Crime Scene Investigation: Defending Bloodstain Evidence - Assignment Example

Crime Scene Investigation Crime Scene Investigation Question A: Bloodstain Assessment In a shooting situation whereby a male sits in the driver’s seat, shot behind the back and head slumped over on the steering wheel severally, the crime scene investigator gathers bloodstain evidence from the steering wheel, drive side window, driver side door, and on the rear side as well as floor. In order to collect sufficient evidence regarding the crime scene, it is the role of the crime scene to ensure that he sets several goals. These should target reconstructing the crime scene, identification of the individual responsible, preserve gathered evidence for analysis, and gather it in a manner that can offer sufficient support in court. While using blood to serve as evidence for the crime, the crime scene investigator (CSI) can use a scalpel, smear slides, scissors, tweezers, ultra violet light, sterile square cloths, luminol, and protective eyewear. It is also ideal to gather samples from suspected individuals or a living victim to facilitate in the comparison process. Since the victim is dead, it is the role of the CSI to ensure he uses either sterile square cloth, or small quantities of distilled water to facilitate in removing the blood from the victim’s body. The same process can be used in collecting blood from any other place that has blood contact. The blood gathered may be from a different person, where the laboratory performs a DNA analysis to compare with the blood gathered from the suspect. It would also be ideal if the CSI scrapes the nails of the victim because in case of a struggle, then the skin of the suspect, which would reflect his DNA, would be under the nails of the victim. This process would facilitate in gathering blood evidence concerning a crime scene and the potential suspect to the shooting incident. Question B: Defending Bloodstain Evidence Direct Examination by Prosecution DE-1: What is your job title, what type of crime scenes have you processed, and how long have you been in your current position? I am a crime scene investigator with more than 10 years’ experience in the undertaking investigations on various types of crimes. As a professional in this position, I have processed a variety of crime scenes, including outdoor crime scenes, indoor crime scenes, and conveyance crime scenes (such as vehicle burglary, carjacking, grand theft, homicide, and sexual battery). With this experience, I believe that the investigation I carried out pertaining to the crime is sufficient in giving testimony to this case that the offender was involve in the crime. DE-2: What type of training did you have in this field? ` To be a qualified crime scene investigator, I have undergone rigorous training in diverse fields. I have been subjected to demanding training, which has allowed me to portray moral character, good repute, high integrity, and professional ethical standing. I have also been exposed to various activities related to crime scene, such as documenting, locating, recovering, as well as analyzing evidence that I encounter. I also have experience in enhancing and processing physical evidence in a warehouse environment meant for evidence as well as a laboratory to give detailed information concerning the scene of crime. Moreover, I have worked with various law enforcement officers, detectives, and people in my field and non-governmental professionals for advisory purposes. This way, I have managed to gather sufficient experience on the ways in which I should handle an investigation concerning different types of criminal activities. Furthermore, I am a certified investigator for crime scene, having been approved by the Crime Scene Certification Board. This has demonstrated that I am qualified in handling cases pertaining to blood pattern analysis, crime scene documentation, crime scene reconstruction, death investigations, courtroom testimony, crime scene photography, report writing, evidence rules, investigation of traffic accidents, and wound dynamics. In addition to these, I have passed tests relating to crime scene investigation, having attained a score of more than 75% score in my course as an investigator. With this kind of training I believe that I am qualified enough to present evidence pertaining to this case without any flaws (CSI, 2015). DE-3: How did you get your assignment to go to the crime scene? To be assigned to the crime scene, I consulted the Bureau of Patrol body, which gave me details pertaining to the crime scene and how to go about the situation. I was interviewed to demonstrate the manner in which I would approach the situation together with my colleagues in the field. After the interviewing body was satisfied with my approach for undertaking the investigation as well as based on my years of experience in the field, I was given the go ahead to approach the case. I was assigned a detective and three police officers who facilitated in securing the site to ensure that the investigation process went on according to plan without any form of interference from the public. DE-4: When you arrived at the scene, who did you meet and how was the scene secured? Upon reaching the crime scene, I encountered five police officers, detectives, forensic investigators, patrol supervisors, and eyewitnesses to the incident. All these individuals had significant information concerning the crime, which would facilitate in the process. As the initial responders to the incident had not disrupted the scene and the physical evidence, the police officers at the scene put sentries in all entrances leading to the scene to keep the public from the scene. As the person responsible for carrying out the investigation, I evaluated the scene and set boundaries to facilitate in further analysis of the scene to come up with satisfactory evidence, which would link the perpetrator to the crime (Penven, 2015). DE-5: Can you explain to the jury what you mean by processing a crime scene for bloodstain analysis? Crime scene processing refers to a process whereby the incidents leading to the crime are investigated to come up with sufficient evidence about how the crime took place. The process encompasses examining, sketching, photographing, as well as using field techniques to facilitate in identifying, documenting, evaluating, processing, and collecting physical evidence, which would link the offender to the crime. By securing the crime scene, therefore, we were able to collect samples of blood, which we took to the laboratory for further analysis and determine whether the accused took part in the crime (Chicago Police, 2010). DE-6: Can you explain to the jury why you collected the bloodstained evidence from this scene? Blood contains DNA information relating to any individual. It is plays an essential role in terms of helping identify suspect or the victims. Blood serves as biological evidence that helps to link an offender to a specific crime scene. By gathering the bloodstained evidence, we were able to obtain the DNA information of the offender. Although it is not necessary for biological evidence to be visible to an individual’s naked eye, the bloodstains found played an essential role in terms of giving information related to the offender. By matching the DNA information with the offender, it served as possible evidence that he was involved in taking part in the crime. Based on this evidence, appropriate measures were taken to bring the culprit to justice (Schiro, 2015). Cross Examination by Defense CE-1: Can you explain how you documented the bloodstain evidence you collected? After the location of the crime was identified, then the bloodstain collection process was started. Special emphasis was given to blood because it needed to be taken to the laboratory for further investigation. The collection process was carried out in a logical manner and photographs were taken in each phase to help reveal any additional evidence layers, which may have been obscured. The blood was collected using clean unused bags. The wet blood was collected using plastic bags and sealed to prevent it from contaminating. After the blood was set in a secure location for about two hours, it was allowed to dry in dry air before being repackaged in a clean container. The key goal of doing this was to ensure that the blood did not develop microorganisms, which would lead to destruction of evidence (Schiro, 2015). The blood was stored separately from other evidence to avoid contamination. The container containing the blood was closed and secured. The aim of doing this was to ensure that it did not contaminate with moisture during the transportation process. The container carried the name of the person collecting the evidence where it came from. It also contained the name of the investigating agency and the name of the file. However, before embarking on the transportation process, I evaluated the evidence to ensure that there were no loose traces pertaining to the evidence, which would be lost when it was being transported. I put sufficient information on the collecting bag to describe the blood evidence. I later took sufficient measures to ensure that the bloodstains collected were not subjected to intense humidity or heat. I put I the blood in a fridge before taking it to the crime laboratory to avoid contaminating it. After taking the bloodstains to the laboratory after finalizing the collection process, I was able to ensure that it provided the appropriate information concerning the crime and the culprit involved (Schiro, 2015). CE-2: What were you told by the detectives about the crime scene? At the crime scene, I was able to talk with the detective concerning the incident. The detective said that it was his duty to report to the Bureau of Patrol before taking measures to oversee the preliminary investigation. He investigated the scene to get physical evidence, which he outlined to me. He later provided information gathered from eyewitnesses as well as the individuals who had knowledge concerning the way that the crime took place. He later consulted me where he said that I was to take charge for safeguarding, investigating, as well as process the scene of the crime. He also directed me on the way that I would collect the evidence for further investigation and the key details I should lay emphasis on. CE-3: Is it fair to say you identified and collected bloodstain evidence based on what the detectives told you? With regard to collection of evidence, I did not entirely collect the stains of the blood based on the information that I got from the detective. I sought to for additional evidence based on my experience regarding crime scenes to determine if there was any information that he may have missed, which would later assist in the investigation. By linking the information I acquired from the detective and the one I managed to obtain, I was able to get a clear image concerning how the crime took place and possible suspect to the crime (Schiro, 2015). CE-4: Did you even look for evidence that could show or demonstrate that someone other than my client committed this crime? It is not appropriate to charge a person without having sufficient information concerning the state of the crime scene and the parties involved. To avoid this, I embarked on a thorough process of gathering the evidence from different sources, including biological evidence, physical evidence, and eyewitnesses, who guided me on the approach to follow when examining the crime scene. Based on the information I gathered from these sources, was able to link the evidence with the offender, revealing that he actively participated in the criminal activity. CE-5: Is it possible that cross-contamination occurred at any point in your collection of the evidence or during the analysis of the evidence? At no time did any form of cross-contamination take place when collecting the evidence. Qualified professionals who had notable experience in gathering evidence carried out took part in the process. All the individuals gathering evidence followed protocol as they were being supervised to ensure that appropriate measures were put in place to safeguard interests of the parties involved in the crime. The storage and transportation of the evidence was handled efficiently to ensure that no form of contamination took place before it reached the laboratory for analysis. I also had a team of outside evaluators to ensure that no form of discrimination of favoritism was exercised when analyzing evidence regarding the crime. References Chicago Police. (2010). Crime Scene Protection and Processing. Retrieved from http://directives.chicagopolice.org/lt2014/data/a7a57be2-12946bda-6b312-9483-7cdab14bcdee3789.html CSI. (2015). CSI Training. Retrieved from http://www.crimesceneinvestigatoredu.org/training/ Penven, D. (2015). Basic Stages for a Crime Scene Investigation — Possible Homicide. Retrieved from http://www.crime-scene-investigator.net/possiblehomicide.html Schiro, G. (2015). Collection and Preservation of Blood Evidence from Crime Scenes. Retrieved from http://www.crime-scene-investigator.net/blood.html Read More