Analysis of Evidence
All evidence will be analysed by a forensic scientist once it has been placed into the chain of custody, depending on the type of evidence will depend on how it is analysed. Once analyzing the evidence a lot of information can be gained for the police, depending on the results of the analyses will give them an idea of how many suspects need to be found, if they need to eliminate suspects or find a new suspect.When analyzing a piece of evidence scientific techniques are used, this brings a lot of value through the analyses of evidence. Scientific techniques allow us to gain the necessary results and use the evidence within a court of law, forensic science is a key step within any given criminal investigation as it helps come to a final decision of what has happened and who is guilty/ not guilty.Certain procedures will be used within the forensic analysis depending on what it is, for example a suspected blood sample will be analysed differently to a suspected semen sample. If blood is found at a crime scene which is not a match to the victims blood this will mean that the police need to look for another injured suspect or victim depending on how many people had been targeted. If the victim states that the blood belongs to the suspect the blood sample will be tested against blood samples from each of the suspects the police have, people that don't hold a match will be eliminated from the case unless there is other evidence to prove they where involved. Other pieces of evidence gained within cases may be surveillance (CCTV), witness statements etc. These will also be analysed although this wont be done by a forensic scientist, police investigators will analyse this evidence stating the validity of it and writing a report on how beneficial it is within the investigation.
Analysis of Evidence within the Soham Murders
Multiple pieces of evidence where retrieved from the three crime scenes which where further analysed in a forensic laboratory.
The Bodies
A forensic pathologist carried out a post morton on both of the bodies to determine the cause and time of death. It was known to the pathologist that the bodies had been burned due to half of the flesh being missing from the uper half of the childrens bodies, this meant it was hard to determine if the bodies belonged to the children. The post morton suggested that the bodies were placed at the scene not long after death, the pathologist believed this due to the bodies being laid out flat due to this also being before rigor mortise occurring. The pathologist was able to identify the childrens bodies through DNA profiling, using the molecular genetics of the children comparing them to biological fluids they were able to retrieve from the childrens items at home. The pathologist identified there was no neck injuries located on either of the children, but was not able to fully identify what the cause of death was due to the degree of degradation. Although the pathologist was able to prove that Ian Huntley's account of what had happened to the girls was in fact false, this was proven through no blood being located on the childrens shirts. By completing a post morton the pathologist gained a lot of information about the childrens death, this was an important stage within the investigation as it helped the police gained the correct evidence through scientific techniques the validity of the evidence gained from the bodies was strong.
CCTV
The CCTV footage retrieved by police was analysed in great detail, although through the first analysis of the CCTV it was shown that accounts given from witnesses didn't match the CCTV footage. The police then knew that the CCTV footage was out of sink after putting the footage back into sink this made it clear to the police that the CCTV footage did match all witness statements given to them about the childrens disappearance. Through this linking together it was an advantage for the police force as they where able to plot the movements the girls made onto a map, the last known movements they where given where towards 5 College Close where Ian Huntley lived. Due to there being no more sightings after this there was sufficient evidence that showed the children diapered in that direction so they were able to hold Huntley as a suspect.
Mobile Phone
Jessica Chapman had her mobile phone on her when the girls went missing, this meant that the police where able to analyse the mobile phone for details on when it was last used, why it was last used and where it was cut off. The police used cell site analysis to analyse this, they came to a conclusion that the mobile phone was last in use within the perimeter of 5 College Close where Ian Huntley lived. This was useful within the investigation as there was more evidence to prove that the children disappeared in the direction of Ian Huntley;s home.
Cell site analysis was also used on Ian Huntley's phone this stated he visited a Tyre shop in Ely on the 5th of August after the children went missing. The police had evidence that proved Ian had four Tyre's changed on his car after the girls had went missing and been left at the crime scene near Suffolk. Sufficient evidence was gained through this for the police as they were able to prove Ian Huntley was a suspect through the scientific techniques used, the validity of the evidence gained through cell site analysis was strong evidence that was used in the court of law.
Girls Clothing
Scientific techniques used on the childrens shirts where able to place them in 5 college close on the day that they died. Forensic Scientists performed fiber analysis on the shirts and compared this to fibers on the curtains located in the house as well as carpets located within the house. Microscopic examinations where able to prove this by white light, blue filtered light and ultra violet light. Located on the girls clothing where hair samples, DNA profiling was used to identify if the hairs belonged to either of the children. This was carried out in the same way the pathologist performed it to identify the bodies. The scientific techniques used to prove the children where in five college close was vital within this case, without being able to place the children exactly within the home a verdict may not have been reached. The scientific techniques used by the forensic scientists where beyond relevant and gave strong value that Ian Huntley had committed the crime.
