X-ray microanalysis of glass for forensic purposes - research on the persistence of glass fragments on clothing

Thirty-five experiments were carried out, breaking various kinds of multiple-glazed windows (ordinary, toughened and laminated) simulating a break-in or an act of vandalism, in order to obtain a set of data on the persistence of glass micro-traces on the clothing of people taking part in such an activity. The recovered glass fragments were analysed by means of scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry. The number of glass fragments recovered from the clothing of the breaker and the accompanying persons depended on the distance of a person from the window pane, the time between the incident and securing the clothing for examination, the retentive properties of the clothing, and the kind of window panes. An empirical study on background levels of glass on clothing, as well as secondary transfer, was also carried out. Results of the study of glass found at random showed that most of the clothing was free from glass fragments. The experiments simulating break-ins or vandalism provided important information that will contribute to a reliable interpretation of the analytical results of examinations of glass as evidence. Copyright (C) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.