Crime Scene InvestigationJames Bulger Assignment

Authors Avatar

                                                                                                                                                                             

BTEC Forensic Science - Crime Scene Investigation

James Bulger Assignment

Introduction

         For my assignment, I will be looking into the case of James Bulger, aged 2 years old, who was kidnapped and murdered by John Venables and Robert Thompson on February 12th 1993. Through evidence found at the crime scene and testimonial statements, the police saw that the two boys, ages 11, abducted James from Bootle Strand Shopping Center, Liverpool. They took him on a long, aimless walk where they brutally attacked him and left him for dead. In my assignment I will show how work done by the police, forensic scientists and Investigators helped to convict Jon and Robert.

        Evidence found from the scenes and James proved a link between Jon and Robert. This evidence was handled properly and dealt with great care to prevent contamination. The evidence needs to be left as it was found. If it is tampered with, it would no longer be able to convict as suspect.

        Evidence is something that can be examined and link to an individual. It proves a crime has occurred and can go back to who committed it. Trace / Contact evidence was recognized by Edmund Locard. He stated that every contact left a trace, but also the suspect takes a piece of the crime scene away with them. This is very evident with my case.  Testimonial evidence are witness statements. Physical evidence is real evidence that is collected, packaged and analyzed. Examples are; hair fibres, blood samples and skin flakes. Physical evidence is either identified or individualized. (links to one person - finger prints or DNA)

Join now!

        At a typical crime scene the FAO (First Attending Officer) would be called. They would check the scene is safe to enter (in case of chemical leak etc). The secure the scene, prevent disturbances or anybody tampering with vital evidence. Limit the number of people entering the scene and re-assure the victim. Then a SOCO, (Scenes of Crime Officer) would be called. It is there role to get an overall impression of the scene and judge what happened and why, figure out a scenario. Depending on the crime, a specialist may be called. For example, bomb disposal groups, sniffer dogs ...

This is a preview of the whole essay