8: Evidence

“Wherever he steps, whatever he touches, serve as silent witness against him. The hair, the fibers from his clothing, the glass he breaks, the tool mark he leaves, the paint he scratches, the blood or semen he deposits or collects, all of these and more bear mute witness against him. This is evidence that does not forget. It is not confused by the excitement of the moment. It is not absent because human witnesses are. It is factual evidence, physical evidence cannot be wrong; it cannot perjure itself; it cannot be wholly absent, only its interpretation can err. Only human failure to find it, study and understand it can diminish its value.”

Paul Kirk on Edmond Locard’s Principle of Evidence Exchange

Learning Objectives

• To understand the weight of various types of evidence court proceedings
• To learn about prejudicial evidence and how it can influence a judge or jury
• To learn about the different types of evidence in court proceedings
• To understand comparison evidence and the difference between class and individual characteristics
• To understand the role of physical evidence in criminal investigations and court proceedings
• To learn the difference between trace and transfer evidence
• To understand the role of digital evidence in criminal investigations and court proceedings

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