THE ROLE OF CONTEMPORARY MATERIALS IN DETECTION OF MICROTRACES FOUND ON THE CRIME SCENE

Abstract

Having in mind a rapid increase in technological innovations and the use of the materials thus obtained in criminal acts prosecution, it is essential to point out at the importance of the materials as the traces in the presentation of evidence process, since they can be found as micro traces at the crime scene.  In all criminal acts perpetrated in the territory of the Republic of Serbia in the past and recent few years, ranging from robberies and heavy thefts and traffic accidents with escaped perpetrators, as well as the criminal acts of rape and murders (attempted murders), micro traces of materials were found at a crime scene. These traces were further analyzed in forensic laboratories of the National Crime-Technical Center of the Republic of Serbia of the Ministry of Interior and thus provided material evidence for the investigation procedure, pre-trial and criminal proceedings. The mentioned microtraces have been examined by ordinary analytical methods, such as Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometry (FT-IR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy with electrodispersive spectrometer of x-rays (SEM/EDS). The new forensic method of probabilistic statistics was applied on the results obtained.