Bite-mark evidence - conviction overturned on appeal

Man Imprisoned For Murder Challenges Bite-Mark Evidence, Has Conviction Overturned

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/29/gerard-richardson-overturned_n_4173789.html

Off topic ...

Off topic for forensics but wonderful pics for Spitfire enthusiasts:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-24672979

A panel discussion on self, society and 21st century surveillance 'Welcome to the New Normal' - SYDNEY AU Nov. 5th

A panel discussion on self, society and 21st century surveillance
'Welcome to the New Normal'
Tuesday, November 5, 2013 from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM

This panel coincides with the Trace Recordings exhibition at UTS Gallery, examining surveillance and identity (details below).

In the era of social media and networked technologies we are constantly being recorded and observed. How are these pervasive but unseen surveillance systems are altering our behaviour, feelings and sense of self? Join an expert panel of researchers on the impact of new methods of surveillance. Does feeling the need to 'perform' for unseen audiences distance us from that which is most personal? We choose to opt in to these systems; but do we really have the option to opt out?

Our expert panel features criminologist and legal scholar Katherine Biber; award winning Global Mail journalist Clare Blumer; UTS Librarian and former defence intelligence analyst Mal Booth; Professor of Law and Director of the UTS Communications Law Centre Michael Fraser; post-doctoral psychology researcher Andrew Geeves; Professor of Computer Systems Massimo Piccardi; and social science analyst and advisor Steve Wilson. The discussion will be led by Trace Recordings co-curator Holly Williams.

This discussion accompanies the exhibition Trace Recordings at UTS Gallery and will be preceded by refreshments and exhibition viewing at the gallery located on Level 4 from 5.45pm.
For more information about the exhibition and this event, visit: 
www.tracerecordings.net 

To reserve a place, visit:
http://new-normal.eventbrite.com/

Trace Recordings exhibition at UTS gallery
From top-secret NSA listening stations to the DNA left on chewed gum, the exhibition 'Trace Recordings' examines the mechanisms of 21st century surveillance and explores how they are changing behaviours and shifting our ideas of public/private selves. Presenting work by eleven Australian and international artists across a variety of media, the exhibition critically, and at times playfully, casts an artistic light on the scale and complexity of these systems.

Featuring works by Denis Beaubois (AU), James Bridle (UK), Mahwish Chishty (US), Paolo Cirio (IT), Benjamin Gaulon (FR), Heather Dewey-Hagborg (US), Adam Harvey (US), Trevor Paglen (US) Matt Richardson (US) and Shinseungback Kimyonghun (KR). Curated by Holly Williams and Chris Gaul. 'Trace Recordings' is accompanied by a series of talks and workshops.

The "Real Thing"

http://www.lettersofnote.com/2013/07/its-real-thing.html

or is it?

Yet more on possible bias in forensic science

http://www.wave3.com/story/23603132/camm-trial-103-forensic-scientist-says-camm-investigators-framed-work-around-beliefs

The paper I presented at the IPES Conference in Budapest in August looks at media representations of such matters - I am busy writing it up for publication. 

Exciting new Author Attribution website

http://authorship.brooklaw.edu

From Professor Lawrence M. Solan

Don Forchelli Professor of Law

"I am pleased to announce that with funding from the National Science Foundation, Brooklyn Law School has launched an Authorship Attribution website.

You can access it at:   http://authorship.brooklaw.edu/."

"Even forensic science has its limits"

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/state-pathologist-warns-that-even-forensic-science-has-its-limits-1.1567543

She quoted British forensic pathologist Bernard Knight, who described the exercise of estimating time of death as follows: “ ‘When were they last known to be alive? When were they found dead? They died some time between the two.’

More on False Confessions

From Helen Fraser 
"I just caught an episode of This American Life, discussing a very interesting false confession case and thought others might like to follow it too. There are a number of linguistic issues throughout - the more explicit ones come out towards the end of the story.

(Having heard it on the car radio then looked up the site, I agree with their caveat that the story is far better heard than read - they seem to charge 99 cents for the audio which strikes me as being well worth the investment!).

Cheers

Helen

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/507/transcript

(Kim Possible is the second of the three items in this episode)"

~~~~~~~~~~~

Helen Fraser

http://forensictranscription.com.au

PRESS RELEASE A new society has been set up to improve standards for investigative interviewers in the private sector

PRESS RELEASE

2^1st October 2013

For immediate release

New society set up to improve standards for investigative interviewers in the private sector

A professional body has been set up to establish and administer a quality standard for investigative interviewing in the private sector. The Society of Forensic Interviewers (SoFI) (www.so-fi.org) will also provide information and other services to help members improve the quality of their knowledge of and skills in investigative interviewing.

The current quality of service, or expertise, provided by investigative interviewers in the private sector is variable and there is no standard against which quality can be measured. However, interviewing witnesses and potential respondents forms an integral and important part of any investigation and information obtained from these interviews is used to guide the direction of the investigation and is also referred to at the final point a decision is made.

The police service in the UK has been at the forefront of investigative interviewing using interview frameworks and techniques developed and researched by psychologists and other academics over decades. These standards are acknowledged as being lawful and ethical by the criminal justice system. They can also be effectively applied to all types of investigative interview conducted in the private sector, including HR disciplinary proceedings and internal and external investigations.

High standards in interviewing will improve the quantity and accuracy, and therefore veracity of the information obtained. Improved quality through the introduction of standards will also ensure that interview-dependent investigations will be more efficient, and as a result more cost effective. Improving accuracy also improves ethical standards, which in turn improves employer/employee relations in the work environment. Additionally, poor quality or unethical interviewing can not only have a direct and detrimental impact on interviewees, but also can directly affect the options available at the conclusion of an investigation.

Jeff Shiplee, Managing Director, SoFI said: “The society was founded to establish and administer a quality standard for investigative interviewing in the private sector. We hope this standard becomes widely adopted and is adhered to by practitioners and trainers across the UK who work in this field. The standard is supported by expert practitioners and academics who are experts in investigative interviewing.”

Note to editors:

For further information about The Society of Forensic Interviewers, or to register interest in becoming a member please contact: Jeff Shiplee at jeffshiplee@so-fi.org

Appeal Court ruling re Barry George

http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Crim/2007/2722.html

Interesting and relevant, as the importance and nature of the reliability of evidence transcends all forensic identification areas.

Savile ROI and comments from the Daily Mail

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2461443/Jimmy-Savile-tapes-damn-police-The-special-treatment-allowed-DJ-escape-justice.html?goback=.gde_3825952_member_5796164118759096320#!

Material for several papers here I should think.

Upcoming seminar on Forensic Interpreting

http://www.iol.org.uk/events/ID/ID13/ID091113.pdf

- this is an area which requires a LOT more focus.

Saudi women can now practise law.

http://nipc-gulf.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/one-of-most-welcome-developments-from.html#!

Faked suicide notes

This is a really sad story: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Man-hangs-self-blames-wife-and-lover-on-video/articleshow/23837236.cms

I would hope that both the note and the video recording are being forensically examined to determine their authenticity. There are instances of so-called suicide notes which, on closer examination, have been shown to have been been written by another party, for example in this case we worked on: http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2008/mar/18/ukcrime2

... He had claimed his wife's death was suicide, but was charged with murder after police found marks on her body indicating that she had been in a fight. Experts concluded her suicide note had been faked, the inquest heard.

A Good Thing too!

http://theconversation.com/get-real-forensic-scientists-the-csi-effect-is-waning-13260#!

and we can certainly relate to this:
Anecdotes are also shared by forensic scientists about how they have been approached by [clients] who expect them to finish their forensic testing and analysis of the evidence in minutes.