The body of a middle aged man is discovered in the kitchen of a dwelling house. He is identified by neighbours as the occupant of the house and was last seen alive 7 days prior to the discovery of the body by his girlfriend. Based on the principles of Newtonâs Laws of Cooling, a forensic pathologist, who examined the body at the scene, informed the investigating police officers that the body had been dead for twelve hours and twenty minutes.
a) Can you identify a flaw in the presentation of this answer? Explain your answer. b) Knowledge of what factors might lead the forensic pathologist to modify his stated postmortem interval and in what way (i.e. increase or decrease) would the stated postmortem interval be modified? Briefly explain your answers. You should list and explain as many factors as you can think of.
The body of a middle aged man is discovered in the kitchen of a dwelling house. He is identified by neighbours as the occupant of the house and was last seen alive 7 days prior to the discovery of the body by his girlfriend. Based on the principles of Newtonâs Laws of Cooling, a forensic pathologist, who examined the body at the scene, informed the investigating police officers that the body had been dead for twelve hours and twenty minutes.
a) Can you identify a flaw in the presentation of this answer? Explain your answer. b) Knowledge of what factors might lead the forensic pathologist to modify his stated postmortem interval and in what way (i.e. increase or decrease) would the stated postmortem interval be modified? Briefly explain your answers. You should list and explain as many factors as you can think of.
