ASM 275 Lecture Notes - Lecture 18: Memba People, Soft Tissue, Trowel
14 Nov 2014
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Week 3: crime scene analysis, trauma and taphonomy. Make identification of the victim more difficult. Disgrace the victim: manner of dismemberment can provide information on assailant"s state of mind, if too precise: indicates skill with butchery. Localized cutmarks - joints: if too brutal: indicates disregard for victim rather than convenience (move body, hide body). Generalized cutmarks everywhere: remember , if dismembering a body, make sure it isn"t found. Power source (hand held or power saw) These determine the cut characteristics: three types of dismemberment cuts, 1) superficial false start scratches made during pull stroke, before primary kerf is made. Can provide information on saw type as well as position of body and assailant: analysis of saw marks, 1) direction of cut assess body position, handedness. Direction of progress e. g. from anterior of bone to posterior. Inferred based on location of false start kerfs and breakaway spur: 2) number of teeth accuracy depends on type of cuts present, crude estimate provided.
