title: Locard's Principle of Exchange, Dental Examination and Fragments of Skin.
abstract: The transfer of materials between victim and perpetrator was first reported by Locard in the nineteenth century. While in recent years DNA testing has been very successful in matching biological material from crime scenes to perpetrators, the following cases demonstrate that other more time-honored methods remain useful. Two cases of lethal assault are reported where the victims had bitten their assailants resulting in fragments of the perpetrators' skin being wedged between their teeth which were discovered during post mortem oral examinations. As the fragments were able to be matched to injuries in the perpetrators, identification was established prior to confirmatory DNA testing. In case 1 a criminal conviction for manslaughter resulted, and in case 2 the identity of the assailant was confirmed. Examination of a properly exposed and illuminated oral cavity may provide useful evidence in assault cases. These cases represent an unusual dental variant of Locard's principle.
authors.affiliation: Forensic Science SA, 21 Divett Place, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia.|Discipline of Anatomy & Pathology, The University of Adelaide, Frome Rd, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia.
authors.forename: Roger W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Byard
authors.affiliation: Forensic Odontology, The University of Adelaide, Frome Rd, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: James
authors.affiliation: Forensic Odontology, The University of Adelaide, Frome Rd, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Berketa
authors.affiliation: Forensic Science SA, 21 Divett Place, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Heath
mesh_terms: D001734:Bites, Human / Q000473:pathology*; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D005260:Female; D006708:Homicide; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000473:pathology; D012867:Skin
keywords: Locard's principle; bite; forensic science; skin; teeth; trace evidence