Traces of Guilt
Gabriel Weston looks at cases that were solved by examining the smallest traces of forensic evidence, and investigates the cutting-edge techniques being used today.
There will always be those who think they can commit the perfect murder. In reality it's virtually impossible to leave no evidence at the scene of a crime. Fingerprints, hair, fibres and blood can all lead to the killer. In this second episode, surgeon Gabriel Weston explores the cases that were solved by examining the smallest traces of forensic evidence, from the first murder case solved in the UK based on fingerprint evidence to the patterns of blood in a bedroom which helped overturn an infamous murder conviction.
As well as looking to the past, Gabriel investigates the cutting-edge techniques that are proving vital in catching the killers of today. Amazingly, forensic science can now detect with pinpoint accuracy where someone has walked across an area the size of Scotland, based on nothing more than the soil stuck to the sole of a suspect's shoe.
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Clips
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The future of fingerprint analysis
Duration: 04:09
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Did Dr Sam Sheppard kill his wife?
Duration: 02:02
Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Presenter | Gabriel Weston |
Director | Tim Niel |
Producer | Tim Niel |
Series Producer | Graeme Thomson |
Executive Producer | Jacqueline Smith |
Broadcasts
- Thu 25 Jun 2015 21:00
- Fri 26 Jun 2015 02:30
- Mon 29 Jun 2015 22:00
- Wed 25 Nov 2015 23:00
- Sat 28 Nov 2015 23:00
- Wed 7 Sep 2016 22:00
- Thu 8 Sep 2016 03:00
- Wed 24 May 2017 23:00
- Tue 16 Jan 2018 23:00
- Thu 2 May 2019 23:00
- Tue 14 Jan 2020 22:00
- Sat 22 May 2021 22:30
- Mon 7 Aug 2023 23:15
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Catching History's Criminals
Surgeon Gabriel Weston explores the history and development of forensic science
Learn More with The Open University
Delve deeper with The Open University to find out more about the science behind forensics