RE: forensic science

["North, David" <DNorth@Lifespan.org>]

I have personally used diagnostic x-rays to assist a state attorney general

in prosecuting a case of assault with a deadly weapon. The defendant claimed

that he fired a pistol in self-defense against a "friend" who was allegedly

attacking him with a length of steel pipe. There was a small piece of metal

imbedded in the friend's groin which the defendant maintained was a chip of

the pipe knocked off by the defendant's bullet as he was being attacked. I

was able to show by means of three orthogonal radiographs of the victim's

groin that the metal piece was consistent with a distorted .32 to .38

caliber slug, not a jagged shard of pipe. The defendant and his "expert"

caved. The guy pleaded guilty and never went to trial, damn it. I was

looking forward to that.



There must be other uses such as non-destructive testing and analysis, and

imaging, but I am not versed in those.



David L. North, Sc.M., DABR

Medical Physics

Main Bldg Rm 317

Rhode Island Hospital

593 Eddy St.

Providence, RI 02903

(401)444-5961

dnorth@lifespan.org





> ----------

> From: 	Michael G. Stabin

> Reply To: 	Michael G. Stabin

> Sent: 	26, March 2003 12:03

> To: 	radsafe

> Subject: 	forensic science

> 

> 

> I had an interesting question from a student during a presentation to a

> jr.

> high class yesterday - what applications are there for radiation or

> radioactivity in forensic science? I am aware of a couple of ideas, but I

> don't know how widely they are really applied. Any feedback would be

> appreciated. Thanks.

> 

> Mike

> 

> Michael G. Stabin, PhD, CHP

> Assistant Professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences

> Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences

> Vanderbilt University

> 1161 21st Avenue South

> Nashville, TN 37232-2675

> Phone (615) 343-0068

> Fax   (615) 322-3764

> Pager (615) 835-5153

> e-mail     michael.g.stabin@vanderbilt.edu

> internet   www.doseinfo-radar.com

> 

> 

> 

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