Abstract

An ongoing challenge for the courts is to identify criteria by which to differentiate between evidence that it is safe for them to rely upon and evidence that is unsafe and/or incapable of being effectively evaluated by triers of fact. Countries vary in the mechanisms that they deploy to minimise the potential for miscarriages of criminal and civil justice arising from the problematic reception of expert scientific and medical evidence. Some, such as the United States, overtly utilise a reliability precondition to the admissibility of such evidence; some, like England and Wales, utilise indirect requirements of reliability, validation or general acceptance of theories and techniques. Others, like Australia, mandate codes of conduct for expert witnesses and report-writers, while some require transparency of reasoning and identification of the bases of expert evidence, mandating clarification of reasoning processes as well as of assumptions made and the material upon which scientists and medical practitioners have relied in arriving at their professional opinions. This paper compares and contrasts the diverse international approaches and argues that explicit incorporation of reliability indicia as a precondiotion to the admissibility of expert evidence is advantageous in excluding dangerous forms of scientific and medical opinion evidence.

Biography

Ian Freckelton is a King’s Counsel (senior counsel) at the Australian Bar with a broad national practice in criminal law, personal injury law and disciplinary law. He is also a Judge of the Supreme Court of Nauru; a Professor of Law and Professorial Fellow in Psychiatry at the University of Melbourne; and an Honorary Professor of Forensic Medicine at Monash University. He is an elected Fellow of the Australian Academies of Law, Social Sciences, and Health and Medical Sciences and is the Editor of the Journal of Law and Medicine. He is the author of over 50 books and more than 800 articles and chapters of books. In 2021 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for “distinguished service to the law, and to the legal profession, across fields including health, medicine and technology”.

Abstract

Contact crimes entail violent and aggressive criminalities, such as assault with grievous bodily harm, armed robbery, car hijacking and murder. Besides the brutality and callousness often accompanied with these crimes, the fear of being victimised remains a reality for many citizens in South Africa. This qualitative research explores the causes, needs and risks associated with aggression and violence among adult male offenders incarcerated for contact crimes. The objectives for this case-specific article are (a) explicate the family background and functioning prior to incarceration; (b) describe the crime analysis of the offender; and (c) identify sample-specific needs pertaining to the causes, needs and risks, as being causal towards aggression and violence during the execution of contact crimes. The findings propose corresponding causes and risks from onset to incarceration- concomitant with aggressive and violent propensities during the commission of contact crimes. Indicators for the causes of aggression and violence include but not limited to poverty; poor interpersonal relations; childhood trauma and exposure to violence; negative peer and pro-criminal associations; substance abuse; familial criminality; and predisposition to- and- involvement in gang related activities. Risks associated with the tenacity to avert to aggression and violence during the omission of crimes are- but not restricted to- early on-set and history of childhood antisocial aggressive and violent behaviour; detachment and absence of victim empathy; pro-criminal cognitive schemes, poor coping and decision-making skills; and risk-taking behaviour. Against this backdrop, the empirical findings suggest individual-needs-based intervention strategies within the criminal justice system.

Biography

Dr Nigel Bradely Bougard holds a MA and PhD in Criminology from the University of Pretoria (UP). He is as an academic and researcher at the University of South Africa (UNISA), Department of Criminology and Security Science. His research interests include violent crimes, political offences, economic crimes, gangsterism, victimology; and criminological assessment and evaluation of offenders. He is actively involved in postgraduate supervision and training of both honours and masters’ students. Dr Bougard comes with extensive practical and theoretical experience in both Criminology and Victimology.

Abstract

Recent revelations of Pegasus spyware use for surveillance in Poland have sparked debate over the legality of such operations and the adequacy of oversight. This challenge is not unique to Poland – democracies worldwide struggle to balance national security with human rights and digital freedoms.

Pegasus provides authorities a broad window into private communications and data, which threatens fundamental rights such as privacy, confidentiality of communications, and the right to a fair trial. Using such technology without robust safeguards could gravely violate these rights. Especially alarming is the targeting of lawyers or journalists with Pegasus, as intercepting attorney–client or journalist–source communications breaches professional privilege and undermines trust in the justice system.

To balance effective law enforcement with citizens’ rights, strong procedural safeguards are needed. International standards – reflected in European Court of Human Rights rulings and laws in countries like Canada and the UK – require that surveillance be tightly limited and independently supervised. Key measures include prior judicial authorization for surveillance and subsequent ex post review. Surveillance targets should be notified when appropriate and allowed to challenge the authorities’ actions in court. Moreover, if the target is a lawyer or a journalist, many jurisdictions impose extra restrictions or even prohibitions to protect professional secrets. For example, the Constitutional Court of South Africa in 2021 (AmaBhungane case) found that surveillance without special safeguards for privileged communications is unconstitutional. It emphasized that post-surveillance judicial review and similar guarantees reduce the risk of abuse and better protect individual rights.

Under the principle of the rule of law, authorities must act within legal bounds. Polish law formally requires court oversight of surveillance, but practice must uphold these rules. If Pegasus was used without a valid court warrant or through misinforming the court, that would evade the law and violate citizens’ rights. Evidence obtained illegally – via unauthorized spying or data tampering – should be inadmissible in court, as its use would compromise a fair trial. Thus, materials gathered with Pegasus in breach of the law should be deemed inadmissible, preventing officials from benefiting from unlawful surveillance.

In sum, the Pegasus affair in Poland underscores an urgent need to reinforce oversight of surveillance and align domestic laws with international standards for human rights. A democratic state must safeguard public security without letting surveillance tools erode fundamental freedoms, professional confidentiality, or public trust in justice.

Biography

Magdalena Zamroczyńska obtained her PhD degree in law from Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań (Poland), in the field of criminal procedure in 2016. She currently works as an assistant professor at the University of Szczecin (Poland), where she continues her scientific development in the field of criminal procedure and medical law. She has published over 50 articles in renowned journals and books. She is an active attorney representing parties in court in criminal proceedings.

Abstract

Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) have several adverse effects on the cardiovascular sys-tem that may lead to a sudden cardiac death (SCD). We herein report a case involving a 24- year-old male, AAS abuser with intramuscular delivery in the 6 months before, who suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest at home’s bathtub when returning from New Year’s party. A foren-sic autopsy was performed according to the guidelines of the Association for European Cardiovascular Pathology (AECVP). The body showed hypertrophy of skeletal musculature, with low amount of subcutaneous fat and no signs of injury (body mass index, BMI: 26.8 kg/m2). 
On internal examination, there were multiorgan congestion, acute pulmonary edema, and cardiomegaly (420 g) with severe coronary atherosclerosis and superimposed acute occlusive thrombosis at the left main trunk and left anterior descendant. Areas of scarring were located at the intersection between the posterior wall and the posterior third of the septum (postero-septal). At histology, acute myocardial infarction at the anterior third of the septum and the anterior wall, and subacute myocardial infarction at apical septum and apical poster- ior wall were detected. Other findings were small intramyocardial vessel disease and myo- cytes hypertrophy. Chemicotoxicological analysis in blood showed ethanol ((0.90 ± 0.05) g/L), stanazolol (11.31 mg/L), nandrolone (2.05 mg/L) and testosterone (<1.00 mg/L). When con- fronted with a sudden death in a young athlete we must pay attention to the physical phenotype that may suggest AAS abuse and perform a detailed examination of the heart. Chemicotoxicological analysis is a key to establish the relationship between SCD and AAS abuse. 

 

Biography

Dr. Javier Tapia-Chinchòn. has Degree in Medicine and Surgery from the Complutense University of Madrid. Forensic Doctor of the Ministry of Justice of Spain since 2004. Head of the Forensic Pathology Section of the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences of Las Palmas. PhD student in Medicine from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Abstract

The future of forensic science is shaped not only by technological advancement, but by how effectively the profession prepares individuals to navigate ethical, operational, and societal challenges. This presentation examines how early professional engagement and leadership development contribute to addressing some of the key challenges currently facing the forensic discipline.

Drawing on sustained involvement with the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences and active participation in European professional forums, including the European Academy of Forensic Science (EAFS), this work explores the increasing complexity of forensic practice within modern investigative environments. These experiences highlight ongoing challenges relating to professional standards, interdisciplinary collaboration, accountability, and public trust in forensic processes.

Furthermore, leadership experience as a Cadet Leader within Leicestershire Police has provided practical insight into the realities of decision-making, safeguarding responsibilities, and ethical judgement within applied settings. This perspective demonstrates the gap that can exist between academic training and operational demands, and underscores the importance of early exposure to professional responsibility.

This presentation argues that addressing current challenges in forensic science requires intentional investment in early professional development, leadership cultivation, and ethical awareness. Strengthening these areas is essential to preparing a resilient, competent, and socially responsible forensic workforce capable of meeting the evolving demands of the discipline.

Biography

Ana Sofia Machado is a second-year Forensic Science student at De Montfort University, United Kingdom. She serves as Course Representative and Treasurer of the Forensic Science Society and is a Cadet Leader with Leicestershire Police. Ana is an active member of the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences, the Royal Society of Chemistry, and the Institute of Information Technology. Her academic and professional interests focus on forensic practice, ethical standards, and the role of leadership in strengthening public trust and scientific integrity. She has participated in national and European forensic initiatives, including the European Academy of Forensic Science, and is committed to advancing evidence-based practice and professional development within the forensic sciences.

Abstract

Forensic scientists depend on the integrity and context of evidence collected during sexual assault examinations, yet that foundation is established at the point of care. Sexual Assault Forensic Nurses (SANEs) serve as the critical interface between clinical assessment and forensic science, directly influencing the quality, interpretability, and limitations of laboratory analysis.

This presentation examines how forensic scientists rely on SANEs for accurate evidence recognition, collection, and documentation. It explores how nursing assessments impact downstream forensic processes, including DNA analysis, forensic evidence analysis, toxicology considerations, and timeline reconstruction. -

By clarifying the forensic decision-making processes of SANEs and highlighting points of interdisciplinary dependency, this session underscores the importance of collaboration between forensic nursing and forensic science in preserving evidentiary integrity and supporting scientifically defensible conclusions.

Biography

Teresa Devitt-Lynch completed her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Wisconsin Madison, US. She is also a board-certified adult/adolescent Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner and Advanced Forensic Nurse. She is currently a legal nurse consultant with a focus on criminal cases that involve injury or medical issues. Active in professional organizations she is a member of the Academy of Forensic Nurses Board of Directors and has provided numerous forensic healthcare trainings to medical, law enforcement and legal professionals who come into contact with victims and suspects of violence.

Abstract

Abstract
Forensic nurse death investigators bring clinical precision to death investigation. This presentation examines the role of the registered nurse within the medicolegal system and its impact on cause and manner of death determinations.

You will learn how nursing assessment skills strengthen scene evaluation, injury interpretation, and medical record analysis. The session reviews real investigative workflows from scene response through certification of death. Emphasis remains on sudden, unexpected, and violent deaths.

Key topics include
• Scene assessment using a medical lens
• Injury pattern recognition and differentiation
• Medical history reconstruction and risk factor analysis
• Collaboration with law enforcement, pathologists, and prosecutors
• Family communication during traumatic loss
• Ethical challenges and professional boundaries

Case examples illustrate how nursing judgment improves accuracy, documentation, and courtroom defensibility. The talk also addresses gaps in traditional death investigation training and how forensic nurses close those gaps through clinical reasoning and trauma informed practice.

Attendees gain practical insight into integrating forensic nursing expertise into death investigation offices. This presentation supports agencies seeking improved investigative outcomes, reduced diagnostic error, and stronger public trust.

Target audience includes forensic scientists, death investigators, nurses, medical examiners, and allied professionals working in medicolegal death investigation systems worldwide.

Biography

Julie Mattson, RN, BSN, is a registered nurse, forensic nurse death investigator, and former Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner with extensive experience in medicolegal death investigation. She works at the intersection of clinical medicine, forensic science, and public service, bringing medical accuracy to complex death determinations. Julie is also the host of the true crime podcast Pushing Up Lilies, where she educates the public through real investigative insight. Her YouTube channel is Brains, Body Bags, and Bedside Manner, which is also the title of her upcoming book. Her work focuses on improving investigative quality, ethical practice, and collaboration across forensic disciplines. She is a member of the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators, the National Association of Medical Examiners and Coroners, the Internation Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners, the Internation Homicide Investigators Association, International Association of Forensic Nurses, and is secretary of the Forensic Nursing Board of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Abstract

The presentation is about resolving in the mapping of forensics the classic features seen in environmental criminology as well as in support of dispersed casework over time and distance .The presentation includes classic features in environmental criminology such as corridor theory etc. and includes the use of casework sampling rates and intervention rates, enabling Bayesian techniques supported by the possibility of the physical cross matching of forensics in support of analysis techniques.

Biography

Professor and Dean of Applied Sciences European Forensic Institute. Between 1969 and 2008, he had a full career as a practitioner with the Directorate of Forensic Services New Scotland Yard, in the roles of Fingerprint expert, Crime scene Investigator, Crime Scene manager and Crime Scene Coordinator. In project management he created modern sequential treatment laboratories designed to deal with the volume crime in London and pioneered the concept of Forensic Intelligence. He set up one of the world’s first Forensic Intelligence Units in 2001 and was the Head of Forensic Intelligence Metropolitan Police until 2008. He has the Kings College London University Diploma in Crime Scene Investigation and Fingerprint Expertise. He developed the wireless, three electrode, method of electrostatic dust mark lifting, the Pathfinder’ now used worldwide. In 2012 he published the textbook ‘Forensic Intelligence’ CRC Press. In 2018 he joined the European Forensic Institute as a lecturer and was invited to lecture on Forensic Intelligence at the Istituto Di Scienze Forense, Corporate University, Milan. In 2021 he was awarded a Professorship in Criminology, Forensic Criminology and Forensic Intelligence and awarded the role of President of the Istituto Di Scienze Forense University Milan. In February 2024 the university renewed his professorship. He has been a member of the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences (CSFS) since 1983, and in October 2024 was elected as the Honorary Editor of the CSFS.

Abstract

Fingerprints are unique features containing biochemical and morphological information which serve as means of identification globally and are the most reliable form of evidence in the courtroom. There is need to explore the sustainability of fingerprints extracted through electrochemistry for forensic purposes. The traditional method adopted for developing fingerprints like powder developers are best applied to non-metallic substrates but are not suitable for metallic ones. When fingerprints are deposited on metallic surfaces, the classical methods such as cyanoacrylate fuming, and vacuum metal deposition (VMD) applied to extract such fingerprints work based on the principle of the reagent reacting with the fingerprints. This leads to the formation of positive images of the fingerprints. A limitation with classical methods is that as the fingerprint deposit ages, the possibility of recovering such information decreases. In arson cases, metallic surfaces may cause the fingerprints to be visible on exposure to intense heat. Galvanic corrosion can occur on the metallic surfaces when water act as the electrolyte. Electrochemical deposition aids the extraction of fingerprints from metallic substrates deposited in water for a long period of time. The extraction process involves the use of three electrodes: working, reference and screen-printed electrodes. The main electrochemical methods are electrochemiluminescence, electropolymerization and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) - PEDOT. The fingerprints are made visible by applying fluorescent dyes like Ardox and Basic Yellow-40 (BY-40). In conclusion, electrochemical extraction of latent fingerprints from metallic surfaces submerged in water through time increases the possibility of recovery unlike the classical methods.

Biography

Christabel Francis is an Assistant Lecturer at the department of Anatomical Sciences, University of Calabar, Nigeria. She obtained her first degree in Anatomy from the department of Anatomical Sciences in 2018. She proceeded to get a Master's degree in Forensic Science (Forensic Taphonomy) at the University of Kent, United Kingdom in 2023. She is a passionate Forensic Scientist who would like to push the frontiers of the field in Africa. Her short-term goal is to mentor young scientists who are willing to take Forensic Science as a career path in Nigeria. She intends to establish a private Forensic Crime Laboratory in Nigeria in the near future

Abstract

Forensic anthropology in Panama has acquired an increasingly relevant role in the management of cases related to human identification, the analysis of skeletal remains, and the reconstruction of the circumstances of death in complex scenes. This presentation aims to describe how forensic cases are addressed in the country from an anthropological perspective, highlighting the technical, methodological, and ethical procedures that guide professional practice within the Panamanian context.

The presentation will explain the origin and typology of cases received at the Judicial Morgue, as well as the contribution of forensic anthropology in fortuitous findings, exhumations, and contexts involving unidentified persons. Special attention will be given to the management of bodies and human remains of migrants who have died in the Darién jungle, a setting of high humanitarian complexity that poses significant challenges in terms of recovery, preservation, analysis, and identification.

The presentation will emphasize the importance of interdisciplinary work among forensic anthropologists, pathologists, criminal investigators, forensic odontologists, and judicial authorities as a fundamental axis for proper case management. Likewise, the use of national and international protocols will be highlighted as essential tools to ensure the standardization of procedures, the technical quality of analyses, and respect for human rights and the dignity of deceased individuals.

Biography

Adan Hernandez is a Forensic anthropologist, graduated from the Central University of Venezuela, with a specialization in Criminalistics and a Master’s degree in Criminalistics and Forensic Sciences. He is a certified forensic anthropologist by the Latin American Directory of Forensic Anthropology (ALAF), where he serves as an active member and part of its Executive Committee. Coordinator of the Forensic Anthropology Unit at the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences (IMELCF) of Panama. Previously, he worked as a Forensic Physical Anthropologist for the National Service of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences of Ecuador from 2018 to 2021, and as an advisor to the Public Prosecutor’s Office from 2013 to 2017. Academic experience at the University of Panama, contributing to the training of professionals in the field of forensic sciences.

Abstract

Luisa Reyes is a Genomic Biotechnologist, Molecular Biologist, and Forensic Geneticist with extensive experience in forensic genetics, molecular diagnostics, and kinship testing. She currently serves as Laboratory Manager at Novogen, a laboratory specialized in forensic genetics and molecular diagnostics, accredited under ISO/IEC 17025. She is an Authorized Signatory in Forensic Genetics, actively involved in method validation, review and issuance of forensic reports, and the implementation and maintenance of quality management systems. Her professional background includes the development of standard operating procedures, technical oversight of forensic analyses, and experience in teaching and scientific outreach within the forensic field.

Biography

Forensic genetics has become an essential scientific tool for human identification and the establishment of biological relationships, relying on the analysis of highly polymorphic regions of the genome inherited from parents. Despite the high degree of genetic similarity among humans, individual genetic profiles provide an extraordinary discriminatory power, enabling their use in legal, humanitarian, and investigative contexts. The analysis of Short Tandem Repeats (STRs), combined with multiplex PCR and standardized interpretation of electropherograms, constitutes the methodological backbone of modern forensic genetics. In Latin America, forensic genetics operates within complex social and legal landscapes, where issues such as forced disappearance, mass disasters, migration, and family justice converge. The absence of a unified regional model, together with technological gaps, unequal legal frameworks, and persistent challenges in the protection of personal genetic data, limits the consistent application of genetic evidence and affects public trust in institutions. Addressing these challenges requires not only technical robustness and reproducibility, but also ethical governance, regulatory harmonization, and the development of regional genetic databases. Strengthening these elements is critical to ensure that forensic genetics continues to serve justice, human rights, and social reconciliation in contexts marked by historical and contemporary vulnerabilities.

Abstract

Wildlife poaching is currently a major threat to the existence of numerous threatened species. Different multilateral agencies and laws have been enacted to advocate against poaching, however for these law enforcement agencies to effectively work, there must be a scientific way of identifying the animal products being illegally traded, even when made into an object. This study aimed to use the handheld microscope to identify the origin of the species of ivory objects, use XRF to distinguish between genuine and fake ivory and use proteomic approaches to distinguish elephant, mammoth and hippo ivories. Of the 44 samples analyzed by the handheld microscope, 43 could be identified as their origin using special features like Schreger lines in elephant ivories. One sample could not be identified because it was highly worked and fashioned. A difference in elemental profiles between ivory and fake ivory objects using pXRF was observed: true ivory had higher concentrations of Ca and P which is related to the presence of Hydroxyapatite in ivory. The m/z values between a hippopotamus and elephant ivory were noted at 2115 for elephants and 2147 for hippos using peptide mass fingerprinting. Although all the tested methods have proved useful in forensic wildlife identification, the use of pXRF and morphological analysis could serve as a screening tool, while MALDI-TOF analysis would be suitable for confirmation of species identification.

Biography

Daud Jackobo Ngasa is a forensic DNA expert with over eight years of professional experience. He holds a B.Sc. in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (University of Dar es Salaam, 2017) and an M.Sc. in Forensic Archaeology and Anthropology (Cranfield University, 2021). He has received advanced training in proteomics and palaeoproteomics through programmes linked to the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford, as well as specialist training in human identification, elemental profiling, and forensic proteomics from institutions in Denmark, the UAE, and South Africa. Ngasa is a Forensic DNA Analyst at the Government Chemist Laboratory Authority, a gazetted Government Analyst, and a SADCAS ISO/IEC 17025:2017 technical signatory actively contributing to forensic practice and capacity building in Tanzania.