Homicide by stab to the neck with subsequent attempted suicide by cut to the neck

A 37-year-old Turkish woman was fatally injured by her 65-year-old Turkish husband with a stab to the cervical region. After her death he inflicted a deep cut to his own neck, which he survived thanks to immediate medical assistance. To the authors' knowledge this combination of a homicidal stab to the neck and a suicidal cut to the neck has not been described before. Kosher butchering, which is common in the couple's traditional cultural environment, is discussed as possible reason for the choice of the neck as site for applying sharp violence. It may have induced the perpetrator to choose this anatomical region.     

Validation of the AmpFlSTR Profiler Plus PCR amplification kit for use in forensic casework

According to TWGDAM guideline 4.5 (1), prior to implementing a new DNA analysis procedure or an existing DNA analysis procedure developed by another laboratory, the forensic laboratory must first demonstrate reliability of the procedure in-house. Seven phases were designed to validate the use of the AmpFlSTR Profiler Plus PCR Amplification Kit, as well as the PE Applied Biosystems 310 Genetic Analyzer. This report summarizes the results obtained for each of the seven phases of the validation study which included the following evaluations: polymer, reproducibility, sensitivity, stutter, precision, mixtures and nonprobative casework.     

The clandestine drug laboratory situation in the United States

Clandestine, or illegal, laboratories are operated by the criminal element to circumvent legal requirements with the goal of supplying drugs of abuse to the illicit market. Investigation of clandestine drug manufacturing laboratories is a high priority of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) because elimination of these laboratories will prevent drugs of abuse from reaching the illicit drug traffic. One of the important responsibilities of forensic chemists assisting in investigations of clandestine drug laboratories is to be familiar with the methods of synthesis being used by clandestine laboratory operators. A review of clandestine laboratory seizures during the period of 1978 through 1981 will be provided to familiarize forensic chemists with current information on the types of laboratories being seized in the United States and the methods of synthesis being used.