title: Forensic age estimation in anti-piracy trials in Seychelles: Experiences and challenges faced.
abstract: Forensic age estimation (FAE) was conducted using a multifactorial method on thirteen Somali detainees claiming juvenile status during the anti-piracy trials of the Seychelles Supreme Court in 2014/2015. A multidisciplinary team, comprising of four of the authors covering specialties in forensic medicine, forensic odontology and radiology, conducted the FAE using a five-stage protocol. Each detainee was interviewed with an interpreter and examined for disorders affecting dental/skeletal development and for assessment of genital development through Tanner staging. Dental maturity was assessed clinically and radiologically. Eruption stage was assessed using Olze et al. and mandibular third-molar maturity was assessed using Demirjian's classification. Skeletal maturity was assessed from hand-wrist X-rays according to Greulich & Pyle and from CT-clavicle according to Kellinghaus et al. and Schultz et al. Interpretation of findings was done using reference population data from similar ethnic and social backgrounds wherever possible. Final age-ranges were calculated by combining dental and clavicle maturity stages using the regression formula developed by Bassed et al. followed by a 10% correction factor. The team later testified on their findings under cross-examination. The protocol adopted by the authors increased the scientific validity of the findings and was useful in addressing cross-examination queries on exclusion of developmental disorders, ethnic/socioeconomic variability and maintaining chain of custody. Unforeseen jurisdictional and practical limitations were experienced but did not affect the outcome. Combining dental and clavicle developmental data provided the court with a much clearer picture on the likelihood of the detainees' juvenile status which emphasizes the importance of conducting more population studies using combinations of different developmental sites. The authors note that available reference data is mostly from affluent populations whereas FAE is mostly required in individuals from less-developed regions. Regional networks that collate and share population-specific data need to be established to overcome these limitations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Electronic address: sameera@fortox.cmb.ac.lk.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Gunawardena
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: U A
authors.initials: UA
authors.lastname: Liyanage
authors.affiliation: Institute of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Weeratna
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: N D N A
authors.initials: NDNA
authors.lastname: Mendis
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: H J M
authors.initials: HJM
authors.lastname: Perera
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Jayasekara
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fernando
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000365:Age Determination by Skeleton / Q000379:methods*; D000366:Age Determination by Teeth / Q000379:methods*; D002968:Clavicle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development; D050276:Hand Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development; D011329:Prisoners / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D011861:Radiography, Dental; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012750:Seychelles; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014078:Tooth Eruption; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Age estimation in the living; Clavicle maturation; Forensic Anthropology Population Data; Multifactorial approach; Third molar development