LECTURE NOTES IN

FORENSIC MEDICINE FOR CRIMINOLOGY STUDENTS

GENERAL CONSIDERATION
LEGAL MEDICINE- a branch of medicine which deals with the application of medical knowledge to the
purposes of law and in the administration of justice.

-application of basic and clinical, medical and paramedical sciences to elucidate legal
matters.

-primarily the application of medicine to legal cases

FORENSIC MEDICINE- concerns with the application of medical science to elucidate legal problems

MEDICAL JURIS PRUDENCE- denotes knowledge of law in relation to the practice of medicine

LAW- a rule of conduct ,just ,obligatory,laid by legitimate power for common observance
-a science of moral laws founded on the ratonal nature of man which regulates free activity for
the realization of his individual and social ends under the aspect of mutual demandable independence.


MEDICO-LEGAL ASPECTS OF IDENTIFICATION

IDENTIFICATION- The determination of the individuality of a person or thing

IMPORTANCE OF IDENTIFICATION FOR MEDICO-LEGAL PURPOSES:

1. In the prosecution of criminal offense, the identity of the offender and that of the victim must
be established for proper administration of justice, otherwise it will be a ground for dismissal of
the charge or acquittal of the accused.
2. For purposes of settlement of the inheritance or estate of the deceased, insurance, retirement,
Immigration and other social benefits.
3. Resolves the anxiety of the next- of- kin ,other relatives and friends as to the whereabouts of a
missing person or victim of calamity or criminal act.
4. Needed in some transactions like cashing of checks, entering a premise, delivery of parcels or
registered mail in post office, sale of property, release of dead bodies to relatives, parties to a
contract, etc.
5. In the living subject, coma, amnesia, speech or mental defects may prevent the subject from
giving full or complete information of himself.
6. In paternity or filiation, the identification of the putative father or legitimate parents and child is
important for proper support, inheritance and parental authority.



BERTILLON IDENTIFICATION:
-developed by French Forensic scientist Alphonse Bertillon using a system called
ANTHROPOMETRY ,which was based on a number of measurements of important skull, facial and body
features.

BASIS FOR IDENTIFICATION:

1. Human skeleton- unchangeable after the 20
th
year.
2. No two human beings have the same bones exactly alike.
3. Uses the aid of a simple instrument







INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THE SYSTEM:

1.Descriptive data- color of the hair, eyes, complexion, shape of nose, ear
2.Body marks- moles, scars, tattoo marks, deformities
3.Anthropometrical Measurements:
a. Body measurements- height, width of outstretched hands arms and sitting height
b. Head measurement- length and breadth oh head,bizygomatical diameter, length of right ear
c. Limbs measurement-length of the left foot, length of the left middle and left little fingers,
and length of left arm and hand from the elbow to the tip of the outstretched middle finger


PORTRAIT PARLE (speaking likeness) - also created by Bertillon which is a verbal, accurate and
picturesque description of the person identified.
-describes a persons facial and physical characteristics, involves the use of various
forms of the facial features and building them up to make a picture in words.
- cartographic sketch


BASIC REQUIREMENTS INCLUDED IN THE VERBAL DESCRIPTION:
1. General impression- type, personality, apparent social status
2. Age and sex
3. Race or color
4. Height
5. Weight
6. Built- thin, slender ,medium or stout
7. Posture- erect, slouching, round shoulder
8. Head- size, shape
9. Hair-color, length ,baldness
10. Face-general impression
A .Forehead- high, low,bulging or receding
b. Eyebrows -brushy or thin, shape
c. Mustache-length, color, shape
d. Ears- size, shape, size of lobe, angle of set
e. Eyes- small, medium or large, color
f. Cheeks- high, low or prominent medium cheek bones, flat or sunken
g. Nose- short, medium or big, or long, straight, aquiline or flat or pug
h. Lips- shape, thickness, color
i. Teeth- shade, condition, defect, missing elements
j. Chin- size, shape, general impression
k. Jaw- length, shape, lean, heavy or medium
11. Neck- shape, thickness,length, adam,s apple
12. Shoulder- width, shape
13. Wrist- size, shape
14. Hands- length, size, hair, condition of the palms
15. Fingers- length, thickness,stains, shape of nails, condition of the nails
16. Arms- long, medium or short, muscular, normal or thin, thickness of the wrist
17. Feet- size,deformities


ROUGUES GALARY- Photographic files of wanted or missing persons