Abstract

FORENSIC ANALYSIS OF LEAF AS A BOTANICAL EVIDENCE

Sanya Sharma, Shipra Rohatgi* and Prasansha Singla

ABSTRACT

Environmental Forensics is the application of scientific methods to address the questions related to the origin and the timing of contaminant release in the environment. Forensic botany being the subdivision of environmental forensics focus upon the use of plants and its parts in criminal investigation for the purpose of legal cases. Botanical evidences are parts of the plant which can narrow down the channel of investigation and help in exonerating the innocent. Leaves are considered to be the important botanical evidence as it can help in distinguishing the primary and secondary crime scene by tracing the actual parent plant and then by reaching the soil type. The inspiration of this study was different varieties of leaves and the fact that criminals tend to ignore but can be a breakthrough in cases such as a famous Danzing murder case in Florida. The article comprises of collection of 50 different leaves from two different states which are Delhi and Haryana and their examination on the basis of physical parameters which are colour, shape, venation, vein count, climate, midrib length and total length of leaves where as in further studies we would be focusing on the examination on leaves on chemical and biological parameters as well, to have a better accuracy. Amongst the parameter chosen for examination it is being observed that shape and vein count gives the best result which is 80% and 50% respectively and the parameter climatic conditions gives a null result.

Keywords: Environmental forensic, Forensic botany, leaves, venation and vein count.