A NEW University of Warwick forensic centre to support homicide investigations in the region has secured investment from West Midlands Police.
The Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) centre is used for digital scanning and 3D printing, and has already been credited with helping bring to justice Solihull baby killer, Abigail Palmer.
It allows police to scan injuries and produce 3D print outs for use in expert testimonies.
The scans are 1,000 times more detailed than hospital scans, and can detect microscopic injuries which could otherwise be missed by conventional medical CT scanners.
3D renderings are then produced of the injuries, and their age can be identified too.
The renderings are used in court during trials to provide visual context and support the Pathologist’s testimony.
The service has been used to provide expert witness testimony in over 100 homicide cases by 13 different police forces across the UK.
As we reported this month, Solihull mum Abigail Palmer was jailed for manslaughter after killing her nine-week-old baby Teri-Rae.
Researchers at WMG used the high resolution X-ray (micro-CT) scanner, to scan the toddler’s rib-cage.
The evidence produced helped reveal a total of eleven injuries of varying ages.
3D renderings of these injuries were shown during the trial to support the bone specialist’s expert testimony.
Professor Mark Williams of WMG said: “It is a real privilege to be able to support West Midlands Police and formalise our relationship through the establishment of a research centre.
“The opportunity to apply state-of-the technology to support homicide investigation is very exciting.
“3D X-Ray scanners allowed us to identify multiple fractures to Teri-Rae’s ribs that had occurred over an extended period of time.
“It’s an honour for us to provide critical evidence in cases like this, and to be able to help the police investigate such an unfortunate tragedy.”
Assistant director Michelle Painter Head of Forensic Services for West Midlands Police said: “The strategic partnership with WMG has enabled police forensics to access state of the art technology to progress investigations.
“In addition to the homicide cases being delivered through the centre, we are pushing research boundaries; combining scientific skill, knowledge and history with innovative technology and presentation techniques.
“Additional PhD studies have commenced on dismemberment tools and we will soon be finalising further research projects including scanning fingerprint and footwear marks and assessing damaged digital devices for protected data sources.
“The research and partnership possibilities are endless and exciting.”
