TRACES OF GUILT Science fights crime in New Zealand

Paperback. In August, 1985 a young Rotorua woman, separated from her husband, arrived home from a shopping expedition to find a parcel on her doorstep. Excited, she rushed into the kitchen for a knife to open the sealed box inside the package. A devastating explosion killed her instantly and substantially damaged her home. A call from her husband led the police to expect a confession, but he denied any involvement. The search and investigation at the shattered house was the most detailed and extensive ever mounted by forensic experts in New Zealand. This is just one of 9 New Zealand crimes recounted in this book, in which a conviction would have been almost impossible to obtain without the scientists' testimony. The principle of "innocent until proven guilty" guides the justice system - and forensic evidence is used extensively to narrow any fields of doubt, often becoming the key to a successful prosecution. Written as a series of mysteries or thrillers, each crime is described to the point at which the police and scientists arrive at the scene, then covers the investigation and evidence leading to an arrest. Few investigations run entirely smoothly, and occasionally there are some real red herrings! The authors give a fascinating insight into the wide-ranging skills of forensic scientists, illustrating not only the rigorous detail, but also the innovation with which they approach their task. Illus. 106pp. p/back. From the library of true crime writer, Wilfred Gregg, with his personal b/plate. F. with no creasing to covers.