Forensic Botany A Practical Guide

FORENSIC BOTANY
A PRACTICAL GUIDE

Forensic Botany: A Practical Guide is an accessible introduction to the way in which botanical evidence is identified, collected and analysed in criminal cases. This form of evidence is becoming increasingly important in forensic investigation. This book is intended to show how useful simple collection methods and standard plant analysis can be in the course of such investigations. It is written in a clear and accessible manner to enhance the understanding of the subject for the non-specialist.

Clearly structured throughout, this book combines well known collection techniques in a field oriented format that can be used for casework. Various methods that allow easy collection, transportation, and preservation of evidence are detailed throughout the book.

This book is written for those who have no formal background working with plants. It can be used as a practical guide for students taking forensic science courses, law enforcement training, legal courses, and as a template for plant collection at any scene where plants occur and where rules or laws are involved. Veterinarians, various environmental agencies and anthropologists are examples of disciplines that are more recently in need of plant evidence.

The format of the book is designed to present the reader with all the information needed to conduct a botanical analysis of a crime scene; to highlight the forensic significance of the botanical evidence that may be present; how to collect that evidence in the correct manner and preserve and store that evidence appropriately- also shows how to conduct a laboratory analysis of the plants.

• An accessible practical guide to the collection, analysis and presentation of botanical evidence within forensic investigation.
• Aimed at the non-specialist looking for an introduction to the field.
• Written in a clear and logical manner; what is it? Where can you find help? How can you use plant evidence? Why is this kind of plant important? Where to look for evidence; evidence collection made easy; evidence preservation; evidence transportation; chain of custody.
• Includes evidence collection data sheet and a laboratory analysis data sheet for use in the field.
• Includes key chapters on microscopy analysis of plant evidence and on DNA collection, use and relative costs.
• Numerous relevant case studies included to show forensic botany in practice and how to present botanical evidence in court.

List of contributors ix

Series Foreword xi

Prologue: the begining xiii

1 Introduction to forensic botany 1
David W. Hall, Ph.D.

Botanical evidence in legal investigations 1

Legal plant definition 2

Botanical evidence in legal investigations 3

Alibis 5

Timing 5

Gravesite growth 9

Stomach contents 11

Summary 11

2 Plants as evidence 12
David W. Hall, Ph.D.

Types of plants 12

Nonplant groups traditionally studied by botanists 22

Plant habitats and associations 25

Plant characteristics/plant morphology 26

Basic plant characteristics for the forensic investigator 28

Habit 28

Plant dispersal 41

3 Evidence collection and analysis 45
David W. Hall, Ph.D. and Jason H. Byrd, Ph.D.

Initial crime scene notation 55

Where to search for evidence 56

Storage 61

Documentation of botanical evidence 61

How to have botanical evidence analysed 62

Where to find a botanist 63

Types of cases 63

Evidence analysis 63

Laboratory report 65

Transportation of botanical evidence 66

Evidence retention and disposition 66

Step-wise method for the collection of botanical evidence 68

Appendix 3.1 70

Crime scene data 70

Habitat documentation 70

Scene location 70

Collection information needed for each botanical sample 70

Appendix 3.2 72

Botany field data sheet 72

Appendix 3.3 76

Botany laboratory examination data format 76

Appendix 3.4 78

Evidence log 78

4 Expert evidence 79
Bernard A. Raum JD, MFS

The common law 79

The United States experience 80

The decision in Frye v. United States 81

The codified federal rules of evidence 82

The decision in Daubert v. Merrill Dow25 85

The scientific method 86

The “pure opinion” rule 87

The United Kingdom experience 88

The criminal procedure rules 2010, s.33 90

The law commission consultation paper no. 190 92

5 Use and guidelines for plant DNA analyses in forensics 93
Matthew A. Gitzendanner, Ph.D.

Introduction 93

Types of samples and collection for DNA analyses 94

Uses of genetic data 95

Genotyping methods 98

Finding a laboratory for analysis 102

Case studies 102

Conclusions 104

References 104

6 A primer on forensic microscopy 107
Christopher R. Hardy, Ph.D.

Microscopes and microscopic botanical structures relevant to forensic botany 107

The importance of reference collections in microscopic analysis 115

Preparation and documentation of specimen evidence for microscopic examination 116

References 118

7 Plant anatomy 119
David W. Hall, Ph.D. and William Stern, Ph.D.

The lindbergh case 121

Further reading 126

8 Palynology, pollen, and spores, partners in crime: what, why, and how 127
Anna Sandiford, Ph.D.

Terminology 127

What are pollen and spores? 127

Where are they found and how do they travel? 129

What does pollen look like? 130

The use of pollen for non-forensic work 132

The use of pollen in the forensic setting 132

When should pollen samples be collected? 134

How to collect and store pollen samples 134

How many samples to collect? 138

Who can collect pollen samples and where can an analyst be found? 139

Costs and turnaround times 140

Case examples 140

Summary 142

References 143

9 Algae in forensic investigations 145
Christopher R. Hardy, Ph.D. and John R. Wallace, Ph.D.

Finding an algal botanist and identifying algae 145

Algal diversity 146

Application of algal evidence in forensic investigations 154

Collection and processing of algal evidence in forensic investigations 165

Acknowledgements 172

References 172

10 Case Studies in forensic botany 174
David W. Hall, Ph.D.

Placing people or objects at scenes 174

Determining time of death 181

Index 189