Problems of Forensic Sciences 2014 Vol. 100 (C) 295-306
APPLICATION OF BLOODSTAIN PATTERN ANALYSIS IN THE RECONSTRUCTION OF EVENTS
Grzegorz ZADORA
Institute of Forensic Research, Kraków, Poland
Streszczenie
Bloodstains secured at the scene of an event (e.g. a murder) or disclosed on clothes – in conjunction with information gained from, amongst other things, DNA profiling – may contribute to linking a person with an event or may help in reconstruction of that event. Bloodstain pattern analysis is a scientific discipline that draws on knowledge from biology, physics and mathematics. It can be carried out at the scene of the incident, where appropriate measurements are performed of bloodstains revealed on walls, the floor and/or objects located there. These measurements can also be performed on photographs (preferably digital and colour ones) taken at the scene of the incident. Furthermore, bloodstain pattern analysis can also be carried out on clothes and shoes or other physical evidence submitted for examination to a forensic laboratory. In the practice of the Institute of Forensic Research, expert opinions are given in cases in which general examinations of the clothes of a perpetrator and/or victim are carried out with the aim of disclosing bloodstains – which are most frequently poorly visible or hidden. In the article, basic information concerning analysis of the mechanism of arising of bloodstains has been presented. Furthermore, the application of information gained – from examining bloodstains – in expert opinions has also been discussed.
Słowa kluczowe
Bloodstain pattern analysis; Reconstruction of the event; Visualisation of latent bloodstains.