The evidential value of carcass traces in combating stock theft in South Africa
This qualitative exploratory study closely look at the evidential value of carcass traces in combating stock theft in South Africa. It was confined to the selected areas of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Province of South Africa. The Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) technology, DNA testing, DNA profiling or Gen...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
2022
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| Online Access: | http://journalarticle.ukm.my/20355/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/20355/1/58258-192631-1-SM.pdf |
| Summary: | This qualitative exploratory study closely look at the evidential value of carcass traces in
combating stock theft in South Africa. It was confined to the selected areas of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Province of South Africa. The Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) technology, DNA
testing, DNA profiling or Genetic fingerprinting refers to a technique adopted to identify and
distinguish livestock by their DNA samples, focusing on patterns uniqueness of DNA sources
(Carcass, fingerprints, footprints, hair, skin cells, blood, bodily fluids, pieces of clothing and
fibres, alike). About 49 participants were purposively sampled, all from the KZN Province.
The data was collected through Key Informant Interviews (KII) and Focus Group Discussions
(FGDs). The inductive thematic methods was employed for data analysis. This study
established that crime scenes involving livestock should be investigated using the same
principles as any other crime scenes. It is also confirmed that every time contact is made with
another person, place, or object, it results in an exchange of physical materials, carcass
includes. Summarily, no matter where a stock thieve criminal go or do, by coming into
contact with carcass, they can leave evidence behind, including the mentioned various DNA
sources, which could positively lead to the scientific reconstruction of events, interpretation
of observations and measurements from the stock theft scenes to collect physical evidence.
For recommendations, the Anti-Stock theft structures should avoid mistakes in the recovering
of stock theft scenes, sample collections or test procedures. They should ensure that the
results are accurate by following all procedural measures, lay down guidelines for
maintaining the chain of custody to ensure that the DNA tests become conclusive, and they
should further provide detailed information about discovered carcass, while placing more
emphasis on this type of evidence. |
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