forensic entomology, medicolegal institute bhopal, Dr. Pankaj Presentation Slides Show.ppt
1. Forensic Entomology –
Practice and Method
Dr. Pankaj Kulshrestha
Senior Forensic Specialist
Medicolegal Institute,
Govt. Of MP, Home (Police) Dept.
Gandhi Medical College Building,
Bhopal
2. OVERVIEW
• Forensic Entomology Background.
• Method Description.
• Protocol.
• Case Studies.
• Challenges To Forensic Entomology
in India.
• Progress Of Forensic Entomology
Abroad.
• Legal evidence presentation.
• Conclusion.
3. WHY TO BOTHER WITH
FORENSIC ENTOMOLOGY !
• Only method for PMI estimate in
putrefied cases.
- The traditional medical parameters can
be used were death has taken place
shortly before discovery, however this
becomes much more difficult as time
progress.
• Helps cross check Time Since death
from traditional methods.
5. FLIES, MAGGOTS AND BEETLES STAND READY AND ABLE TO ASSIST IN
DEATH INVESTIGATION
6. FORENSIC ENTOMOLOGY:
Terminology
• Definitoin
- Application of study of insects
prominently and other Arthropods to
the legal issues esp. in the court of law
( Goff & Catts’ 92 ).
• - A technique for time of death
estimation in murder cases.
• Insects are first Organism to arrive a
dead body & start a biological clock for
PMI.
7. METHOD DISCRIPTIPON
• First Method :Measurement of larvae
increase in body Length (mm) of
Larvae in corresponding days in
prevailing environment. Maturation
scale drawn which in used as an aid
for PMI estimate.
• Second Method: Rearing of larvae in to
Adults. PMI estimates based on total
dev time.
8.
9. Because the individual stages of
larval development and pupal
development require passage of
specific number of days or week
after oviposition to account for their
maturation state. An entomologist
familier with these phases of insect
life cycle in variable environment
can draw fairly sound conclusions as
to minimum duration of death from
his examination & identification of
types of maggots pupae & eggs
found on corpse.
14. COLLECTION OF EVIDENCE
• Several specimens of eggs, maggots pupae &
Adults should be collected separately.
• Samples should be taken from head of
deceased and from different sites separetely.
• PMI assessed in turms of largest larvae.
• Different lengths of larvae to be collected
separately.
• Maggots be treated with boiling water which
killed them instantaneously. Thus larvae are
maintained in fully extended condition for
length measurement.
15. PRESERVATION OF EVIDENCE
• Collected adult flies, mature pupae &
empty pupae should be kept in dry
condition.
• Clusters of eggs and maggots should be
preserved in any following medium:
-80%Alcohol.
-Berlese fluid.
-Acetic Alcohol (3parts80%Alc: 1 Glacial
acetic acid.
-If no preservative is available put in
mathy1 sprit (country Liquor).
16. OTHER RELEVANT DATA
• Temperature (Maximum and Minimum) &
Humidity of the body recovery site.
• Consideration for the that would delay
on set on insect activity on corpses.
• Identification of immature stages (egg
larva pupa and their confirmation.
• General information about deceased
person from autopsy report: Name age
sex, corpses locale stage of
decomposition, last seen alive, Manner
of death.
18. EVALUATION OF PMI BY USING
ENTOMOLOGYCAL EVIDENCE
• The age of maggots gives the min. PMI and
not the time of death. for precise time of
death other other allowance factors to be
evaluated.
• Flies deposit eggs soon after death (1-
2days) if body is exposed and not
concealed.
• Effective concealment of body depend on
prevailing circumtances of case.
• Temperature(daily max-min) is an important
factor governing the rate of maggots.
• Identification of specious on corpses.
19. KEY FACTORS INFLUECING
FORENSIC ENTOMOLOGY
• Temperature and Humidity of the site
• Season of the year & fly activity.
• Fly life stages & body locale.
• Access of corpses to flies.
• Identification of prevalent specious
on corpse.
• Study related to whole circumstance
of crime.
• Availability of food & competition .
20. LEGAL ACCEPTTANCE OF
ENTOMOLOGICAL EVIDENCE
• Presented such evidence in court in
many cases as the main/suppliment
expert.
• Training.
-Organized lectures for judges, police &
medical personal for awareness of for
entomology.
-Need more precedence of such evidence
in district court
21. PROGRESS OF FORENSIC
ENTOMOLOGY AROUND THE
WORLD
• Several cases solved in US, Norway, UK
using this technique.
-Several cases telecast in discovery
channel under Medical Detective New
Detective.
• Several important web sites in forensic
Entomology on the internet
http://www.uio.no/~mostark/forens_ent/fore
nsic_entomology.html
http://www.misouri.edu/cafnr/entomology/i
ndex.html
22. CHALLENGES FOR FORENSIC
ENTOMOLOGY IN INDIA
• A very new perspective on presenting
evidence, hence low awareness in
medical, legal and police community.
• No established method in current
practice to in corporate forensic
entomology.
• No certification or regular academic
program for forensic entomology yet.
• Limited funding.
23. CHALANGES cont.
• Limited expertise on this field .
- Wherever such expertise is not
available, collaboration is the answer.
• Medico legal institute, Bhopal.
-In case conflicting opinion,
international experts help estimate
time since death.
24. LEADING QUESTIONS IN COURT
• Was any effort made to fix up the min. PMI
on the basis of age of Maggots ?
• Did you determine the time which elapsed
since the eggs of flies were deposited on
the remains?
• Can you tell exactly date and time when
eggs of flies were deposited on the body ?
• Could you identify the maggots in question
to which species and genera it belong ?
• Did you preserve the maggots ?
*Session trial No 282/85 state v/s Manoj
Gupta, iv Addl. District judge, Indore MP.
25. CONCLUTION
• Professional knowledge with bionomics
& life cycle of flies associated with
human corpses in prevailing
environment.
• Entomological evidence proves
successful group of organism they
produce number of offspring and adult
span is very short.
• Exercise is fruitful keeping view the
tropical climate of India.
• Incorporation of forensic entomology as
an independent branch in routine
postmortem work.
