AFTE Store - An Investigation into the Individualisation of Chainsaw Cuts in Wood and the General Toolmark Identification Process

A number of wooden power poles had been sabotaged by using a chainsaw to make nearly complete cuts through them. The cuts to the power poles were compared with test cuts made by the chainsaw from a suspect. An overwhelming correspondence was observed between microscopic marks within one of the power pole cuts and a test cut made by one of the links of the chainsaw. This would indicate that the chainsaw had indeed been used to cut the power pole, assuming that the marks could not be reproduced by another cutting link. In support of this conclusion, consecutively manufactured saw chain links were obtained from the manufacturer. A study was conducted of the reproducibility of marks arising from their manufacture, together with a consideration of the manner in which the cutting links were made, to determine whether or not marks made by the cutting links could be considered sub-class characteristics or individualising. As part of an overall review of the comparison process, factors that could affect the subjective process were considered, together with other assessment methodologies. A New Zealand toolmark case from 1933 is also reviewed and compared with current approaches.

Full Journal: AFTE Journal Vol 38 No 1 (2006)