetic or congenital abnormalities may well lead to sudden deaths. All these possibilities are vital in determining the cause of death and facilitate investigation, hence must be considered judiciously. Here, we report a case of a 49-year-old gentleman without underlying medical illness or prior history of heart disease found dead in his home by his wife. Postmortem and histopathology findings determined the cause of death. External examination revealed no obvious injuries whereas 50% narrowing was disclosed in the left anterior descending artery at internal examination. Histology finding showed fibro-fatty replacement of the right ventricle myocardium. Toxicological analyses were unrewarding. It was concluded that the cause of death was arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia. In conclusion, the findings of the forensic autopsy and histopathology facilitated the investigation and established the cause of death. The cause of death attributed to arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD). This case demonstrates ARVD can have a late presentation and it should always be borne in mind as a potential cause of death, necessitating this case report.

Semen Stain Detection: A Study on the Different Fabrics for Effects of Washing

As the number of rape cases are increasing day by day. There is a requirement of detection of seminal fluid and sperm on various surfaces, even if semen and seminal fluid available in few quantities. The present work focuses to determine three possible aspects affecting semen determination on laundered clothing: the temperature of water while laundering and handling if the stain was dry or wet at the period of laundering of the fabric form. During present work, four types of fabrics (Polyester, Denim, Cotton and wool) were analysed microscopically by applying of methods to determine semen (U.V. light source, Acid phosphatase test) the outcome demonstrates the significance of the methodology and precautions to be taken whenever evaluating findings for the identification of semen, in general on objects which may have been laundered.