That branch of

chemistry, which deals with the application of chemical principles in the

solution of problems that arise in connection with the administration of
justice. It is chemistry applied in the elucidation of legal problems. It is
chemistry used in courts of law. Chemistry belonging to the court of law.

A Forensic Chemist is
one who practices forensic chemistry.

PHYSICAL
EVIDENCE

            Are articles and

materials which are found in connection with an investigation and which aid in
establishing the identity of the perpetrator of the circumstances under which
the crime was committed or which in general assist in the prosecution of the
criminal. Encompasses any and all objects that can establish that crime has
been committed or can provide a link between a crime and its victims or a crime
and its perpetrator.

SCOPE OF
FORENSIC CHEMISTRY:

1.    
It includes the chemical side of criminal investigation
2.    
It includes the analysis of any material the quality of which may
give rise to legal proceeding.

3.    
It is not limited to purely chemical questions involved in legal
proceedings.

4.    
It has invaded other branches of forensic sciences notably legal
medicine, ballistics, questioned documents, dactyloscopy, and photography.

ROLES OF THE 
FORENSIC CHEMIST IN THE SCIENTIFIC CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION:

            The forensic

chemist plays an important role in the scientific criminal investigation. He
may be called upon to aid an investigation in:

a.    
Determining whether or not a place / location is a clandestine
laboratory

b.   
Examination of marked bills / suspects during entrapment
(extortion case)

c.    
Taking Paraffin Test
 

ROLE OF THE CHEMIST IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION

Four
stages of work of a forensic chemist:

1.    
Collection and reception of specimen for lab. Examination

a.    
sufficiency of sample

b.   
standard for comparison

c.    
maintenance of individuality

d.   
labeling and scaling

2.    
The actual examination of specimen

3.    
Communication of the result of examine
4.    
Court Apparatus

PRIMARY REASON W/C MAY CONTRIBUTE TO THE

DISASTER OF EVIDENCE

1.    
Improper packing of specimen

2.    
Failure of identification of specimen

3.    
Improper, precaution use in transmitting the specimen.

ORDINARY WITNESS

            State facts and

may not express his opinions or conclusions. He may testify to impressions of
common experiments such as the speed of a vehicle, whether a voice was that of
a man, woman or child. Beyond this he is closely limited.

EXPERT
WITNESS
 

            One who posses a special

skill, be it in art, trade or science or one who has special knowledge in
waters not generally known to men or ordinary education and experiments. A
person skilled in some art, trade or science to the extent that he possesses
information not within the common knowledge of man.

EYE
WITNESS

           

            Person who saw

the fatal act.

QUALIFICATION
OF AN ORDINARY WITNESS:

1.    
He must have the organ and powder to perceive.

2.    
The perception gathered by his organ of sense can be imparted to
others.

3.    
He does not fall in any of the exception provided for Sec. 26,
Rule 123, Rules of Court.
 

DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN ORDINARY & EXPERT WITNESS:

1.    
An  ordinary witness can
only state what is senses has perceived while an expert witness may state what
he has perceived and also give his opinions, deduction or conclusion to his
perception.

2.    
An ordinary witness may not be skilled on the line he his
testifying while an expert witness be skilled in the art, science or trade he
is testifying.

3.    
An ordinary witness cannot testify on things or facts he has not
perceived except those provided for any law while an expert witness must testify
on things which he has seen giving his opinions, deductions or conclusion on
the statements of facts.

FOUR
STAGES OF WORK OF A FORENSIC CHEMISTRY:

1.    
Collection or reception of this specimen/evidence to be examined.
a.    
Sufficiency of samples

b.   
Standard specimen for comparison

c.    
Maintenance of individuality

d.   
Labeling and sealing

2.    
The actual examination of the specimen

3.    
Communication of results of the examinations

4.    
Court appearance

PARTIAL
PERSON TO COLLECT THE EVIDENCE

            Person capable of applying

knowledge or theory to practice. Person by practice.

 
IDEAL
PERSON TO COLLECT THE EVIDENCE

            Perfect person.

The forensic chemist.

STANDARD
SPECIMEN

            Are known specimens to

compare with the questioned needed to aid in establishing a suspect’s
relationship to the crime under investigation.

SIX GOLDEN RULES IN THE PRACTICE OF FORENSIC

CHEMISTRY

1.    
Go Slowly

2.    
Be thorough

3.    
Take note consult others

4.    
Use imagination

5.    
Avoid complicated theories

PRIMARY REASON W/C MAY CONTRIBUTE TO THE

DISASTER OF EVIDENCE/SPECIMEN

1.    
Improper packing of specimen

2.    
Failure of identification of specimen

3.    
Improper, precaution use in transmitting the specimen.

4.    
Lack of precautions to prevent tampering of the specimen.

BLOOD AND BLOOD STAINS

IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY OF BLOOD:

 

1.    
As circumstance or corroborative evidence against or in favor of
the perpetrator of the crime.

2.    
As evidence in case of disputed percentage

3.    
As evidence in the determination of the cause of death and the
length of time the victim survived the attack.

4.    
Determination of the direction of escape of the victim or the
assailant

5.    
Determination of the origin of the flow of blood

6.    
As evidence in the determination of the approximate time the crime
was committed.

THE CONSTITUTION OF BLOOD

BLOOD

 
            Has been called
the circulating tissue of the body. It is refereed to as a highly complex
mixture of cells, enzymes, proteins, and inorganic substances. It is the red
fluid of the blood vessels. Blood is opaque. On the treatment with either,
water or other reagents becomes transparent lake color. It is finally alkaline.
Normally pH is 7.35 – 7.45.

COMPOSITION OF BLOOD

1.    
(45%) formed elements or the solid materials consisting chiefly of
cells namely:

a.    
Red Blood Cells or RBC (ERYTHROCYTES) around 4 – 5 millions of red
cell per cc. of blood.

b.   
White Blood Cells or WBC (LEUKOCYTES)

c.    
Blood Platelets (THROMBOCYTES)

2.    
(55%) PLASMA – The fluid or liquid portion of blood where the
cells are suspended. It is principally composed of:

a.    
Water ---- 90%

b.   
Solid ----- 10%  ( largely
protein in nature and consist of albumen, several globulin’s and fibrinogen.

In the forensic aspect of blood identification, that is blood

grouping, our discussion will concentrate on the RBC and blood serum. Serum is
pale yellowish liquid just like the plasma.

PLASMA

            The yellowish fluid of

blood in which numerous blood corpuscles are suspended. A straw-yellow liquid
formed when blood to which oxalate has been added to prevent clotting is
allowed to strand.

SERUM

            A straw –
yellow liquid formed when clotted blood is allowed to stand for sometime and
the clot contracts.

PROBLEMS IN THE STUDY OF BLOOD:

           
1.    
where has to be searched for

2.    
Collection, preservation, packing and transportation of specimen
suspected to contain blood.

Blood offers little resistance to

decomposition. It undergoes a rapid charge in its character with the passage of
time as process of clotting and drying commences almost immediately on exposure
to air. Sodium fluoride maybe added to blood to preserve it for a week at room
temperature or indefinitely in a refrigerator. Between 40 – 50 degrees
centigrade is the ideal preserving temperature for blood and other perishable
specimens. Collection of blood stains should be done as soon as possible, mere
washing of garments/clotting removes the blood.

FLUID BLOOD:

Collect from:

1.    
Victims of crimes of violence

2.    
Parent and child in case of disputed
parentage.

 
 

DRIED BLOOD OR BLOOD STAINS:

Collect
from:

1.    
Smooth surface like walls, finished floors, table tops

2.    
Hard surface like axe, hammer, knives, stones, crowbars

3.    
Glazed surface like glass, tiles, automobiles

4.    
Bulky objects like blackboard, linoleum sheets, doors, window
frames

5.    
Clothing

6.    
Blood absorbed by the soil

3.    
Does the stain contains blood or another
substance