TOOL MARKS AND ITS FORENSIC SIGNIFICANCE

TINA SResearch scholar

Department of Forensic SciencePunjabi university,Patiala

sharmatina1989@gmail.com

WHAT IS CRIME?

Legal concept i.e. breach of law All civilized societies have codified

penal codes what constitute crime. These penal codes have explained

punishment for particular crime.

Punishment should be delivered to culprit and innocent should be saved that’s why Criminal Investigations are done with help of forensic scientific methods to apprehend criminals.

What are tool marks

A tool mark is defined as the mark left by the forcible contact of any implement with a softer surface. The nature and quality of the tool mark can be determined by;

Relative hardness Magnitude of force applied Relative motion of one surface over the

other

Why forensically significant

Individuality Permanency Linkage Reconstruction possible

Tool marks

Criminal often uses some sort of tools to commit crimes

Like: Entering a house Steeling electric wires Hit and run cases Removal of expensive parts from

vehicles

What questions expert need to answer?

Are the crime mark created by given tool?

Have the traces of the tool come from suspected surface

Tool marks sorted a crime

person A said he was just trying to frigten the victim by aiming a loaded gun. But person B gave a sword blow due to which shot was fired…….

What do u thing what can help in these kind of cases…..

What kind of TOOLS can be used?

Screw driver Ghost key master key Axe Saw Drill Shovel spade Crow bars Wire cutters

Marks of tool can be……

Indentations Scrapes Drilled holes Contact marks Static marks Sliding marks Striations

Evidence examination

PHOTOGRAPHY Two types of photographs are necessary for courtroom presentation as well as for investigative purposes.

1. Overall photos depicting the entire scene and the object which bears the toolmark.

2. Close-up photos showing the detail of the toolmark. These photos should contain a scale and are used for identification and orientation only.

Photos cannot be used for actual comparisons. Photographs should depict the physical location and arrangement of the door, window, etc. bearing the mark. These can reveal the direction of tool use and whether or not the tool is physically capable of making the mark. A scale/ ruler should be included in these photographs. The photos should be submitted, with the evidence, for examination.

Packing

Collect original article if possible If article cannot be collected prepare cast

Plastine Dentall mass Adhesive tape

Latex plastic solution Woods metal Plaster of paris

It should ensure Safty Multilation Contemination Scraping

Standards are to be prepared by the examiner

Test marks are prepared by varying angle from 15 degree

Examination of tool marks…..

Photograph it…..

Caste it…..

Comparison of tool marks

Mechanical fit Side by side matching Composite match Juxtaposition match Super imposition

Interseting case

Thank you so much