flatfootjoe
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- Dec 12, 2014
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How can anyone be 100% sure now?
If Mr. Tow Truck Driver would have driven the car straight to the impound lot, this would not become a question. Plus, any possibility of this evidence being thrown out because the Defense challenges its integrity (if someone planted evidence or altered it somehow).
Just imagine if an Investigator had a drinking glass with fingerprints all over it and told someone helping at the scene to take it back to the office. But, instead of going straight to the office, the helper stops at the bar for a "cold one". He sits the glass down on the bar-top while he drinks his Bud Light. Unbeknownst to him, someone picks up the glass and adds their fingerprints to the mix! How responsible is that?
Or imagine if you stopped with a burned out vehicle, one torched with an accelerant, and it's an accelerant whose spectrum signature is nearly identical pre and post ignition (they do exist). All of a sudden you can no longer prove when the accelerant was introduced. Or the addition of a chemical regeant or catalyst with which a decomposition, synthesis, or oxidation occurs preventing accurate spectral analysis on evidence, yeah that may not have happened, but you have established reasonable doubt.
There is at least one other case where I read of where the act of arson actually preserved the evidence rather than destroyed it, not really sure how that's possible but the statement was made by a reputable arson inspector. No, I do not have the source for that statement but willing to research it again if anyone feels the need for proof.
*EDIT
Normally I read all new posts before I start responding just so I don't do what I did tonight. I realized in more than one post tonight I've repeated things other users posted, before having read them. I apologize, plagiarism isn't normally one of my talents.