University of Worcester Worcester Research and Publications
 
  USER PANEL:
  ABOUT THE COLLECTION:
  CONTACT DETAILS:

Assessment of Pollen Assemblages on Footwear for Evidence of Pollen Deriving from a Mock Crime Scene: a Contribution to Forensic Palynology

Adams-Groom, Beverley ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1097-8876 (2018) Assessment of Pollen Assemblages on Footwear for Evidence of Pollen Deriving from a Mock Crime Scene: a Contribution to Forensic Palynology. Grana, 57 (3). pp. 223-234. ISSN 0017-3134 Online: 1651-2049

[img]
Preview
Text
SGRA_A_1310293.pdf - Accepted Version

Download (262kB) | Preview

Abstract

To provide evidence of a link between a crime scene and a suspect, pollen analysis is occasionally employed. However, experimental research linking pollen on footwear to a specific crime scene has been infrequently undertaken such that there are limited references to cite in court. In this blind study, the author had to determine, which of 12 pairs of footwear had walked on a mock scene by comparing their assemblages to those of two scene controls. An additional four control pairs of footwear that had not been worn on or near the scene were also analysed. The pollen data from the footwear was assessed and compared with the scene control samples for: number of taxa, key types, Czekanowski Coefficient and general assemblages. Results indicated that six of the pairs of footwear had walked on the scene and these were, indeed, the ones that actually had done so. The four control pairs were dissimilar in most aspects, particularly key types. This research demonstrates, with some limitations, that evidence of a match between footwear sample and location can be found, even when material from other habitats is present on an exhibit.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information:

Staff and students at the University of Worcester can access the full-text via the UW online library search. External users should check availability with their local library or Interlibrary Requests Service.

“This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Grana on 04.05.2018 available online via the official URL.

Uncontrolled Discrete Keywords: pollen spectrum, footwear exhibits, palynomorphs
Subjects: Q Science > QK Botany
Divisions: College of Health, Life and Environmental Sciences > School of Science and the Environment
Related URLs:
Depositing User: Dr Beverley Adams-Groom
Date Deposited: 31 Jul 2017 14:38
Last Modified: 17 Jun 2020 17:18
URI: https://eprints.worc.ac.uk/id/eprint/5768

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item
 
     
Worcester Research and Publications is powered by EPrints 3 which is developed by the School of Electronics and Computer Science at the University of Southampton. More information and software credits.