Abstract:
In a country notorious for violent crime, it seems that South African medico-legal laboratories make
minimal application of technology in the death investigation process and little attention is given to trace
evidence. Non-destructive, non-invasive, portable and cost-effective tools are required. This study was
conducted at the Pretoria Medico-Legal Laboratory. The surface area of the bodies and clothing of victims
of fatal interpersonal violence were examined using a torch, magnifying lamp, portable digital
microscope and alternate light source to gauge their potential for trace evidence detection. Most studies
apply these and similar tools to inert surfaces, with few focusing on their application to human skin.
There was a statistically significant difference in the detection of many of the evidence types between the
naked-eye observation of the pathologists and the technologies. The different imaging technologies were
compared as to their cost, evidence detection ability and ease of use. The most common evidence types
discovered on the bodies and clothing of victims of fatal interpersonal violence, as well as the propensity
of each tool to detect these, was evaluated in order to devise the best option for incorporation into the
Pretoria Medico-Legal Laboratory routine. The digital microscope performed best overall followed by the
magnifying lamp, torch and the Polilight1. This study aimed to justify the investment of more time,
effort and funding into trace evidence recovery in the South African mortuary environment.
