Forensic Case Studies

Forensic Projects in New Zealand

  • Honey
    Honey projects, ongoing. Investigation of pollen in honey as a clue to a possible source of poisoning (by tutu, Coriaria) and investigation of pollen sources as a indication of whether honey is monofloral and true to label or not (e.g. manuka). Label accuracy is especially important to guarantee prior to exporting to countries with stringent testing procedures.
  • Operation Budget, 2005. Analysis of spores and pollen from tobacco leaf and from the scene where the tobacco was thought to have been grown confirmed its origin, in a case involving the illegal growing of tobacco and avoidance of Customs duty.
  • Operation Lollipop, 2002. Analysis of spores and pollen from scene samples associated with the abduction and sexual assault of a young schoolgirl confirmed the girl's story as to where the sexual assault took place and placed the assailant at that scene.
  • Operation Dash, 2001. Analysis of spores and pollen from samples associated with the homicide of Gavin Dash, including from the spade subsequently identified as used in the burial of the victim, contributed towards the conviction of the prime suspect.
  • Operation Royal, 2000. Analysis of spores and pollen from samples associated with the homicide of Terry King on Mt Holdsworth, included samples from the clothing of the prime suspect that proved he had been in the same mountain scene as the victim at the same time and eliminated all alibi scenes.
  • Kirsa Jensen inquiry, 1983. Analysis of pollen from items found at the scene where Kirsa Jensen had disappeared pinpointed only one possible suspect from a list of suspects investigated. Pollen analysis of a rope indicated it had come from the work place of the person who, unknown to us, was the main suspect.

International Forensic Projects

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  • Austria, United States, Thailand, etc. 2008, ongoing. Lecturing, ranging from one day to full year courses, and providing practical workshops in forensic palynology for university students and staff, law enforcement agencies and forensic science service providers.
  • Asia, Europe, 2008 ongoing. Analysis of spores, pollen and other organic particles caught up in the manufacture of counterfeit pharmaceuticals, especially anti-malarials, in Asia and Europe and identification of the probable source areas of the counterfeits. Work is undertaken in conjunction with pharmaceutical manufacturers, health service providers, universities and law enforcement agencies.
  • Australia, 2006. Review of palynological reports by a local palynologist involved in pollen analysis of samples associated with a sexual assault of a young woman in Perth, Western Australia and the subsequent appearance in court to explain how forensic palynology can contribute towards understanding what happened at crime scenes.
  • England, 2003-4. Review of palynological reports by a local palynologist involved in pollen analysis of samples associated with the homicide of a woman in Manchester and subsequent visit to the various scenes involved, reinvestigation of the original pollen slides, collection of comparator samples and subsequent pollen analysis.