Our scientists add value to the forensic process from crime scene to the Court. At crime scenes, we provide expert advice on the recognition, collection and preservation of evidence. On-site forensic examinations are performed on bulky exhibits that are impractical to submit to the Lab. Our scientists advise investigators and prosecutors on the significance of evidence and implications for investigation and prosecution.

 
^{Screening blood traces with luminol (left); bloodstain pattern analysis (right)}

Bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA) at violent crime scenes shed light on the forces and mechanisms causing the shedding and transfer of blood. The patterns of spatters, sizes and shapes of bloodstains can reveal possible and impossible scenarios and tell how the crime was committed. Bloodstain pattern interpretations go beyond the usual question of "Who did it?" to answer key questions such as "What happened? ", "Was it in self-defense?", "Could it have been suicide?", "Where and how did it happen?" and "Was the scene staged?".

Crime scene reconstruction entails the integrated use of scientific methods, crime scene analysis, physical evidence, fact-gathering, logical reasoning and their interrelationships to obtain knowledge of events and actions that occurred during a crime. Each crime scene is unique and must be evaluated individually. Established facts, interpretation of the available physical evidence in context and expert findings form the basis of a reconstruction. Besides the scientific reconstruction of major crimes, Forensic Chemistry and Physics Lab performs experimental testing of hypotheses.