The Concept of Blood Spatter Analysis - Essay Example

Topic Blood Spatter Analysis The Concept of Blood Spatter Analysis Blood spatter analysis is the evaluation of blood drop at a crime scene or sometimes on a body or somewhere else. The forensic scientist are able to predict details about the crime after analyzing the size, shape, density, character and location of the blood spatter. When a wound is inflicted and blood leaves the body, a blood spatter pattern may be created. The specific features are the direction of travel, the relative velocity and the angle of impact of the blood droplets. Blood spatter analysis gives information to the forensic experts regarding the causes or scenario responsible for certain crime incidents. Person conducting blood spatter analysis is from various background including crime scene police officers. Sometimes it is performed by crime laboratory personnel who have other responsibilities like trace examining. Mostly it is important to evaluate the blood spatter on the body or clothing of a dead person. In all the cases, the pathologist is responsible for identifying, documenting and also preserving the blood spatter on the cloth of the dead person. A single drop of blood drop does not comprise a spatter but a group of blood stains composes a blood spatter pattern. The certification in blood splatter analysis can be acquired by International Association for Identification. The blood spatter can help the criminal investigators in analyzing the event surrounding a stabbing, shooting or beating. Today blood spatter analysis is a tool used to explain events at a violent scene and it is also a modern tool in forensic examination. The Importance of Blood Spatter Analysis Blood spatter patter analysis helps the crime investigation officer s to recreate the crime event. By providing the blood spatter pattern, it is possible to determine the direction of blood travel, the angle and impact and the point of origin of blood. Blood spatter analysis helps in predicting the manner of death, based on blood velocity. According to (Bertino, 2009, pg.45) “The size and shape of blood droplets helps identify the direction from which the blood originated”. Spatter can help the investigators to understand the nature of wound. A fine -mist spatter pattern is generated by a high velocity impact like a gunshot wound. A beating done with a pipe can create low velocity pattern. The empty spaces in the blood splatter pattern can help in detecting the presence of a person or object moved after the attack. By using the spatter pattern to determine the angle of impact of various blood droplets, the examiner can determine the point of impact or convergence, a two dimensional representation of the location of the victim at the time of the injury. The width and length of the blood droplet also helps in calculating the point of origin of blood. Blood spatter patterns and trajectory velocities helps in explaining the chain of events leading to each murder. Evaluating blood splatter patterns that remain at crime scenes that help to corroborate truthful oral evidence or challenge witness statement they may be false or misleading. The cellular components and plasma of blood result in easily identifiable spatter patterns when blood is shed or lost. Blood spatter analysis involves mechanical scrutiny based on the physics of fluid flow and an evaluation of impact angles at which the spatter hits other objects rather than only concerning microscopic scientific analysis. A significant number of state jurisdictions have admitted that blood splatter analysis is reliable in cases where eye witness testimonies are found to be misleading. Many courts have recognized blood splatter analysis as a reliable and trust worth scientific discipline which is logical and has scientific basis. As per (Ingram, 2009, pg.36) “The use of blood obtained information and blood stain evidences will generally require expert collection, expert evaluation and expert testimony”. Blood spatter pattern are easily identified to the trained experts. The various types of blood spatter patterns are free falling blood, cast off blood, transfer blood and projected blood. A close analysis of blood stain patterns will provide insight into the event and make the reconstruction of the event possible. If the incident involved some violent act, blood stain analysis may even lead to the identification of the weapon. Blood is the first physical evidence in a crime scene as even in the bible the Able‘s death was presenting blood evidence. Blood spatter analysis is common sense associated with training. The analysis of blood requires interpretation of events such as weapon acceleration. Whilst blood spatter analysis may provide evidence of the source of a sample, it may also reveal important information as to the events that occurred at a crime scene. Blood is a viscous fluid with a predictable behavior. To form a blood spatter, the surface tension of the blood must be overcome. Blood spatter analysis is a specialized branch of forensic science in which the investigator deduces evidence from the shape and distribution of blood stains. From careful analysis, it is possible to determine whether or not a crime was actually committed and if so, how the conflict developed and how the wounds were inflicted. In the initial stages of an investigation, the characteristics of all suspicious stains at crime scene are noted. If more than one person is present when a violent crime is committed it may be possible to distinguish their roles from the type of blood stains upon them. A crime scene may give out different areas where blood splatter is contained. Results of the analysis will also provide additional information that may be used by the medical examiner to establish time of death of a victim. In the journal(Yen,2004,pg.132-140)writes that, “In the investigation of bloodstain patterns on the hands, the particular set of marks termed impact spatter9,10,12 is of major importance to the forensic examiner”. While becoming a certified blood stain pattern analyst requires years of training and practice, the CSI can learn to examine blood spatter at the crime scene and determine direction of travel and general location for area of origin of impact. The understanding is important as the interpretation of blood spatter patterns and other evidence e at crime scenes may reveal important investigation information such as the position of the victim, assailant and objects at the scene. References Bertino, A. J. (2009). Forensic Science: Fundamentals and Investigations (p. 45). Mason: Cengage Learning. Ingram, J. (2009). Criminal Evidence (5th ed.,th ed., p. 36). U.S.A.: Elsevier Inc. Yen, K. (2003, June). Blood-Spatter Patterns: Hands Hold Clues for the Forensic Reconstruction of the Sequence of Events. American Journal of Forensic Medicine & Pathology:, 24(2), 132-140. Read More