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Forensic Investigation: Significance Of Jewelery In Dowry Deaths
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BRZ is a Forensic Scientist, Crime Scene Investigator, Chemistry, Ballistics, Fire and Explosives Expert, Arson Investigator with world-class expertise in forensic science, trace evidence analysis, chemistry, ballistics, explosives, crime scene analysis and expert witness testimony. Extensive experience in crime scene investigation, investigating, reconstructing, examining and reporting on hundreds of crime scenes for arson & fire, explosions, chemistry, drugs, murder, rape, homicide, and theft.
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Dowry death has been very common in the country of this consultant. The law enforcement agencies provide strict punishment for the crime. To combat the social evil for dealing such crime the law in our country is very stringent. The death by burning of newly wed bride invites severe punishment for the family members unless proved otherwise. The necessity of arriving at right conclusion for the examination of crime scene, the clue materials and the background of the case is warranted. A Forensic expert is confronted with the task of ascertaining whether it was a case of suicide, accident or a murder while tendering evidence or dur-ing the police investigation. The role of Medical Officer, Police Officers and the forensic expert is of great significance in such cases.
The Medical Officer who performed post-mortem report:--the nature of burns, i.e. percentage/degree of burns. The Police Officers collect the belongings of the deceased and forward the same to Forensic Science Laboratory for expert examination. Usually the burnt clothing alone is forwarded to Forensic Laboratory for detection of inflammable substances. But the detection of kerosene oil or similar inflammable substance on the burnt clothes does not necessarily lead to prove in all cases that it was a case of cold-blooded murder in which the family members, the in-laws had conspired.
A scientific approach to the problem, is therefore, needed for reconstruction of the incident. However, it is not always possible for the expert to examine the scene of occurrence for proper evaluation and collection of all necessary clue materials for distinguishing the nature of crime. In the absence of crime scene visit it becomes essential to examine all evidentiary clues such as personal belongings, inflammable substances present at the scene, the burnt clothes etc.
The present paper cites a case of burning in which the physical materials other than recovered clothes worn by the deceased provided evaluable clue in
establishing the guilt of the accused persons. In the ins-tant case the Investigating Officer sent all the available exhibits found at the scene of occurrence for expert examination. The articles received in the laboratory for examaination contained:
(i) One half opened kerosene oil cane,
(ii) One match box alongwith burnt sticks.
(iii) One bed cover of printed red, green and white colour.
(iv) One pair of rubber chappals of mauve colour.
It was required to ascertain the presence of kerosene oil on these articles. A physical examination of the exhibits revealed:
(i) The kerosene oil cane was empty.
(ii) The match box was burnt with half burnt 28 sticks.
(iii) The bed cover was burnt only at one corner.
(iv) The pair of chappals was half burnt
The exhibits were then washed and distilled for chemical examination for the presence of kerosene oil. On thorough chemical examination by applying macoun's method it was found that kerosene oil was present in traces on all the burnt portions of all the exhibits including the container.
From the examination it was apparent from the bed cover which was burnt at one corner and traces of kerosene oil could not have been subjected to fire for the bride burning to cause death or severe burn injuries. But the victim died. The Medical Officer in the post-mortem report described of severe 95% burn injuries on the person of the deceased. The articles sent for examination were as under:
(a) One burnt shirt.
(b) One gold nose pin.
(c) Seventeen metallic bangles.
(d) Two silver bichhuas.
(e) Two silver pazebs.
(f) One gilt ring.
These exhibits were also examined physically then separately washed and distilled and subjected to chemical examination by applying macoun's method. On thorough chemical examination it was found that all the exhibits showed the presence of kerosene oil traces, which clearly reflected that kerosene oil was poured in a manner such that entire body from head to foot was wet resulting into the presence of kerosene oil even on worn jewellery besides the clothes. A careful study of the exhibits recovered from the crime scene and from the body of the deceased and the detection of kerosene oil on them proved helpful in arriving at cor-rect forensic conclusion. From the pattern of burns, only on one corner on the bed cover indicated that the victim would not have suffered severe burn injury by setting on fire after pouring kerosene oil on the bed cover as the topmost cloth worn by the victim.
This was corroborated from the statement of the complainant eye-witness that the said bed cover was wrapped by the complainants to put off the fire when the victim was in the highest peak of fire on all parts of her body. The presence of kerosene oil on clothings, jewellery and chappals corroborated the statement of the complainant. The fact that kerosene oil was detected on the two pazebs, two bichhuas and two chap-pals lead to conclusion beyond doubt that kerosene oil was poured on whole of her body from head to foot and that too forcibly. The empty available kerosene oil in the cane and thereafter setting on fire by match stick.
From the aforesaid discussion it is apparent that due cautions must be exercised by Forensic experts while forming opinion at the investigation stage. The clothings alone may not always be sufficient to arrive at the right conclusion. Opinion formed on the basis of detection of kerosene oil on the burnt clothes may result into misleading conclusions if other factors are also not taken into consideration for reconstruction of scene of occurrence. For a meaningful reconstruction of the scene of occurrence for evaluating forensic pro- blems whether it was a suicide, accident or murder, it is necessary to examine'all the wearings of the deceased such as jewellery, chappals besides the burnt clothes for proper evaluating. The Police Officers, therefore, should collect and send all the relevant physical clue materials from the crime scene and worn by the victim.
Read other articles by this KKAI Associate:
Forensic Investigation: Mystery Of Burning Of Holy Books
Investigation: Explosion In North East India
| Forensic Scientist, Crime Scene Investigator, Chemistry, Ballistics, Fire and Explosives Expert, Arson Investigator, forensic science, trace evidence analysis, chemistry, ballistics, explosives, crime scene analysis and expert witness testimony. Extensive experience in crime scene investigation, investigating, reconstructing, examining and reporting on hundreds of crime scenes for arson & fire, explosions, chemistry, drugs, murder, rape, homicide, and theft. | |
| Resume of WYM | fire, explosion investigator, fire analysis expert consultant |
| Resume of BRZ | forensic scientist, crime scene expert consultant |
| Resume of ZCP | forensic fire expert consultant, arson investigator |
| Resume of TKT | fire, explosion investigation expert consultant |
| Resume of ZRZ | arson investigator, fire cause, origin, expert consultant |
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