Legal principles governing expert testimony by experimental psychologists

With increasing frequency, experimental psychologists are called upon to present their research findings and theories in a courtroom. This article reviews the general evidentiary standards regarding such expert testimony, with a specific emphasis on how those principles have been applied in the context of expert psychological testimony on the unreliability of eyewitness identifications. A comprehensive review of the judicial decisions in this area reveals that there has recently been a significant shift in the courts' receptivity toward such testimony. Many courts now believe that psychological research on human perception and memory has progressed to the point that the expert's testimony may be considered both reliable enough and helpful enough to the jury to justify its adminssion in the appropriate case. The author concludes with a discussion of several developments that would help to allay the judicial system's historical concerns over the admission of such expert psychological testimony.     

Sex identification of white-tailed deer using frozen venison

Fluids from frozen muscle tissue taken from 449 white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) were analyzed using a radioimmunoassay technique for testosterone. Comparing 309 deer sampled in early November, antlered males had significantly higher tissue testosterone levels (range = 0.18 to 16.00 ng/mL) than females (range = 0.00 to 0.18 ng/mL) while antlerless (fawn) males overlapped both groups (range = 0.00 to 0.68 ng/mL). Samples taken from 132 deer from January through August showed no differences among ages or sexes. Antlered males can be differentiated from females during the breeding season.     

Homicidal asphyxia by pepper aspiration

As punishment for lying, the foster mother of a five-year-old white male poured pepper into his throat. He immediately became dyspneic, then apneic, and was pronounced dead about 1 h later. At autopsy, the main stem and several smaller bronchi were occluded with pepper. Mechanisms of asphyxia by pepper include mechanical obstruction of the tracheobronchial tree and mucosal edema caused by the irritant effect of volatile oils in pepper. This rare circumstance represents the second reported fatal case of pepper aspiration and the third reported case overall.