ESTABLISHING IDENTIFICATION FROM THE SKELETAL EVIDENCE

• Jurisdiction: Australia

Introduction ................................................................................................... [35.720]

Radiographic matching techniques............................................................... [35.730]

Photographic matching and skull-face superimposition techniques ............ [35.740]

Facial reconstruction techniques .................................................................. [35.750]

Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) ............................................................... [35.800]

The role of the anthropologist in DVI ............................................................ [35.810]

[35.720] Introduction

Perhaps the major role of the forensic anthropologist is that of establishing the identity of unknown skeletal remains.

If the identity of the skeletal remains is completely unsuspected, then the missing persons' files must be searched and only those files selected that match the general age, sex, race and stature of the unknown skeleton. The records of these cases are then further scanned to see if additional narrowing down or definitive identification can be achieved. Matching of dental characteristics with ante-mortem dental records is the most useful technique for definitive identification, but dental records are frequently not available and occasionally unsuitable if too old or of insufficient detail or if the specimen is edentulous. In these situations other matching techniques must be utilised, eg careful matching of unique individual skeletal characteristics with similar details obtained from medical records and radiographs, photographs, personal descriptions etc.

Definitive identification should not be based on only one or a small number of matching characteristics. However, if a feature is really unique and provided there is no inconsistency between the ante-mortem records and post-mortem findings that cannot be adequately accounted for, then a single match can be sufficient. Preferably, identity should be based on a combination of at least five or more unique features which establish beyond reasonable doubt the person's real identity.

[35.730] Radiographic matching techniques

If ante-mortem radiographs are available and the equivalent bones are present among the skeletonised remains, then careful radiography of the victim's bones at a similar distance and in similar orientation may provide the clues necessary to establish identity. Such radiographs allow bone size and shape, internal trabecular or sinus patterns, injuries, anomalies and pathology to be compared and possibly matched. Additional supportive evidence may be provided by photographic matching and video superimposition techniques.

Increasingly multidetector computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scanning of the deceased are being used in forensic sciences centres to assist pathologists in determining cause and manner of death. These technical advances have also enabled the examination of skeletal markers with a greater degree of detail than has previously been possible. At the present time, the techniques have been used to gather data about age or gender related differences in development of the skeleton (Bassed et al, 2010; Schultz et al, 2006) although increasingly the technology is being applied to establish identity, especially in Disaster Victim Identification scenarios (Sidler et al, 2007; Blau et al, 2008; Rutty et al, 2009).

[35.740] Photographic matching and skull-face superimposition techniques

Photographic matching or mapping normally involves the comparison of a photograph of a suspect with a surveillance (eg CCTV) image. The three main approaches to facial or photographic mapping are morphological comparison, anthropometric comparison and superimposition: Iscan (1993). Morphological comparison involves scoring and comparing facial features such as eyebrow and lip shape. Anthropometric methods involve measuring angles and distances between facial landmarks and then comparing these. In superimposition two comparably enlarged photographs are superimposed using a video camera. These methods are fraught with problems...