NCJ Number
195830
Journal
Journal of Forensic Identification Volume: 52 Issue: 4 Dated: July/August 2002 Pages: 443-448
Date Published
2002
Length
6 pages
Annotation
In the case profiled in this paper, the investigators were asked to compare two groups of jewelry items, each of which contained four single earrings and a display pin; one group was found at the crime scene, and the other group was seized from the trunk of the suspect's car; the examination's purpose was to determine whether there was a common origin for these two groups.
Abstract
In Israel (where the crime occurred), all gold jewelry weighing 2.5 grams or more (without settings) must bear two proofmarks. The manufacturer must state the gold content in carats on each item. After confirming the gold content, the Israel Institute of Standards stamps its symbol (the lyre) and the appropriate gold content on each item. Class characteristics matched for the two groups of jewelry items; however, when any two items are found to share only the same class characteristics, a nonconclusive result may usually be drawn. In the case at issue, finding a single earring in the possession of the suspect, even though it matched an earring from the crime scene, could only tenuously connect the suspect to the scene. Having four earrings from the store that had the class characteristics of four earrings in the suspect's possession, together with the similar display pins, greatly strengthened the connection between the two groups of items. The highly unlikely probability that such a circumstance would occur randomly, together with other evidence in the case, led to the suspect's conviction. 1 figure and 7 references