12 characteristics of handwriting

1. Line Quality- Do the letters flow or are they written with very intent strokes 2. Spacing of words and letters- what is the average space between words and letters? 3. Ratio of height, width, and size of letters- are the letters consistent in height, width, and size? 4. Lifting pen: Does the author lift his or her pen to stop writing a word and start writing a new word?

5. Connecting strokes: How are capital letters connected to lower case letters? 6. Strokes to begin and end- where does the letter begin and end on a page? 7. Unusual letter formation- Are any letters written with unusual slants or angles? Are some letters printed rather written in cursive? 8. Pen pressure- How much pressure is applied on upward and downward strokes? 9. Slant- Do letters slant to the left or right? If slant is pronounces, a protractor may be used to determine the degree. 10.Baseline Habits- Does the author write on the line or does the writing go above or below the line? 11.Fancy writing habits- Are there any unusual curls, loops, or unique styles? 12.Placement of Diacritics- How does the author cross the t’s or dot the i’s

Case where hair and fiber exonerate a suspect

Perry Harder of Winnipeg had been shot several times in the chest in September 1990. Driskell — his friend — was convicted and sentenced to life in prison a year later. The RCMP said three hair samples found in Driskell's van were Harder's, and that evidence convicted him. Later test results from the U.K. found none of the hairs belonged to Harder.
Driskell was granted bail in November 2003. The federal justice minister at the time, Liberal Irwin Cotler, quashed the conviction and ordered a new trial in 2005 with a lot of influence from The Association in Defence of the Wrongly Convicted. Despite that, the Manitoba government opted to stay the trial and end the case without exonerating Driskell. It also called for a public inquiry into the case. A lot of the witnesses were “Persuaded” to tell stories about him that would convict him. The main witness for the prosecution was paid off to tell his story.. The report also said the failure of the Crown to disclose information to the defence was "careless indifference."

Reliability of Hair and Fiber

If and when Hair and Fiber analysis can give significant information, the results are rarely considered conclusive. DNA from hair may be extracted from hair which then can be tested, and therefore give results that are considered accurate. Fiber evidence must be associated with an alleged source by the process of statistical elimination.

Typical Hair/fiber analysis and how scientists use the data

Hair and Fiber samples are put under an microscope and examined. Then if there is one to compare it to the use an comparison microscope to analyze and to determine if there is a match.

Hair/Fiber collection techniques

Hair

1. if possible use fingers/tweezers to pick up the hair then seal in paper bindiles or coin envelopes, then seal in a larger envelope. Label

2. if it is in dry blood, or caught in metal, or a crack of glass. Then don't try to remove it. take the object if it is small and wrap it and mark it. if it is large then wrap it in paper.

Fiber:

For threads or large Fibers


1. Pick up and put in paper bindle, then in a coin enevelope
2. then seal and lable
**Do Not put the fiber directly into mailing envelope it can be lost.

If Fibers are short or few in number

1. Wrap the whole area or the entire item and send it to the laboratory
2.Only pick up fibers with tape if the laboratory in your jurisdiction allows it.
3. send all clothing from persons which the fibers may have originated from.

Five major types of Fibers

1. Spider Silk
2. Sinew
3. Catgut
4. Wool
5. Hemp

Complete part of a Hair