Problems of Forensic Sciences 2007 Vol. 71 (LXXI) 251-264
SOURCES OF UNCERTAINTY IN THE EVALUATION OF THE EVIDENTIAL VALUE OF PAINT TRACES
Beata M. TRZCIŃSKA
Institute of Forensic Research, Krakow, Poland
Streszczenie
Nowadays evaluation of evidential value of examined evidence material, e.g. by numerical estimation, is perceived as one of the most important tasks in forensic sciences. Even when an expert opinion is given only in a verbal way without numerical values, the expert ought to consider the possibility of different errors occurring and their influence on the evidential value of the examined trace. In this paper, some sources of uncertainty (error) which can affect evaluation of the evidential value of car paint analysis in cases concerning traffic accidents are discussed. Paint chips or paint smears are materials which are very often examined by physicochemical forensic experts in such situations. A numerical estimation of evidential value requires an appropriate statistical model(s).
Słowa kluczowe
Evaluation of evidential value; Paint analysis; Sources of uncertainty.