Prosecution presents witness testimony detailing the discovery and initial investigation of the victim, including physical evidence found at the scene and investigative procedures followed by law enforcement.
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“Prosecution presents witness testimony detailing the discovery and initial investigation of the victim, including physical evidence found at the scene and investigative procedures followed by law enforcement.”
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The U.S. chain of custody standard was formalized in 1975.
The Federal Rules of Evidence, enacted by Congress in 1975, set how physical evidence must be documented to be admissible in court — the same standards governing crime scene evidence presented in trials today.
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Chain of custody rules can make or break a criminal case
Every piece of physical evidence must be tracked from crime scene to courtroom. A break in this chain can get evidence thrown out entirely. Learn more at Wikipedia
Every crime scene contact leaves a trace — a law from 1910!
Dr. Edmond Locard's Exchange Principle states any contact between two objects transfers material between them. It's the foundation of all modern forensic evidence collection used in courtrooms today.
Asking about involuntary commitment can legally prove premeditation.
Under U.S. evidence law, actions taken before a crime — like researching ways to control or remove a spouse — can be admitted as 'consciousness of guilt.' Courts have allowed such inquiries as proof of planning in spousal homicide cases.