Forensic science

Following a 911 call made by bank employees, police were alerted to the office of bank manager Bob Brewster where a violent altercation had just taken place. Brewster met police in the office, clearly in shock and covered in blood spatter, although he had sustained no physical injuries. On Brewster’s floor was the unconscious body of anti-globalization activist Samuel Martin. Martin is an imposing man at 6’ tall and 230 lbs. He also has a history of arrests associated with anti-banking protests. Martin had clearly sustained an injury to his head and blood was pouring out of the wound and onto his face and body. Finding a weak pulse, police called for emergency medical help who transported him to the nearest hospital. Martin was pronounced dead on arrival due to cerebral edema (brain swelling) from traumatic injury to the head.

In a statement made to police, Mr. Brewster explained that Samuel Martin had come into his office to apply for a home mortgage. The two sat down and Mr. Brewster began asking Mr. Martin about his financial status. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Martin began screaming at Mr. Brewster about “being a blood sucking cancer on society.” The report of screaming was confirmed by office staff who heard but did not witness the incident. Mr. Brewster claims that Mr. Martin became increasingly angry until he finally stood up, pulled out a knife and attacked Mr. Brewster. In response, Mr. Brewster claims that he picked up a hammer that was sitting on his desk (he had just been hanging some pictures) and struck Mr. Martin once in the head to defend himself. Mr. Martin fell to the floor and office staff called 911. The hammer and knife were both found at the scene. Fingerprints from Mr. Brewster and blood from Mr. Martin were found on the hammer. No blood was found on the knife and investigators could not lift prints from the knife due to the surface of the handle.

Based on photographs, utilize the blood pattern evidence to reconstruct what occurred at the scene. Is the evidence consistent with Mr. Brewster’s statement of events and his claim of self-defense? Please describe the specific features/patterns that you see and what they tell you about what transpired during the event. Support your findings with material from the textbook and what we have learned about blood pattern analysis.