An integrated technique for the analysis of skin bite marks

Area of Science:

• Forensic Odontology
• Criminalistics
• Forensic Science

Background:

• Rising rates of violent crimes in South Africa necessitate reliable forensic evidence.
• Bite mark analysis is increasingly used in high court cases for perpetrator identification.
• Objective and scientifically rigorous methods are required for bite mark analysis to withstand legal scrutiny.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a comprehensive, multi-stage analysis technique for human bite marks.
• To combine established and novel methods for objective bite mark comparison.
• To enhance the evidential value of bite mark analysis in criminal proceedings.

Main Methods:

• A four-stage analysis: human bite mark determination, pattern association, metric analysis with population data, and suspect comparison.
• Integration of new and accepted forensic odontology techniques.
• Utilizing a real case study to illustrate the methodology.

Main Results:

• The described technique allows for objective assessment of concordance between victim's injuries and suspect's dentition.
• Likelihood ratios are generated to express the probability of guilt.
• The case study demonstrates identification with a high degree of certainty.

Conclusions:

• The presented four-stage bite mark analysis provides a scientifically sound framework for forensic investigations.
• This method strengthens the reliability of bite mark evidence in legal convictions.
• Objective comparison enhances the certainty of matching perpetrators to crime scene evidence.