ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 10

Earmarks as Evidence: A Critical Review
Kuchler, B
Institut de Police Scientifique et de Criminologie, Batiment de chimie,

Champod, C
The Forensic Science Service, Trident Court, Solihull Parkway, Birmingham Business Park,

Evett, IW
The Forensic Science Service,

(Received 9 November 2000; accepted 1 March 2001)

Abstract

The use of earmarks as evidence in criminal trials appears to be expanding, but there is something of a dearth of peer-reviewed scientific publications to support the pursuit. This paper is a critical review of the current literature in which we emphasize the weaknesses of the present state of knowledge. Some research directions are proposed to gather statistical knowledge of the within-source and between-source variability of earmarks and earprints. Its ultimate goal is to be able to assess likelihood ratios in relation to this type of evidence.

Keywords:
forensic science, earprint, earmarks, identification, individualization, likelihood ratio

Paper ID: JFS15146J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS15146J
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