陪审制的分权机制与证据法的发展

针对我国人民陪审员制目前面临的“陪而不审”、“审而不议”之晋遍困境,本文探讨了西方国家陪审制产生和发展的过程,认识到“分权是陪审制成长的基本条件”;详细探讨了我国“陪而不审”、“审而不议”现象的主要形态,指出没有实行分权是造成这种困窘局面的根源;讨论了正在兴起的河南人民陪审圆制度的进步意义与局限性;主张我国应当建立以分权为首要特征的人民陪审员制度,为此需要立法机关制定有关陪审团如何与法官分享裁判权的制度,其中最关键的是制定证据法和陪审团法。     

论纳税人诚实推定权的入法途径

诚实推定权由纳税人财产权与人格尊严权衍生而来,在立法中加以确认有助于落实税收法定、践行量能课税和提高纳税人遵从度。诚实推定权借鉴了刑法上的无罪推定和民法上的善意推定,其基本内涵是税务机关认为纳税人有少缴税款嫌疑时,应由该机关承担举证责任,证明强度应达到优势证据标准。我国应在修改《税收征收管理法》时,明确表达纳税人享有诚实推定权,同时准确界分纳税人的协力义务和税务机关的举证责任,强调逃税行为必须具备主观故意的要件,合理限定税收检查权。诚实推定权入法将对税收征纳实践产生影响,提高现有“计税依据明显偏低”的认定标准,使纳税人的正当理由诉求更有可能被认可,对逃税行为的界定也将更为精确。     

Macroscopic assessment of environmental trace evidence dynamics in forensic settings

Environmental trace evidence offers useful circumstantial intelligence to link persons and scenes of forensic interest. An increasing empirical research base is dedicated towards understanding the transfer and persistence dynamics of environmental indicators including pollen, soils, and diatoms, within a diverse range of experimental frameworks. This paper presents two discrete studies exploring transfer and persistence of soils and sediments on footwear and diatomaceous earth adhered to clothing in forensically pertinent scenarios. Variables including sediment type, foot position, clothing type, and body positioning were also explored throughout. Both experiments incorporated a field-based methodology during the sampling effort. Photographs were collected of an initial transfer sample and of a retained assemblage following hours, days, and up to one-week of wear, facilitating macroscopic assessment of trace evidence dynamics. All images were processed using accessible, open-source software before spatial analysis of evidence distribution within and temporal assessment (% retention) upon each evidential surface. The results highlighted consistent loss of transferred sediment from footwear with significantly greater retention of loamy clay soil than dune sand which was absent beyond 24 h of wear. Loss was not influenced by wearer gait but was more rapid from those areas of the shoe sole in direct contact with the ground. Diatomaceous earth was retrieved from all three clothing types tested after one week – significant losses of material occurred before 48 h with a consistent assemblage identified beyond this. Denim was significantly more effective than acrylic and fleece for diatomaceous earth retention and significantly more material was lost from clothing worn on the lower body. These findings highlight the value of using visual environmental markers and a macroscopic analytical approach during the investigation of environmental trace dynamics. The methodology offers a novel, non-destructive assessment of soil and diatom transfer and persistence, complementing more extensive laboratory-based examinations to ensure the development of a well-rounded research base within the forensic sciences.     

警察出庭作证制度探究

警察出庭作证在西方法治国家是一种通行做法,并且具有多元的诉讼价值。在我国,建立这一制度虽然有其必要性,但目前在观念、体制、立法等方面尚存在诸多障碍,因而条件并不成熟。当务之急,是为该制度在未来的建立做一些铺垫性的、基础性的工作。     

证据开示制度比较研究──兼评我国民事审判实践中的证据开示

证据开示制度１９世纪始于英国,此后,受到各国重视。各国的证据开示制度都有各自的发展和完善历程。在具体的证据开示范围、方法及限制、制裁等方面也有所不同。我国在审判方式改革中,部分地区试行了庭前证据交换,但也存在不少问题,且有关诉讼体制、法制环境、诉讼观念等运行环境问题,尤其值得深思和研究。     

论诉讼信托和讨债信托的效力——探讨《信托法》第11条第4项

我国《信托法》第11条第4项规定,专以诉讼或者讨债为目的设立的信托无效。然而,该条文是对日本《信托法》移植的结果,我国并没有禁止诉讼信托和讨债信托的理由。同时,该条文容易被规避且难以被认定,在司法实践中缺乏适用的空间。再者,该条文不仅与我国现行的诸多法律条文和制度产生冲突,而且与我国减少社会不良资产和增强我国公民法律意识、维权意识的目的相违背,故应当删除。事实上,诉讼信托和讨债信托不仅符合信托设立的要求,而且能使债权人、债务人受益,并起到减少讼累等有利效果,因此,应当承认诉讼信托和讨债信托在我国的合法地位。     

浅论提高现场照相中的证据意识

现场照相是一项侦查工作,也是一种诉讼活动,必须要有证据意识,并拓展现场照相在诉讼工作中的取证能力。我们提倡的是“有备而拍”;在拍摄过程中要不断地修正和充实原来的拍摄计划;现场照片是一个完整的系统,拍摄要循序渐进;要重视现场照相的编排、制卷工作,采取多样的表现手法。     

Mitochondrial DNA Extraction from Burial Soil Samples at Incremental Distances: A Preliminary Study

Preservation variance of soil DNA is neglected in the literature, and exceptional cases exaggerate amplification capabilities. This study sought to amplify a short mitochondrial fragment (212 bp) specific to Sus scrofa domesticus from the soil surrounding decomposing pig remains from an open‐air locale. Samples collected above the body at incremental distances after 145 days of initial placement yielded pig DNA. A secondary sampling was collected in 2017, approximately 768 days after burial. Inhibition tests corroborated that pig DNA was no longer present in the soil resulting in a loss of original DNA between 145 and 768 days. The results provide evidence that genetic material leaches out radially from the source and DNA fragments longer than 200 bp do not persist in soil for a relatively short timeframe in western Montana. The conclusions support the collection of soil in crime scene investigation procedures within the first few months of decomposition.     

The importance of dark adaptation for forensic examinations; an evaluation of the Crime-lite Eye™

Forensic practitioners are recommended to dark adapt their eyes prior to conducting evidential searches in the dark. The dark adaptation process remains poorly standardised across the discipline, with little quantified regarding the benefits of such preparative steps. Herein, we report the findings of a study that recruited 50 participants to assess the effectiveness of the Crime-lite Eye?, a darkness adaptation device developed to assist forensic practitioners both in the laboratory and in field. Participants were tasked with searching for the fluorescent signatures left by reaction of 1,8-diazafluoren-9-one (DFO) with amino acids, in a manner akin to the fluorogenic fingerprint treatment of porous evidence. Using an Epson Stylus Photo R265 inkjet printer, ink cartridges were filled with alanine solutions of various concentrations, allowing different motifs to be printed onto copy paper and subsequently developed using DFO. Participants searched for this ‘evidence’ both with and without dark adapted vision. On average, participants were able to locate and correctly recognise 16% more evidence once dark adapted using the Crime-lite Eye?.The increase in evidence located by participants once dark adapted suggests that crime scene officers should be dark adapting in order to visualise as much as possible. The time taken to dark adapt, 10?min on average during this study, is not excessively long, and should not significantly slow the investigation.