Recent Case Studies

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Case Study - Clothing comparison    A person  produced a firearm which was captured on CCTV under infrared  (IR) light. FVS were tasked to determine whether the clothing worn by an  offender and that recovered by police were one and the same.  As shown in the graphic, the same garment looks different depending on  the type of light used. This result was compared against the offender’s  jacket at the time of the offence. This and other recognition points (marked  by arrows) supported the Police argument that they had recovered the  offender’s jacket.   This shows why scene visits and reconstructions are crucial for forensic  imagery work - without this, the recovered jacket under normal light would  have been compared to the offender’s under IR and this could have  undermined the case.  Case Study - Vehicle Analysis A  vehicle suspected to have been used in connection with a serious assault was recovered by Police. FVS arranged for the vehicle to be photographed  from different angles, and compared the photographs with imagery of the  vehicle in question captured on CCTV. We found a number of unique  characteristics present on both the recovered vehicle and those shown on the vehicle captured on CCTV. This led us to conclude that the vehicle captured on CCTV and the vehicle  recovered by Police were one and the same. Case Study - Weapon analysis secures conviction of  Birmingham rioters  During the 2011 riots in Birmingham, a Police Support Unit (PSU) of riot  officers were lured by rioters to a petrol bomb attack at the Bartons Arms  public house, Aston. They were ambushed by gunmen and multiple shots  were fired at both police officers and also at the West Midlands Police  helicopter observing the disorder from overhead.  FVS were able to provide accurate height measurements and  descriptions of each offender, as well as compare weapons recovered by  Police with  footage of gunmen firing at the helicopter.     

The following are a small selection of cases where FVS evidence has been crucial in Court proceedings.

Case Study - Four men plead guilty to murder   Four men were found guilty of murdering a man in Luton in January  2014.   The offenders attacked him with knives and meat cleavers, and also  hacked off his friend’s nose.  Evidence included the actual meat cleaver, items of clothing and  CCTV from a nearby shop.  FVS provided photogrammetry and undertook a reconconstruction  using the recovered items.   The build and height of the offenders was determined and  comparsons made with the weapon.   The original CCTV was poor. FVS enhanced this to reveal  additional detail. Nearly invisible in the original footage, a figure can  be seen standing to the left of the car when the image is enhanced.  More on this case... 

Offender 

Reconstruction 

Case Study - Photgrammetry and clothing comparison   FVS were called to assist with analysing footage of a person who  Police suspected of having stabbed a male 11 times with a  hunting knife in the Mezz Bar, Lincoln.  In addition to clothing, facial and body mapping, photogrammetry  was used to calculate the male’s height. The male was measured  as being 6’ 2”, which matched the offender. This comparison  evidence assisted in securing a life sentence for the offender at  Lincoln Crown Court, with a direction by Judge Michael Heath to  serve a minimum of 21 years.  Judge Heath said: "Without warning, you subjected the victim to a  brutal and sustained attack. The knife, which I have seen, is a  fearsome weapon."  More on this story... Case Study - Clothing, footwear and height analysis  A person in Birmingham stabbed a man to death in order to steal  £3,000 which the victim had just won at Gala Casino. He used the  proceeds to go out partying with his friends, saying “the drinks are  on me”. FVS expert evidence included the comparison of clothing, facial  mapping and photogrammetry.  We produced a report which assisted in securing a guilty plea. He  was given a life tariff, with an order to serve a minimum of 30  years. Shown in the graphics are examples of the anlaysis techniques  which included clothing comaprison and photogrammetry. The  example shows the centre of the scale board as it passes through  Person X’s ground nadir - the point on the ground directly below  the uppermost height of the subject.  Case Study - Video Enhancement and weapon analysis We are often asked to enhance an image or a video to extract more detail. To be sucessful the video has to have enough ‘bit depth’ within the file (an 8-bit file will not enhance as effectively as a 32-bit file).  Without sufficient bit-depth the results will not be as impressive. In the case shown, FVS undertook a detailed examination of the  scene of a ‘drive-by’ shooting of a bouncer. We were able to produce accurate measurements of the angle of fire and distance to impact. We were also able to enhance the imagery of the vehicle. Mouse over the images to the right to show what we were able to  achieve with the images. Our findings and enhancement were presented to the court. The  perpetrator was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment. More on this  story... Case Study - Chronology of Events A man died after being punched and knocked to the ground in an  incident outside the Euro Food Centre in Silver Street,  Northampton in August 2013.  The suspects denied manslaughter. Prosecutors say one of the  suspects caused the victim to fall after punching him, while the  other suspect encouraged and assisted him.  FVS gave evidence at Northampton Crown Court and explained  how the CCTV system was only framing at four frames per second  and may not have recorded the punch.  Full story

Judge William Davis, QC, said the aim of the disorder was to draw police to the pub in order to attack them. "Members  of the group attacked the building, they smashed windows, they went inside and ransacked the premises. They threw  chairs and tables out on to the pavement. Other members of the group stayed on the pavement outside the building.  Some threw missiles, bottles and the like, at a passing police car. Others lit petrol bombs that had been brought to the  scene.” FVS analysis assisted in securing the convictions of five men with sentences ranging from 18 to 30 years imprisonment at Birmingham Crown Court, while a 17-year-old was also jailed for 12 years. More on this story...

“I thought the FVS representative one of the best experts I have recently seen in the witness box and I have worked in Law since 1982. He was clear, deliberate and explained all scientific ideas simply.  His explanation of jargon was lucid. He took the jury with him and everyone was nodding throughout his explanations.  He simply knows his subject and its limitations.” Chandra Solanki, Solicitor 

Meat cleaver

Recovered Meat cleaver