Stephens Madeleine, Errickson David, Giles Stephanie B, Ringrose Trevor J
Cranfield Forensic Institute, Cranfield University, Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, Shrivenham, SN6 8LA, UK.
Cranfield Forensic Institute, Cranfield University, Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, Shrivenham, SN6 8LA, UK.
Sci Justice. 2020 Nov;60(6):512-521. doi: 10.1016/j.scijus.2020.07.005. Epub 2020 Jul 29.
Footwear marks are one of the most frequently encountered evidence types recovered from a crime scene and can provide valuable scene intelligence regarding potential suspects. It has been acknowledged that impressions of footwear and tools can be recovered from graves, but previous studies have only focused on tool mark recovery. This has led to a lack of published information regarding footwear mark recovery from graves. It is therefore important to demonstrate whether the recovery of footwear marks is feasible and, if so, under what conditions this can be achieved. To address recovery, this study, placed 60 three dimensional (3D) impressions of footwear marks within 60 simulated graves. This was done to assess time (1, 2, 4 months) and at known depths (20, 30, 40 cm). The footwear marks within the graves were covered with clothing or left uncovered. The shoe's design patterns were grouped and counted in a photographic comparison between the 3D footwear impressions, placed within the test-pits, and any recovered impressions. A grading system was adapted by the authors to score the quality of footwear impressions observed during recovery. The results demonstrate that the preservation and recovery of footwear impressions from graves is feasible. The simulated graves covered with clothing showed better preservation of footwear impressions, but there was no clear evidence that time or depth had an effect. The authors note that careful consideration and vigilant excavation skills are needed when excavating graves which may bear potential footwear marks, as their recovery will lead to an increased amount of intelligence that can link suspects to homicide scenes.
鞋印是从犯罪现场获取的最常见证据类型之一，能够提供有关潜在嫌疑人的重要现场情报。人们已经认识到，可以从坟墓中获取鞋印和工具印，但以往的研究仅专注于工具印的提取。这导致关于从坟墓中提取鞋印的公开信息匮乏。因此，证明鞋印提取是否可行以及如果可行，在何种条件下能够实现这一点很重要。为了解决提取问题，本研究在60个模拟坟墓中放置了60个三维（3D）鞋印。这是为了评估时间（1、2、4个月）和已知深度（20、30、40厘米）的影响。坟墓中的鞋印有的覆盖衣物，有的未覆盖。在放置于试验坑中的3D鞋印与任何提取到的鞋印之间进行照片比对，对鞋的设计图案进行分组和计数。作者采用了一种分级系统来对提取过程中观察到的鞋印质量进行评分。结果表明，从坟墓中保存和提取鞋印是可行的。覆盖衣物的模拟坟墓中鞋印保存得更好，但没有明确证据表明时间或深度有影响。作者指出，在挖掘可能留有潜在鞋印的坟墓时，需要仔细考虑并具备警惕的挖掘技巧，因为鞋印的提取将带来更多能将嫌疑人与凶杀现场联系起来的情报。
