Scientific and Legal Applications of Bloodstain Pattern Interpretation Stuart H. James

Since 1955 when Dr. Paul Kirk first presented a bloodstain evidence affidavit in State of Ohio v. Samuel Sheppard, expert testimony on bloodstain interpretation has gained wide acceptance in U.S. courts. Scientific and Legal Applications of Bloodstain Pattern Interpretation brings together some of the most respected and noted experts in forensic science, the law, and bloodstain interpretation to provide a comprehensive overview of the discipline. It discusses research, applications, and the current view of bloodstain pattern interpretation within the legal system at the trial and appellate court levels, as well as scientific approaches and developments in the field.
Scientific and Legal Applications of Bloodstain Pattern Interpretation will help attorneys who are questioning and cross-examining expert witnesses have a good working knowledge of bloodstain interpretation. Included is a full-color atlas of bloodstains, in conjunction with a glossary of terms and an outline of basic laboratory experiments that are commonly used in the discipline.

Among the outstanding contributions in this volume you will find:

• An excellent chapter by Carol Henderson discusses the legal and ethical aspects of bloodstain pattern evidence in detail.
• A post-conviction analysis by Marie Elena Saccoccio evaluates how bloodstain evidence can play a role in the appeal process.
  
  Misinterpretation and overinterpretation of bloodstain evidence can occur in our courts of law-be prepared to effectively analyze the evidence and the testimony with Scientific and Legal Applications of Bloodstain Pattern Interpretation.

• Table of Contents

  Defining the "Address" of Bloodstains and Other Evidence at the Crime Scene, William C. Fischer
  Abstract
  Methodology
  Two Angles and a Distance
  Attributes
  Orientation
  Surface Designation
  Establishing the Flight Path
  Solving for the Slope of the Flight Path
  Data-Basing
  Solving for the Point of Intersection
  Calculating the Value of the Third Coordinate
  Calculating the Distance from Stain to PO
  Units
  Other Objects and Surfaces
  Observations
  Bloodstain Pattern Analysis with a Computer, Alfred L. Carter
  Introduction
  Part I-Computing the String Direction
  Part II-Actual Flight Paths Compared to Virtual Strings
  Part III-The Virtual String Analysis of a Bloodstain Pattern Using BackTrack/Win
  Utilizing Bloodstains in Accident Reconstruction, William C. Fischer
  Introduction
  Relative Motion
  Pattern Recognition
  Case Examples
  The Use of Presumptive Testing for Blood, T. Paulette Sutton
  Introduction
  Presumptive Tests for Blood
  Presumptive Test Mechanism
  Benzidine Test
  Benzidine Test Reagent-Single Stage
  Benzidine Test Reagent-Two Stage
  ortho-Toluidine Test
  Hemastix® Test
  Leucomalachite Green Test-Single Stage
  Leucomalachite Green Test-Two Stage
  Phenolphthalein Test
  Luminol Test
  Sensitivity of Presumptive Tests for Blood
  False Positives
  Results of Study
  Terminology and Color Atlas of Bloodstains and Patterns, Stuart H. James
  Approach to Case Evaluation and Report Writing, Paul Erwin Kish
  Approaching Bloodstain Pattern Cases
  Sequence for Approaching Bloodstain Pattern Cases
  Factors to Consider When Analyzing a Bloodstain Pattern Case
  The Bloodstain Report
  Legal and Ethical Aspects of Bloodstain Pattern Evidence, Carol Henderson
  Introduction
  Legal Issues
  Direct and Cross Examination of the Expert
  Ethical Issues
  Conclusion
  Bloodstain Pattern Interpretation-A Post-Conviction Analysis, Marie Elena Saccoccio
  Introduction
  A Bit of History
  The Post-Conviction Attorney's Role-So Daunting a Task
  The Appeal
  Admissibility
  The Collateral Attack
  Conclusion
  Outline of Basic Laboratory Experiments for Bloodstain Pattern Interpretation, Stuart H. James
  The Volume of a Drop of Blood
  Diameter of a Bloodstain Produced by Single Drops of Blood of Constant Volume as a Function of Distance Fallen and Surface Texture
  Effect of Surface Texture on Spatter of Blood Drops and the Size and Edge Characteristics of the Resultant Bloodstains
  Bloodstain Shape vs. Angle of Impact
  Angular Impact Produced by Horizontal Motion
  Drip Patterns of Blood and Splashed Blood vs. Distance Fallen
  Projected Blood vs. Distance Fallen and Blood Projected on Vertical Surfaces
  Cast-Off Bloodstains
  Medium-Velocity Impact Blood Spatter
  High-Velocity Impact Blood Spatter
  Recognition of Blood Contact-Transfer Patterns, Swipes or Smears, Smudges and Wipes of Blood
  Blood Volume vs. Bloodstained Area
  Bloodstain Size vs. Horizontal Projection
  Clotting and Drying Time of Blood
  Presumptive Testing of Blood
  Appendix 1: Affidavit of Paul Leland Kirk (State of Ohio v. Samuel H. Sheppard
  Appendix 2: Illustrative Testimony-A Motion in Limine for the Admissibility of Bloodstain Pattern Interpretation
  Appendix 3: Court Decisions Relating to Bloodstain Pattern Interpretation
  Appendix 4: Court Decisions Relating to Presumptive Blood Testing
  Appendix 5: Trigonometric Tables
  Index