History of Blood Spatters in Crime Investigations - Essay Example

Task BLOOD SPATTER ANALYSIS Introduction Many a time’s deaths occur. But it is better if nature could take its than if a person’s life were to be determined by some inhuman acts. The cold-blooded acts are usually committed with some variant use of firearms, blunt objects that causes pain to the source. Such deaths are often categorized as homicides and require forensic to know the exact happenings. After the acts, blood is often left at the crime scene. Thus, homicide detectives are obligated to form their case from the available blood. This is because the remaining blood usually provide some trace to the previous events before the death occurred leading to a bloodstain investigation. One such criterion involved is the blood spatter that is explicitly discussed in the paper below. Blood spatter is the assessment of the various shapes developed by blood, places and circulation of bloodstain so as to provide the physical events of what happened (Guerra, pg 37). The examination helps to determine the interpretation so that the origin can be single-minded. The blood however usually occurs due to the fact that the source is subjected to some exterior force. This might is usually greater than the gravity making the blood spill. The analysis of blood stains is commonly used by courts to determine the case of the events. For instance, it can be used to accept or refute the position that had been taken by the victim, witness, the defendant or the suspect of the event. It can also establish if the nature of the attack was a one-sided or kind of fight back between the fatalities. Hence, the detectives precisely provide the court with accurate information on what the real events were for the prosecution to take place. History of blood spatters in crime investigations The blood spatters analysis began in the late ninetieth century and but was less valued in the crime investigations scenes. It was Dr. Edward from Poland who published the origin, distribution and spread of strains due to head injuries. Its reality however became noticed during the 1955 case, Ohio vs. shepherd. Dr. Paul Kirk provided evidence on how the assailant had struck the victim and even proved that he used the left hand to do so. Having successfully gone through by mere use of blood spatter, it became recognized by the legal system and ever since has been used in various investigations (Nickell, Joe, and John, pg 5-8) Characteristics of the blood spatter The nature of blood spatter can be categorized into four major groups according to the level of impacts and blood spill found on the crime scene. First is the low velocity that is a blood fall that occurs with a similar speed as the gravitational strength. They are usually large with an approximate diameter of 4mm and majorly come from the wounds or blood dripping from wet points. However, as the distance of the fall rises, blood size typically increases (Fish, pg 15). Another spatter is the medium velocity or force that is generally produced with a greater strength than the gravity. The size of the spatter usually averages between 2-4mm and is experienced when a victim is stabbed or hit by a blunt object. The third spatter is the high force or velocity. The magnitude of the spatter is less than 2mm and the force greater than gravity. They are the blood spill observed when a victim is exposed to gunshots and explosions and when they land on surfaces, they take like mist form structures (Ristenpart, pg 11). Finally, there is the back and forward spatter. Back spatter happens when some force is exerted towards the external pressure while the forward spatter is when blood follows in the same direction as the force. The spillage majorly depends on distance and power of the exterior object. Angle of impact When the blood hits a surface, some effects are usually generated and can be used to establish the angle of impact by the detectives. If the stain was to fall from a steeper surface, then the spread will be more elongated or form some ellipse shape. While on the surface, some direction can be observed as it spreads out. This forms the tail and the head just like any other liquid split. The tail usually has a special meaning since they show the direction of the stain. The homicide detectives thus measure the width and length of the stain so to launch various measurements. The lesser value is divided by, the bigger counterpart that provides investigators with the angle of the impact that can be used to found the events that occurred (Ristenpart, pg 9). Nonetheless, it should be notified that the tail of the stain is never measured since it is merely a secondary source and cannot be used as leading primary research tool. On other occasions, however, the detectives do not have to reach the crime scenes. They can rely on technicians who take photographs both at long and short range of the spatter. They do so by some scale of measurements that can help in the analysis. Furthermore, for the homicide detectives to be more accurate and reliable, they consider other evidences such as shoeprint since the police might interfere with the photos making the evidence irrelevant. This helps to identify the exact point to which the event took place (Nickell, Joe, and John, pg 6-9) However, the blood pattern analysis is majorly used where violent crime has occurred. The crimes usually are orchestrated by an object that exerts external force to the blood source. Hence, determination of the actual happening must be established (Fish, pg 8). They are also used in a scenario where the eyewitness cannot be trusted with his/her position concerning a particular case. Thus, to know the truth to which the observer can be refuted or substantiate the claims, the blood spatter analysis must be carried out so that the judge can make the correct judgment. Conclusion Forensic science has made homicide investigations to be a simple process by merely the use of blood spatter at the crime events. The method is quite accurate and helps eliminates the doubts of either the victim, the witness of the claims that they might have concerning the event happenings. Hence, to justice departments have an easier time to make conclusions. However, the science must be administered with accuracy and is only reliable if not used to implicate the innocents since it does have room for weakness. Work cited Fish, Jacqueline T., et al. Crime scene investigation. Routledge, 2013. Guerra, Isela. "The Use of Trigonometry in Blood Spatter." (2014). Ristenpart, William, et al. "Quantitative Analysis of High Velocity Bloodstain Patterns." (2013). Nickell, Joe, and John F. Fischer. Crime science: methods of forensic detection. University Press of Kentucky, 2013. Read More