A standard/reference sample is
physical evidence whose origin is known, such as blood or hair from a suspect,
which can be compared to crime scene evidence. Class characteristics are properties
of evidence that can be associated with a group and not with a single source. An
individual characteristic are properties of evidence that can be attributed to a
particular source with an extremely high degree of certainty.
Using the Charles Lindbergh baby
kidnapping, Individual and Class characteristics can be found. Some examples of
each are:
Individual Characteristics:
Tool marks
Handwriting
from ransom letters that were typed to belong the suspect, Bruno Hauptmann
Sketch of “John”
Infant’s
thumb guard and sleeping suit*
“Nellie”
boat
Class Characteristics:
Marked gold
certificate bills
Infant’s
thumb guard and sleeping suit*
Dodge sedan
automobile
The Infant’s sleeping suit and thumb
guard could be under both categories. Unless it had specific ‘markings’ on it,
for example a patch over the knee, then it would belong to an individual child,
but if it was ‘new’ and it came from a certain place where multiples could be
bought or the such, then it could be generalized in the class category, because
it cannot be pinpointed to a certain child, the same with the thumb guard,
unless that was prescribed by a doctor or specially made for this certain
child.
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