Saturday 24 May 2014

Expert Legal Testimony Can Be Given By A Forensic Neuropsychologist In Los Angeles

By Marci Glover


In many court cases, from murder one to manslaughter, a forensic expert is needed to assist the prosecutor or the defense attorney. The accused and defense witnesses may choose to lie and a jury may choose to believe them. There are ways to provide concrete evidence. The facts as provided by a forensic neuropsychologist in Los Angeles are indisputable.

A scientific expert can test samples of blood, semen and other trace elements to offer indisputable evidence to either prove or disprove the facts. Blood does not wash away, ever. Footprints and tire tracks left in mud, dust or sand can be matched to the soles of a pair of shoes or a specific vehicle.

There may be many such shoes in the same size worn by many people. However, each person has an individualized wear pattern and the sole will reveal that if compared to another pair owned and worn by the suspect. The same is often true of tires.

Weeds caught under a car can prove it was driven off the road into the field where a victim was left to die. The owner of the car will need to explain what he was doing driving off road in that particular spot. It shows guilt.

The police can get a search warrant for a car if there is a good reason to suspect the owner. The interior and the trunk may have blood evidence. Blood can always be detected by using a substance called Luminol. When sprayed on a surface it illuminates the blood evidence.

Matching blood to that of a suspect, the victim, or even a pet dog or cat is now possible. There are forensic experts who specialize in all types of evidence. They include those expert in gunshot residue and the path taken by a bullet shot from a kneeling or standing position. A retrieved bullet from wood or upholstery can be matched to the gun it was shot from.

Blood, even that extracted from bone marrow of skeleton remains, can be typed and matched. A skeleton can reveal age, gender and the ethnic background of the victim. Teeth can be matched to dental records. A healed bone can be matched to medical records.

The neuropsychologist is expert at providing a verbal description of brain damage, or preparing an animation of how that inflicted damage has impacted the brain. He or she can also use a brain scan to support or disprove the legal competence of the suspect to stand trial. When combined with other incontrovertible evidence that suspect can then become a convicted murderer.

Among the services provided by this highly-educated scientist are testifying in court as an expert witness, doing neuropsychological evaluations, reviewing cases, conducting medical evaluations and private consultation as an attorney prepares a case. The creation of a customized brain animation is a pictorial representation of what happened. A non-scientist can often gain a clearer understanding of the relevant facts when able to view this visual presentation.

Such an animation shows all parts of the brain and how any damage has affected the accused persons behavior. There is a saying that pictures are worth more than words. To a jury, this is true.




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