Earmarks as evidence: a critical review
Champod, C
The Forensic Science Service, Trident Court, Solihull Parkway, Birmingham Business Park, Solihull B37 7YN

Evett, IW
The Forensic Science Service, 109 Lambeth Road, London SE1 7LP.

Kuchler, B
Institut de Police Scientifique et de Criminologie, Batiment de chimie, CH-1015 Lausanne-Dorigny.


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

Paper ID: JFS4661275

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Author Champod C, Evett IW, Kuchler B Title Earmarks as evidence: a critical review Symposium , Committee on