Using Forensic Scene Reconstructions to Your Advantage

Crime scene reconstruction involves evaluating the context of a scene and the physical evidence found there in an effort to identify what occurred and in what order it occurred. This is made possible by expertly-done forensic scene reconstructions. Such scenes are referred to a “demonstrative evidence.” Demonstrative trial exhibits are “evidence addressed directly to the senses without intervention of testimony” by definition. This describes such evidence as charts, graphs, illustrations, and computer animation, which show something that happened. This type of evidence carries no independent probative value, and its primary purpose is to illustrate the testimony of a witness to help the jurors understand difficult factual issues. Using demonstrative evidence in the form of forensic science animations is extremely helpful in a court of law, especially in a situation where substantive evidence, like surveillance video footage, is not available.

Think of a crime scene like a puzzle. Crime scene reconstruction is like putting together this jigsaw puzzle, but doing so without access to the box top. Does it sound difficult? Don’t worry- professionals do this kind of thing every day and they know exactly how it should be done! No one really knows what the picture is supposed to look like. To make it even more challenging, not all of the pieces are likely to be present. However, if enough pieces of a puzzle are put together in the correct order, the picture may become clear enough that the viewer is able to recognize the image and answer critical questions about it, even if there will be holes in the picture. Finally, you can present this completed “puzzle” to the judge or jury and show them your side of the story. Forensic scene reconstructions makes this possible.

Computer forensic animations are revolutionizing the way information is being presented in modern litigation. Forensic science animations are not just about generating pretty animations and graphics, although they admittidly are pretty cool to watch. Let’s look at an example of a car crash that was the fault of one driver and caused serious bodily damage to another person. Rather than simply viewing a map of the site of an automobile accident and the pictures of the resulting damage, jurors can watch a re-creation of the accident as described by witnesses, experts and other testimony. An experienced forensic animator will be able to simulate substantially similar conditions like weather, lighting, impact, force, and speed. They can also create a Point of View (POV) to allow the jury to see the accident from a position where is most advantageous to determine the fault of a party.
 
In order for your evidence to be admitted by the judge and believable by the jury, it must be done correctly and that means not doing it yourself. You need someone who specializes in these type of exhibits to be on your team and create a high-caliber piece of evidence. This reconstruction specialist should have years of experience handling cases just like yours and can create for you a perfect reconstruction. Using reconstructions done by industry professionals that tell a story to your audience will make the difference between success and failure at trial.