Instructions:
This examination consists of:
- A police report detailing an altercation involving Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan, including statements made by both parties;
- An evidence inventory, which includes a list of evidence items collected by the police, as well as an indication as to what laboratory analyses were run;
- A series of exhibits that include the items themselves, as well as any laboratory results obtained from the items.
You will use these items to answer the following questions:
Questions:
- (5) Draw a sketch of the scene based on the details provided in the police report. Start with the blank scene sketch at the end of this assignment sheet as the starting point for your sketch.
- Identifying the hypotheses (scenarios) based on the stories of the two principals
Use the following conflicts, identified during the midterm, as the starting point for the remainder of the questions in the exam:
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Lohan says:
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Hilton says:
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1. Lohan had the paper they were working on together, and Hilton grabbed it. The paper tore
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1. Lohan writing gossip about her on a piece of paper, and Hilton tried taking the paper. The paper tore
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Conflict: Project information on paper in either or both handwriting
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Conflict: gossip on paper in Lohan's writing
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2. Lohan crumpled her half and threw it at Hilton
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2. No comment on fate of paper
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Conflict: crumpled paper
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Conflict: no crumpling
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3. Lohan states that Hilton attacked her with pen
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3. Hilton says nothing about attacking Lohan
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Conflict: Hilton attacks with pen
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Conflict: Hilton would deny it
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4. Lohan says pen broke in her arm
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4. Hilton says nothing
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Conflict: pen in Lohan's arm
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Conflict: no pen in arm
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5. Lohan says Hilton broke potted plant over Lohan's head
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5. Hilton says Lohan struck her with potted plant
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Conflict: Hilton broke potted plant on Lohan's head
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Conflict: Lohan struck Hilton with potted plant.
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a. (5) What opposing hypotheses arise as a result of the conflict? Articulate them.
3. (10) What physical evidence exists to differentiate between the opposing hypotheses that you proposed? For each piece of evidence that could differentiate between the hypotheses, indicate what result would favour which hypothesis.
4. Analyze those pieces of physical evidence that will differentiate between the two hypotheses.
a. (10) For each item that you examine, what results do you obtain? Use the conclusions that we covered in class specific to the item being examined (for example, the conclusions reached by fingerprint examiners, those reached by DNA analysts, etc.)
b. (5) Who or what is included as a potential source of each item of evidence that you examine?
c. (5) Who or what is excluded as a potential source of each item of evidence that you examine?
d. (10) How many other potential sources exist based on your exam of the evidence (is it an individualization, or class evidence)?
e. (5) Study Item 7 the bloodstain pattern from the ground. How would this pattern be classified? What characteristics of the evidence do you use to infer the classification? What possible actions would have produced this pattern?
5. Now, go back to your original outline of the stories and hypotheses.
a. (10)Which hypotheses are excluded as a result of your examination?
b. (10) Whose story is supported by each item of evidence that you examine? Why?
6. (10) Prepare a short synopsis of your evidence examination relating which part of each story is supported by the evidence, and which is refuted by the evidence?