Showing posts with label Forensic Evidence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Forensic Evidence. Show all posts

14 September 2010

Confused, I Think...

I have bought a few books in my time from Amazon and I subscribe to get updates on books that I might be interested in. I received an email earlier today suggesting that I might be interested in a book on "Elastic Waves at High Frequencies ...". Amazon thinks that I would be interested in this book because I had purchased and rated Ian Brownlie's Book, "Principles of Public International Law".

I am not quite sure why Amazon would think this. I really, really sucked at science at school. In fact, I sucked so bad at science that I have done everything in power to avoid having to do it again. The only time I have even been remotely scientific since high school was during a course I did on forensic law at university. The forensic law course was excellent, but I was not inspired to go back and revisit science on any grand scale. I had pretty much determined that if I was ever to need forensic skills in law, then I would hire an expert to give that testimony and commit myself to gaining a sufficient skill set to examine in chief and cross examine without looking foolish. Period!

Anyways...Amazon, thanks but no thanks on this one!

10 June 2009

Manohara Odelia Pinot -- Part IV -- The Medical


AFP is reporting that Manohara has undergone a medical examination and the doctor / forensic expert, Mun'im Idries, has found slash marks all over her body. Some of the slash marks are reportedly still fresh (I am guessing this means they are not fully healed).

The doctor added that the urine and blood work has not been finalized. The urine and blood work results are needed as a part of the claim made by Manohara was that she was injected with unknown substances. Although, the doctor did say that an injection mark was found on her back. The injection claims are interesting. Manohara alleges that the prince, Tengku temenggong Mohammad Fakhry of Kelantan State, injected her with something that incapacitated her and the injections were given before sexual intercourse was initiated.

The medical reports, as noted in previous parts of this series of posts, are key to proving that there was harm done to her. It still has to be proved that these wounds and other injuries that Manohara has sustained were the result of the actions of the prince or others acting on the prince's orders.

The AFP report is not saying anything about tests related to the rape in marriage allegations. I would have figured in light of the alleged sexual appetite of the prince that a rape kit might have been worthwhile in order to document any injuries. Then again, these might have been done but are not being reported.

It seems that Farhat Abbas, a (in)famous Jakartan lawyer, has taken up her cause. According to Farhat, the medical confirms Manohara's story. I am not so sure that it proves anything other than the fact that Manohara has sustained injuries and suffered trauma. For my mind the allegations still have to be tested in a court of law. In the court of public opinion, perhaps, Farhat is right in his assumption. Furthermore, Farhat has said that Manohara has lodged an official written report with the Indonesian police. This report names not only the prince, but a number of others as well.

What is interesting now is how the case proceeds. The alleged abuse, the accused, and perhaps the majority of the witnesses are located in Malaysia. The ability of the Indonesian police to investigate and prosecute this case seems difficult and remote in all likelihood. The Indonesian police have admitted as much. Abubakar Nataprawira, the National Police Force spokesperson, noted that the police have received the report and will be forwarding it to their Malaysian counterparts for further action.

The plot thickens. I am sure their will be a Manohara Odelia Pinot -- Part V.

07 June 2009

David Carradine Updates...


I am following the David Carradine (photo courtesy of here) death investigation as it is developing into a really interesting case with a supposed suicide becoming a possible murder. A Thai daily has recently published a photo of the supposed death scene at the hotel.

Anyone interested in the updates that I am making can find them as postscripts to the original post.