Bungled bite mark evidence collection: a proposed protocol for the prevention thereof.
In recent years, several bite mark cases referred to our department could not be adequately analysed due to poor evidence collection. This has highlighted the fact that police officers, forensic pathologists and dental practitioners do not have access to the information required to collect, record, duplicate, store and transport the relevant evidence correctly. This article highlights several case studies in which evidence collection was bungled. A protocol is proposed that should eliminate this problem.
Bernitz
H
H
Department of Oral Pathology and Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, University of Pretoria, P.O. Box 1266, Pretoria 0001, Gauteng, South Africa. bernitz@iafrica.com
van Niekerk
P J
PJ
D000368:Aged; D001734:Bites, Human; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D003760:Dental Impression Materials; D003761:Dental Impression Technique; D004282:Documentation; D005104:Expert Testimony; D005260:Female; D005553:Forensic Dentistry / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D010781:Photography
D003760:Dental Impression Materials