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A Qualitative Theory for Crime Scene Analysis Ross M. Gardner 2016 -…
A Qualitative Theory for Crime Scene Analysis
Ross M. Gardner
2016
Crime Scene Reconstruction is accomplished by identifying through an examination of the evidence an the context in which it is found, specific actions that occurred.
allows for evaluation of any statement or investigation hypothesis.
Axiom 1: Every object is unique
any 3D object is consistent with itself an it remains consistent with itself until converted into something else
A cartridge case may well be similar to many other cartridge cases, but each is unique in their existence.
Axiom 2: While it exists, an object must exist continuously in both time and space
object exists somewhere in space
x,y,z axis.
To Minkowski, a space-time vector consisted of four independent values (four mutually orthogonal vectors) where t or x0 is the time vector and x1
, x2, x3 were the typical spatial dimensions
space and time are a continuum in which events occur.
Axiom 3: Every point of an object's existence is connected to some other point of its existence.
from creation of object to its conversion, there is a traces continuous path through space-time existing in all 4 dimensions.
there is a always a spatial and temporal position for an object.
Axiom 4: For any temporal value of a world-line that follows some other value of the object’s world-line, that temporal value must be greater
movement through space and time is one-way
Axiom 5: Every value of an object's world-line is unique.
object is unique, must exist at some specific point in time and space throughout its existence.
object at rest will remain in some particular spatial dimension within the manifold.
even if object is spatially stationary, it is in constant motion in temporal dimension
temporal value can not be repeated.
Axiom 6: To create an action (to produce some change in state of an object) there must be a cause.
A physics event is merely an instantaneous moment in the object's history
actions differ from physic events. actions consist of a series of physics events.
difference between action and event is that it is either absolutely instantaneous moments resulting in a change in state of the object or they are a series of connected moments of the object(s) worldline resulting in an observable change in state.
force must act on object to change its state. forces cause acceleration
Axiom 7: Effect cannot precede cause
Change agent causes change in state.
basic principle of CSR is pursuing causal connection what exactly is interacting to cause a change in state
Recognition of this causal connection allows the analyst to identify the actions that must precede or follow a given action.
Axiom 8: An action (a change in state of an object) can only occur as a function of some interaction
to accelerate there must be a force, no force=no change
either nature of force acting on the object maybe an interaction with another object, or it may be a fundamental force influencing the object
Axiom 9: In order to interact, the a fundamental force influencing the object must overlap in some way - or - the object must exist spatially and temporally within
the influence of a fundamental force
If the change in state of an object occurs as a result of an interaction with another object, the two objects must come in contact with one another.
If the object’s change in state occurs as a result of an interaction with a fundamental force,
then the object’s existence must coincide within the force’s influence (it must exist somewhere
within the spatial and temporal influence of the force involved).
always a singular path through space and time.
All interactions influence the objects path
Axiom 10: Every action has at least one prior action that influenced it
no object simply appears.
all actions were influenced by some prior set of functions
Axiom 11: Any two actions associated to a given incident have a unique causal relationship
causal connection the most basic principle in crime scene reconstruction
All of the actions associated with a given incident share either a direct causal dependence (Action A directly results in Action B), or they share a hierarchal/ancestral causal relationship (a unique causal chain).
mere spatial or temporal proximity between two actions does not
in and of itself create a causal association between actions
Axiom 12: Any given set of actions will have a unique temporal relationship.
All of the objects the analyst is concerned with share the same manifold, thus their temporal values are uniquely related to one another.
limitations of analysis will never allow recognition of each and every temporal relationship between the actions.
Temporal relationship: may be exact e.g. absolute chronology) where we can set a
specific time to an action or actions, or it may be more ambiguous (e.g., relative chronology) where we recognize that some action precedes, is simultaneous to, or follows some other action.
Given a series of actions associated to a specific incident, any given action has a unique causal and temporal relationship with every other associated action
To disprove any one of the described axioms is to disprove the crime scene reconstruction theory.
This understanding allows the analyst to put some level of order to the known actions and to start to define what was or was not possible during the incident in question.