The effect of insect activity on clothing damage evidence following a period of decomposition
Clothing damage analysis is a field in which the examination of stab cuts to clothing can reveal information about the stabbing implement and the actions used to cause such damage. This is particularly useful where the victim of the stabbing is still alive or when the deceased is in an advanced stat...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of Huddersfield Press
2019-03-01
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| Series: | Crime, Security and Society |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.crimesecurityandsociety.org.uk/article/id/574/ |
| _version_ | 1797809633325219840 |
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| author | Esta Bostock Gareth Parkes Graham Williams |
| author_facet | Esta Bostock Gareth Parkes Graham Williams |
| author_sort | Esta Bostock |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Clothing damage analysis is a field in which the examination of stab cuts to clothing can reveal information about the stabbing implement and the actions used to cause such damage. This is particularly useful where the victim of the stabbing is still alive or when the deceased is in an advanced state of decomposition. In both situations, wound examination would not be useful due to the evidence being compromised by natural processes. In cases where the body is severely decomposed, the clothing can be the only source of evidence remaining; however, it is possible that insect activity may compromise any stab cuts that may be present. This study recreates the effect that a decomposing body might have on any fabric, by wrapping the damaged cotton fabric around meat, and allowing the meat to decompose for two weeks. The following factors were explored; the presence/absence of blood on the edges of the damage; and whether the stab cut is exposed to the air or is face-down in the soil. It was observed that after one week, the edges of the stab cuts were worn with the effect being enhanced after two weeks. It was also observed that the presence of blood increased the amount of wear, as did the presence of meat. The visual observations were also supported by measuring the depth of fraying of the edges of the stab cuts. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T06:55:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-27c3e7d41789420880ac9179d826b839 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2398-130X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T06:55:36Z |
| publishDate | 2019-03-01 |
| publisher | University of Huddersfield Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Crime, Security and Society |
| spelling | doaj.art-27c3e7d41789420880ac9179d826b8392023-06-07T09:05:26ZengUniversity of Huddersfield PressCrime, Security and Society2398-130X2019-03-011210.5920/css.574The effect of insect activity on clothing damage evidence following a period of decompositionEsta Bostock0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9590-1431Gareth Parkes1Graham Williams2University of HuddersfieldUniversity of HuddersfieldStaffordshire UniversityClothing damage analysis is a field in which the examination of stab cuts to clothing can reveal information about the stabbing implement and the actions used to cause such damage. This is particularly useful where the victim of the stabbing is still alive or when the deceased is in an advanced state of decomposition. In both situations, wound examination would not be useful due to the evidence being compromised by natural processes. In cases where the body is severely decomposed, the clothing can be the only source of evidence remaining; however, it is possible that insect activity may compromise any stab cuts that may be present. This study recreates the effect that a decomposing body might have on any fabric, by wrapping the damaged cotton fabric around meat, and allowing the meat to decompose for two weeks. The following factors were explored; the presence/absence of blood on the edges of the damage; and whether the stab cut is exposed to the air or is face-down in the soil. It was observed that after one week, the edges of the stab cuts were worn with the effect being enhanced after two weeks. It was also observed that the presence of blood increased the amount of wear, as did the presence of meat. The visual observations were also supported by measuring the depth of fraying of the edges of the stab cuts.https://www.crimesecurityandsociety.org.uk/article/id/574/textile damageclothing damage analysisforensic scienceinsect activitystab cutsfabric damage |
| spellingShingle | Esta Bostock Gareth Parkes Graham Williams The effect of insect activity on clothing damage evidence following a period of decomposition Crime, Security and Society textile damage clothing damage analysis forensic science insect activity stab cuts fabric damage |
| title | The effect of insect activity on clothing damage evidence following a period of decomposition |
| title_full | The effect of insect activity on clothing damage evidence following a period of decomposition |
| title_fullStr | The effect of insect activity on clothing damage evidence following a period of decomposition |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effect of insect activity on clothing damage evidence following a period of decomposition |
| title_short | The effect of insect activity on clothing damage evidence following a period of decomposition |
| title_sort | effect of insect activity on clothing damage evidence following a period of decomposition |
| topic | textile damage clothing damage analysis forensic science insect activity stab cuts fabric damage |
| url | https://www.crimesecurityandsociety.org.uk/article/id/574/ |
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