The FSS was at the forefront of DNA research when it was closed in 2012. Nevertheless, the benefits of that technology are still being seen in legacy cases such as this case.

In 1981, the naked body of 54-year-old Nora Sheehan was found dumped in Shippool Woods, County Cork, Ireland. Samples taken from her body were analysed by the local experts using the techniques available at the time.

Meanwhile, the Forensic Science Service pioneered a DNA profiling technique, called Low Copy number (LCN), from very small amounts of recovered genetic material. Dr Whitaker is a world-renowned expert in this technique and, whilst working for the FSS, was asked in 2009 to examine samples retained in this case as part of a cold case review. He managed to obtain a reportable profile. In 2022 Dr Whitaker carried out further work on the case and, following a three-week trial, Noel Long was found guilty at The Central Criminal Court in Dublin of her murder.

For more detail go to https://www.rte.ie/news/primetime/2023/0804/1398194-the-death-of-nora-sheehan-a-42-year-cold-case-now-solved/

PFS scientists continue to provide the expertise and support to ensure that  important results contribute to the delivery of Justice. This case follows another from Western Australia where LCN DNA results contributed to identifying the Claremont serial killer.

The post The death of Nora Sheehan appeared first on Principal Forensic Services.

She is a world renowned specialist in DNA analysis, interpretation and evaluation and in Case Assessment and Interpretation who has worked in the field for over 35 years.

Sue graduated from Leeds University in 1984 with a PhD in Biochemistry, & carried out post-doctoral research on DNA & cancer, joining the Forensic Science Service in 1987 as a researcher on DNA profiling. During 25 years at FSS she became a court-going expert witness specialising in complex DNA cases, including the introduction of new DNA techniques, giving evidence on hundreds of cases in many jurisdictions. She also specialised in Interpretation & was a DNA Principal Scientist. During her time there she published many research articles & also contributed to the Royal Statistical Society Nuffield Practitioner Guide series.

The post Congratulations to our Dr Sue Pope appeared first on Principal Forensic Services.

PFS will no longer be in a position to carry out GSR based case work.

Angela would like to take this opportunity to thank all of her clients, colleagues and friends for their support and fulfilling working relationships over the past decade. Not least, thank you to PFS for the privilege of working with you and building the PFS brand which is recognised world-wide.

The post Angela’s departure from PFS appeared first on Principal Forensic Services.

Roger Robson, Iain Peck and Tony Stockton, as valued Associates, were invited by unanimous agreement and at the wish of each Associate to join the current Board of Director’s and we are pleased to announce they have been formally appointed with the relevant documents filed at Companies House.

We are certain that Roger, Iain and Tony will contribute to maintaining the longevity of the PFS company and brand through their valuable contributions to decision making and the future direction of the company.

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Residential Course.

Location: Reading UK

Date: 13-17th September 2021

This week-long residential training course focuses on the basic application of BPA and is suitable for Law Enforcement Personnel, Crime Scene Investigators, Laboratory Practitioners and other individuals aligned with BPA (in the laboratory or at crime scenes).

This course meets the educational standards as defined by IABPA and OSAC (formerly SWGSTAIN) and successful participants are able to apply for industry-standard membership of the International Association of Blood Pattern Analysts (IABPA). Access to post-course mentoring is available to all attendees.

Our courses are delivered by internationally-recognised experts working in partnership to provide professional training of the highest quality to multi-agency practitioners.

Instructors: Jo Millington (Spattered Ltd) and Gillian Leak (Principal Forensic Services Ltd)

For enquiries or application please e.mail: gillianleak@principalforensicservices.com

Arrangements have been made to run this event in a Covid safe way. Further information will be detailed in the course information provided.

The post 40 Hour Basic BPA Training 13-17th Sept 2021 – Book Now! appeared first on Principal Forensic Services.

Residential Course

Location: Reading, UK

Date: 10-14 May 2021

This week-long residential training course focuses on the advanced application of BPA at crime scenes and in the laboratory. It is suitable for Law Enforcement Personnel, Crime Scene Investigators, Laboratory Practitioners and other individuals aligned with BPA (in the laboratory or at crime scenes) who have previously attended the 40-hour / level 2 BPA training course (or documented equivalent).

Our courses are delivered by internationally-recognised experts working in partnership to provide professional training of the highest quality to multi-agency practitioners.

Instructors: Jo Millington (Spattered Ltd)

                    Gillian Leak (Principal Forensic Services Ltd)

For enquiries or application please e.mail jo@spattered.co.uk

Arrangements have been made to run this event in a Covid safe way. Further information will be detailed in the course information provided.

The post 40 hour Advanced BPA Course – Bookings now being taken appeared first on Principal Forensic Services.

Residential Course.

Location: Reading UK

Date: 17-21 May 2021

This week-long residential training course focuses on the basic application of BPA and is suitable for Law Enforcement Personnel, Crime Scene Investigators, Laboratory Practitioners and other individuals aligned with BPA (in the laboratory or at crime scenes).

This course meets the educational standards as defined by IABPA and OSAC (formerly SWGSTAIN) and successful participants are able to apply for industry-standard membership of the International Association of Blood Pattern Analysts (IABPA). Access to post-course mentoring is available to all attendees.

Our courses are delivered by internationally-recognised experts working in partnership to provide professional training of the highest quality to multi-agency practitioners,

Instructors: Jo Millington (Spattered Ltd)

                      Gillian Leak (Principal Forensic Services Ltd)

For enquiries or application please e.mail jo@spattered.co.uk

Arrangements have been made to run this event in a Covid safe way. Further information will be detailed in the course information provided.

The post 40 hour Basic BPA Course – Bookings now being taken appeared first on Principal Forensic Services.

The recent ITV drama prompted me to revisit yet again the conundrum as to why the majority of police forces in England/Wales rarely consider the value of textile fibres during their investigations. Many no longer consider fibre recovery as part of their forensic strategy – potential evidence can be left behind and cases left unsolved.

There are various reasons why this happened. Back in the day, the Forensic Science Service routinely offered this service to the police nationally. Each laboratory had its own Forensic Fibre Expert – indeed I was one of ‘em – that was mirrored across many forensic laboratories internationally.

Of course, science moves on, techniques fall in and out of favour. DNA testing and digital forensics came like tsunamis. These techniques revolutionised the value of forensic science in the criminal justice system. Fibres took a backstep – the process was slow, the evidence often subjective, nor as powerful as DNA. The expertise soon became diluted.

DNA however, does not provide all the answers and the presence (or absence) of textile fibres, not only assists with contextualising criminal events, it can also assist in those most awkward of investigations where conventional DNA testing is confusing or has even drawn a blank. The location of transferred fibres can be particularly effective in targeting those key exhibits which are more likely to harbour that valuable DNA result. I and my peers have had considerable success applying this approach in high profile unsolved historic murders.

Two cases spring to mind:

The Pembrokeshire Murders. This was the most complex of cold cases which had been reviewed and re-reviewed over the years. I became heavily involved with the team in 2006 and painstakingly reconstructed events of both the Coastal Path murders, those at Scoveston, a couple of unsolved sexual assaults and the antics of the suspect, John Cooper. Eventually we found a tenuous link from a glove recovered from a hedgerow to the coastal path scene. This same glove was subsequently linked to both the Coastal Path victims and to various exhibits within Cooper’s home which subsequently linked in terms of fibres with the two sexual assault victims and Scoveston. Eventually using other exhibits, we unfolded the most complex of tapestries. Not only linking all the crimes together and back to John Cooper’s home but also pointed to those exhibits which were most likely to contain the DNA of the victims – a shotgun and a pair of shorts. The prosecution team didn’t wish to lose the jury on the technical aspects so I gave an effective media presentation in court in 2011. I always considered this was my Swan Song, the highlight of my career, but then…

The Claremont Killings. I was instructed in 2019 by the defence on a historic case in Western Australia – probably the largest case in the past 20 years. The murders of two young ladies in the late 90’s remained unsolved. The prosecution purported that the accused used his car to execute the crimes. Eventually the vehicle was located and inevitably the evidence emerged. Fibres from work uniform at that time and interior fabrication of his fleet car were linked to both victims. I spent 18 months ensuring the evidence was safe and robust. It was a compelling case and fibre links were paramount to the ultimate conviction. Bizarrely, one of my former fibre colleagues, Dr Ray Palmer, was also involved. He assisted the Australian fibre experts in their evaluation of the evidence. It was a thought-proving and particularly thorough case using a novel fibres database. The Australian experts were particularly well versed with the subject matter.

Undoubtedly, the prosecution would have struggled to get cases such as these to court without the extensive fibre links. There are plenty of other similar cases.

Whilst I’m not “the last man standing”, it is fair to say, forensic fibre experts are now a rare breed. The application of fibre techniques and associated expertise in England/Wales is on the endangered list. How many more cases will remain cold if this discipline becomes extinct?

Roger Robson – Affiliate, Principal Forensic Services and Visiting Professor Staffordshire University

The post The Pembrokeshire Murders: “Every Contact Leaves a Trace” by Roger Robson appeared first on Principal Forensic Services.

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Since DNA analysis became part of forensic science in the mid-1980s, its impact on investigation of crime and at court has been immense. In a few years the technique became the gold standard for evaluative evidence, overtaking some other evidence types, and replacing others completely. Part of this impact was due to formal statistical calculations, replacing subjective opinions, on the weight of evidence provided for the prosecution and defence views. The technology has improved quickly with ever more sensitive tests being introduced; the statistical interpretation of increasingly complex DNA results has not been as swift. The absence of a forum for inter-disciplinary discussion between developers and end users has led to methods being developed by statisticians, with little input from the working forensic scientists. It is forensic scientists who will be using the software, and typically have little opportunity to discuss with lawyers the data impact and presentation for non-scientific audiences such as Judges, magistrates and juries. There is a danger for courts in these interpretations — which are produced by a black box — where the reporting forensic scientist has little input and less understanding. It is time for a dialog between the scientists producing the DNA results, the statisticians developing the calculation methods and software and, the lawyers who present the findings to the court.

The post New publication addressing complex scientific issues for court appeared first on Principal Forensic Services.