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The article discusses a court visit to the County Court of Victoria and the experience gained. It also defines technical and layman terms for mass spectrometry and layer chromatography. Additionally, it explains Locard's exchange principle and its application in forensic science. Lastly, it analyzes the evidence in a criminal case and its strength based on Locard's exchange principle.

Running Head: FORENSIC SCIENCE
Forensic Science
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note

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Part A
On 15th may 2018 I visited the county Court of Victoria. The court is located at to 50 William
Street Melbourne Victoria 3000 Australia. The court opens at 9 A.M and anyone who wants to
witness that case in this phone has to be present their sharp by 9:30 A.M. I got this information
about the court from the official website of the county Court of Victoria. There were various
security checks entrance of the court which any person who wants to enter the court has to clear.
I reached the court at 9:15 A.M. the county Court is the principal Court of trial in Victoria. There
various people present in the court. Out of various people I noticed during my Court visit
included the judges, the tipstaff, barristers, the parties to the case and the general members of the
public like me. When I visited the court room there was judge was sitting just before the bench
of the judge. When the judge arrived wearing his professional attire every person in the court
room expressed their gratitude towards the chair by standing up. This is one of the very basic
Court etiquettes every person visiting the court must know. After the tip staff there was a bench
where the lawyers of both the parties to the case was sitting together. They were also dressed in
their professional attire which was the black suit. After the lawyers, were positioned the parties
to the case which are the plaintiff and the defendant. In this case the plaintiffs were directors of
the public prosecutors and the accused were Amanda Warren and Caris Underwood. This was
the case in which an appeal had been made before the county court from the magistrate Court.
The Appeal was in relation to a sentence which had been imposed by the magistrate Court of a 4
months imprisonment along with the twelve months community correction order on the accused.
The sentence had been provided with respect to a charge of causing injury to an emergency work
intentionally. On the other hand the second defendant had made an appeal because she had been
provided a sentence which included 8 months of imprisonment and 12 months of community

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collection order. She has been found guilty of causing injury to an emergency worker
intentionally and also handling stolen goods and causing criminal damages. The court had finally
called the appellant in the Witness box for the purpose of making the decision. The proceedings
were conducted by a lady judge. She was very Stern and at the same time very attentive. She had
been having conversation with the appellants and the Counsel at the same time while trying to
understand the point of view of both parties. She was very determinant towards understanding
the position of the appellants where they had committed the crime. After going through all
evidence and witnesses she decided to reject the appeal and did not take into consideration any
emotional factor which was present in the situation as the appellants had broken down
emotionally before her. I had prior knowledge about the rules and regulations which I needed to
follow inside the court room therefore I had already switched off my mobile phone and installed
that I do not indulge into any eating or drinking while the conversation was going on between the
parties to the case and the judge. The respondents in this case for providing arguments against
the Appeal made by the appellant and had a view that it should be rejected. All arguments which
was presented by the Council of the respondent war based on legal rules. The Counsel when
having very polite conversations with the judge unlike what we see in the movies. The judge was
also explaining to the appellant that why the arguments made by the respondents were legally
correct.
The experience which I had with respect to my first Court visit in the county Court of Victoria
was amazing. I got a totally new picture of how actually functions are carried out within a court.
The court does not take into consideration any emotional factor but only relies on evidence to
make decisions. The judge was very sympathetic towards the appellant but did not upheld the

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appeal made by them. This experience would help me in my career as I will have to visit the
court many more times.
Part 2
Answer 1
Definition in Technical terms
The term Mass spectrometry is the process or an analytical technique through which chemical
species are ionized and ions based on their mass to change ratio are sorted (Gu and Xiao 2015).
There are five steps to be followed to complete the process
1. Vaporization
2. Ionization
3. Accelerations
4. Separation
5. Detection
Definition in Layman’s terms
In layman’s terms the process of mass spectrometry can be defined as a way in which the mass
within a sample can be measured. The process is applied in many fields and helps to find out the
mass in both pure as well as complex mixture samples.
Answer 2
Definition in Technical terms

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The technique of Layer Chromatography includes migration of liquid sample through capillarity
via a absorbent medium like a silica gel or alumina set up in a thin layer which is placed on a
rigid support (Adams 2017)
Definition in Layman’s terms
This is the process which is used for the purpose of separating a mixture in simple individual
components. The procedure involves plates having a silica layer which may be provided support
by a glass or plastic piece. The coating of silica is called the stationary phase.
Answer 3
1. Beach, G.J., Moody, G., Burkowski, J. and Jacobus, C.J., Cybernet Systems Corp,
2018. Portable composable machine vision system for identifying projectiles. U.S. Patent
Application 15/675,763.
2. Brocato, E.R., Philpott, M.K., Connon, C.C. and Ehrhardt, C.J., 2018. Rapid
differentiation of epithelial cell types in aged biological samples using autofluorescence
and morphological signatures. PloS one, 13(5), p.e0197701.
3. Zannin, A., 2017. Bloodstain Pattern Analysis. Veterinary Forensics: Investigation,
Evidence Collection, and Expert Testimony.
4. Chen, H., Chang, K., Men, X., Sun, K., Fang, X., Ma, C., Zhao, Y., Yin, S., Qin, W. and
Wu, C., 2015. Covalent patterning and rapid visualization of latent fingerprints with
photo-cross-linkable semiconductor polymer dots. ACS applied materials &
interfaces, 7(26), pp.14477-14484.

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5. Rohatgi, S., Gupta, S., Sharma, M. and Shukla, S.K., 2017. A Study to Focus on
Augmentation of Pre-existing Methodologies for Tampered Document
Examination. Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology, 10(11), pp.4085-4089.
Answer 4
Chen, H., Chang, K., Men, X., Sun, K., Fang, X., Ma, C., Zhao, Y., Yin, S., Qin, W. and Wu, C.,
2015. Covalent patterning and rapid visualization of latent fingerprints with photo-cross-linkable
semiconductor polymer dots. ACS applied materials & interfaces, 7(26), pp.14477-14484.
Summary
Fingerprints are one of the most essential evidences for forensic experts. There are several
techniques which are used for the purpose of fingerprint imaging. The article states that
fingerprint recognition and imaging represents the most crucial approach in relation to
identification of a person. In this article the researchers have synthesized and design oxetane-
functionalized semiconductors polymer dots in order to indulge in rapid visualization and
covalent patterning of latent fingerprints. The large stokes shifts, the high fluorescence
brightness along with the brilliant surface characteristics ofoxetane-functionalized
semiconductors polymer dots results in high sensitivity and resolution in relation to fingerprint
imaging. Through the implementation of this method within minutes fingerprint rigid structures
having the first, second and third levels are clearly developed. The method is robust and facile in
relation to the visualization of fingerprints on various kinds of services which includes surfaces

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like plastic, metal and glass. In addition the groups of oxetane in the OX-P dots go through
reactions which are cross linking which have been provoked by short time UV irradiation and
yield 3-D intermolecular polymer network. The fingerprint patterns which resulted out of using
the method depict unmatched stability as compared to traditional p dots in relation to rigorous
treatment. It is shown by the results of this article that Ox-P dots have a great potential and hold
a promise in relation to latent fingerprint imaging as well as fluorescence anti-counterfeiting use.
Part C
Answer 1
The Locard’s exchange principles in relation to forensic science provides that the perception of a
criminal activity is going to get something from outside into the Crime Scene and also take
something from the Crime scene with it and both these things can be used as a forensic evidence.
The principal is based on the findings that “every contact leave a trace”. The principal has been
described by Locard as follows:
Whenever a person steps in, whatever is touched by him, whatever is left even in an unconscious
manner will act as a discreet witness against such person. This not only includes his footprint all
fingerprint but also the fibres from his clothes, his hair, the tool mark he leaves, the glass he
breaks, the blood or semen he deposits or collects and the paint he scratches. All such things
along with other things constitute a silent witness against him. This is the form of evidence
which does not forget. The evidence is also not confused through the excitement of movements.
This is also present where human witnesses are absent. It is described as factual evidence.

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Physical evidence cannot be proved wrong and it cannot be absent wholly. Its value can only be
diminished by human failure to find study and understand it (Musselman 2017).
Answer 2
Items of evidence on which the Locard’s Exchange Principle are applicable
1. The containers in which she kept her cash – This suggest that the criminals have taken
something out of the crime scene which is the cash
2. large claw hammer- this makes it clear that the hamper was used for the purpose of
killing Mrs Jones.
3. Other DNA tests on handle of the hammer- This makes it clear that the hammer had been
sued by Jason as it had same fingerprints.
4. Fibers collected from Miss Jones- The fibers match the composition of Wayne’s
fluorescent work vest
5. Examinations of the clothes of both men- depicting those roses under the broken window
have been taken from the crime scene.
6. Jason’s trouser cuffs and shoes – depicting that they have blood of Mrs Jones which has
been taken from the crime scene
Answer 3
 The evidence in relation to the containers are strong because it establishes the motive of
the criminals to loot the victim

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 The link established via the evidence is relation to the hammer is the strongest as it
suggests use by Jason and Wayne and it had been used for the purpose of killing the
victim.
 The links in relation to Fibers which were collected from Miss Jones although is
important but do not establish a strong link as the fibers may have been transferred in any
way to her when Wayne was working.
 The links in relation to the evidence from the cloths suggests that Wayne and Jason were
involves in breaking the window and also the blood samples match link suggest that they
have killed the victim. Thus this evidence is really strong.

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References
Adams, R.P., 2017. Identification of essential oil components by gas chromatography/mass
spectrometry. 5 online ed. Texensis Publishing.
Musselman, B.D., IONSENSE Inc, 2017. Apparatus and method for rapid chemical analysis
using differential desorption. U.S. Patent 9,558,926.
Chen, H., Chang, K., Men, X., Sun, K., Fang, X., Ma, C., Zhao, Y., Yin, S., Qin, W. and Wu, C.,
2015. Covalent patterning and rapid visualization of latent fingerprints with photo-cross-linkable
semiconductor polymer dots. ACS applied materials & interfaces, 7(26), pp.14477-14484.
Engineering,(ICEESE 2015), May 30-31, 2015, Guangzhou, China (p. 291). CRC Press.
Gu, B. and Xiao, H., 2015, November. An analytical method of fludioxonil technical material by
high performance liquid chromatography. In Advances in Energy Equipment Science and
Engineering: Proceedings of the International Conference on Energy Equipment Science and