DNA evidence: Fact of Fiction...?

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DNA evidence: Fact of Fiction...?

Postby Fozzer » Tue Oct 03, 2006 6:30 am

DNA evidence: Fact of fiction?

Imagine the scenario:

You are awakened in bed one night by a squad of heavily armed Police Officers breaking down your door and entering your house.

"Is you name Mr. XYZ?"
"Yes"
"Then we are arresting you for the murder of Miss ABC on the nn, of nn, nnnn, in the County of DEF"
"DNA evidence found at the scene links you directly to the crime"

Now you know that at that particular time and date you were out fishing for the day, on your own, in the river near you, with no witnesses, and that the crime was committed at a location some 500 miles away, in another part of the country.

When the Police evidence is presented in Court to the Jury by an expert witness, (remembering that the Jury have absolutely no idea of the "science" of DNA), what chance do you have of being cleared of the crime?

In other words, how much do you trust the authenticity of so called "DNA evidence" by "Expert witnesses", especially when your freedom is at stake...?

Are you concerned about the claims made of DNA evidence as scientific facts?

Paul.....in a very rare, semi-serious mood....:o...!

P.S. Scientists have recently found an object in the Colorado Desert, and indisputable DNA evidence has identified it as a minute piece of Klingon poo possibly arriving from their home planet located somewhere in the Galaxy of Alpha Centauri, during a violent storm centered on their communal toilet..
A video animation showing rotating pieces of string containing a number of coloured beads was presented to the scientific community as DNA evidence of proof of the presence of the Klingon poo.

The final results are to be published in the Scientific Journal under the title; "DNA Evidence; Ya gotta believe it!".

Paul...back to normal again...;D...!
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Re: DNA evidence: Fact of Fiction...?

Postby Hagar » Tue Oct 03, 2006 6:38 am

Paul.....in a very rare, semi-serious mood....:o...!

What's brought this on Paul? It's a tad worrying. :o

In other words, how much do you trust the authenticity of so called "DNA evidence" by "Expert witnesses", especially when your freedom is at stake...?

Never trust an "expert" anything, especially when your freedom is at stake. ::) ;)
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Re: DNA evidence: Fact of Fiction...?

Postby Stormtropper » Tue Oct 03, 2006 6:39 am

Well, if you weren't there at the time, your DNA won't be there either...

...unless someone has an old sample of your blood, hair, saliva, or semen...

...but it's very easy to date and tell apart an old sample from a real one, and the authorties will be able to determine wether or not its been planted there.

...and remember, your DNA is unique, no one else has it. (except in the case of idential twins...and believe it or not, there was one case that did come down to that, and if I remember correctly, they had to put both of the twins on trial because the honestly didn't know which one did it...)

And DNA evidence is only circumstantial...all it does is place you at the scene of the crime around the time when the crime was committed. The procecution doesn't win unless they can put a motive in your head and a weapon in your hand ;)
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Re: DNA evidence: Fact of Fiction...?

Postby Romulus111VADT » Tue Oct 03, 2006 6:40 am

This has always made me wonder about DNA. I mean if the Police take DNA samples in the NY Subway at the scene of a crime. They'd end up with thousands of people as suspects. Makes as much sense as taking finger prints in the subway. There's no way to pin point a suspect. If the crime is in a contained area (like inside a car) that has had no other people there, then it might be possible. But even then, anyone that has ridden in the car would leave DNA.

I'm far from an expert.... ::)

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Re: DNA evidence: Fact of Fiction...?

Postby Chris_F » Tue Oct 03, 2006 6:41 am

OJ got off...
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Re: DNA evidence: Fact of Fiction...?

Postby Fozzer » Tue Oct 03, 2006 6:48 am

What's brought this on Paul? It's a tad worrying. :o

Never trust an "expert" anything, especially when your freedom is at stake. ::) ;)


Sorry Doug... :'(...!

At the moment I am banged up in Wormwood Scrubs.

Someone fingered me and got the local Fuzz to dig up a patch of ground behind my shed looking for my missing wives.
They claimed that DNA evidence of the remains proved who they were.
Now I know that it was my dear old cat Fred, which I buried many years ago after many happy years together...
...but who am I to dispute expert DNA evidence... :'(...?

Paul...a nice big cake would be very nice, please... ;)...!

Last edited by Fozzer on Tue Oct 03, 2006 6:53 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: DNA evidence: Fact of Fiction...?

Postby eno » Tue Oct 03, 2006 6:57 am

DNA isn't completely  fool proof ...... although only a 1 in a billion chance, there is still a possibility that another 6 or so peeps in the world share your DNA profile.
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Re: DNA evidence: Fact of Fiction...?

Postby Fozzer » Tue Oct 03, 2006 7:20 am

...my concern is not the existence, (or not), of DNA, it's the use of so-called "Expert DNA Evidence" to confuse and influence ordinary folks that worries me...  ;)...!

...you can fool most of the people most of the time...;)...!

Paul....8)...!
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Re: DNA evidence: Fact of Fiction...?

Postby Woodlouse2002 » Tue Oct 03, 2006 7:24 am

Prehaps then it should be a requirement if DNA evidence is to be used to have an Expert and a counter Expert. One to say how the evidence prooves he was there and another to say how it doesn't.
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Re: DNA evidence: Fact of Fiction...?

Postby Hagar » Tue Oct 03, 2006 7:34 am

I think the defence is entitled to get their own "expert witnesses" to dispute evidence of the prosecution "expert witnesses". It all depends on which one is the more credible.

PS. I'm not sure how one qualifies as an "expert".
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Re: DNA evidence: Fact of Fiction...?

Postby Fozzer » Tue Oct 03, 2006 7:58 am

I think the defence is entitled to get their own "expert witnesses" to dispute evidence of the prosecution "expert witnesses". It all depends on which one is the more credible.

PS. I'm not sure how one qualifies as an "expert".


My defence lawyer was Cherie Blair, that's why I am now residing in Wormwood Scrubs....
...she didn't have any luck either, in persuading husband Tony to ignore George, and not to aggravate our Muslim friends abroad....  :'(...!

...don't forget that nice BIG cake with a hardware filling, (candles optional), Doug....;)...!

Paul...8)...!
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Re: DNA evidence: Fact of Fiction...?

Postby Hagar » Tue Oct 03, 2006 8:01 am

...don't forget that nice BIG cake with a hardware filling, (candles optional), Doug....;)...!

Coming right up. I'll have to go into town to purchase a giant baking tray. ;)
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Re: DNA evidence: Fact of Fiction...?

Postby Souichiro » Tue Oct 03, 2006 8:03 am




...don't forget that nice BIG cake with a hardware filling, (candles optional), Doug....;)...!

Paul...8)...!



So you want Last months Playboy and a photo of Jordan then? ( or do we call that plasticwear?)
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Re: DNA evidence: Fact of Fiction...?

Postby Fozzer » Tue Oct 03, 2006 8:20 am



So you want Last months Playboy and a photo of Jordan then? ( or do we call that plasticwear?)


...you wear whatever turns you on, Sou....;)...!

Just send me Jordan so that we can exchange DNA in the privacy of my lonely cell.... :-*...!

LOL...!

Paul... ;D...!
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Re: DNA evidence: Fact of Fiction...?

Postby beefhole » Tue Oct 03, 2006 2:20 pm

Never trust an "expert" anything, especially when your freedom is at stake. ::) ;)

Just thought I'd throw in the non-cynical view and say there's nothing wrong with believing what experts say, whole-heartedly buying into it without independent research is the foolish part.

My parents are both scientists.  If my dad were to tell me how the cardiovascular system works, I'd believe him.  By the same token, if he goes out and tells a group of students/writes an article on how the cardiovascular system works, I'd want them to believe him because he knows what the hell he's talking about.

I'm sorry that guy turned out to be a fake Doug, but complete distrust of trained, veteran professionals is unnecessary (I'll shy from calling it paranoid).
Last edited by beefhole on Tue Oct 03, 2006 2:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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