A study of the probative value of Afro-Caribbean hair comparisons.
The interpretation of human hair comparisons is highly subjective and examiners tend to be cautious when evaluating positive evidence, partly because of a lack of background information relating to the interpretation of the results obtained. The purpose of this paper is to share the authors' experience of examining a large number (118) of samples of Afro-Caribbean hair. The strategy employed provided a rapid response, and only 11 (9.3%) individuals could not be excluded on the basis of hair comparison. It was concluded that not only are comparisons of Afro-Caribbean hairs possible but a significant proportion of individuals can be excluded by such tests.
Lamb
P
P
Huntingdon Forensic Science Laboratory, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom.
Tucker
L G
LG
D044383:Black People; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D006197:Hair / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011902:Rape; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014900:West Indies