UNUSUAL WRITING SURFACE - AND CONSIDERATIONS

• NCJ Number: 50836
• Journal: Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 6 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1978) Pages: 283-285
• Author(s): J H KELLY
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 3 pages
• Corporate Author: International Assoc of Chiefs of Police
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PRESENTED AT THE FALL 1976 MEETING OF THE SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION OF FORENSIC SCIENTISTS, AUBURN (AL)

Annotation

A CASE STUDY IS PRESENTED TO ILLUSTRATE HANDWRITING AND EVIDENCE ANALYSIS PROBLEMS PRESENTED BY UNUSUAL WRITING SURFACES, CERTAIN WRITING INSTRUMENTS, FACTORS WHICH CAN DISTORT WRITING, AND VARIATIONS IN TEENAGED WRITING.

Abstract

THIS CASE STUDY CONCERNS THE MURDER OF A TEENAGE GIRL AFTER A BIRTHDAY PARTY. THE MAJOR PIECE OF EVIDENCE WAS A BROKEN YELLOW BALLOON FOUND IN THE SUSPECT'S CAR. THE ANALYSIS CONCERNS THE FOLLOWING: (1) PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN IDENTIFYING THE HANDWRITING OF TEENAGERS; (2) PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED WHEN FELT-TIPPED PENS ARE USED; (3) DISTORTIONS CAUSED BY UNUSUAL WRITING SURFACES, DISTORTED WRITING POSITIONS, AND EMOTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES; AND (4) EXPERIMENTS CONDUCTED WITH BALLOONS RELEVANT TO THIS PARTICULAR CASE. THE WRITING ON THE BALLOON WAS SHOWN TO BE THAT OF THE MURDERED GIRL. THE CASE WAS SUCCESSFULLY PROSECUTED IN COURT. (GLR)