Admissibility of craniofacial superimposition evidence as a means of forensic identification in Malaysia / Amar Singh Ishar Singh
Craniofacial superimposition is a method of comparing the characteristic features of a skull with a photograph of a person whose identity is known. As a technique to aid the personal identification of unknown human remains, it is not new, and its application can be traced back to the late 19th Ce...
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| Format: | Thesis |
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2005
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| Online Access: | http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/9157/ http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/9157/1/ADMISSffiiLITY_OF_CRANIOFACIAL_SUPERIMPOSITION.pdf |
| Summary: | Craniofacial superimposition is a method of comparing the characteristic features of a
skull with a photograph of a person whose identity is known. As a technique to aid the
personal identification of unknown human remains, it is not new, and its application can
be traced back to the late 19th Century. It can be used not only in the identification of the
dead but also the living and is fast becoming an important method in forensic
anthropology. This is because surveillance cameras are often employed as silent
witnesses in crime scenes such as at banks, convenience stores and airports. This
research will outline the developments in the field of craniofacial superimposition, from
the earliest method of using viewing boxes, slide projector and overhead projector, to that
of video technology and now to the incorporation of e- technology. The eight cases of
superimposition conducted by the Malaysian police authorities, of which three have
reached the courts of law, will be discussed in depth. This will show the practical aspects
of facial superimposition which could be a guide for enforcement officers in their pursuit
for justice. The legal implications of such evidence are also discussed. The question of
relevancy and admissibility of the opinion evidence of the craniofacial superimposition
expert has been an issue in the courts and this research will delve into its merits. Creating
an awareness on the legal and scientific validity of this field of identification will ensure
that more such applications are accepted by the Malaysian courts. |
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