Crippen Case
Module Two: Lab Questions
Your lab link can be found at Executed in Error. A written transcript is also available for this lab.
Why was the Crippen case important? It was the first case for forensic science
What was Crippen accused of? Why was he accused of this crime? He was accused of killing his own wife and cutting her into pieces, because he was the husband of the victim
Why do you think people were so interested in Crippen's case? It’s a rare case where the victim was poisoned, and then cut into pieces.
Why was forensic science important in Crippen's trial? How was it used in the trial? They used forensics to offset the perceived limited or lack for a better word of incriminating evidence. He pointed out that a distinctive scar (which was written in medical records) matched that of the skin segment found from the cellar. Cloth fragments from the remains also matched he victim’s pajamas. Along with that, a distinctive poison was found in the remains, which Crippen had.
What do modern forensic scientists find when they examine samples of the remains? Dna results conclude that the dna of descendants of Cora did not match that of the victim’s, meaning that the victim wasn’t Crippen’s wife.
What other evidence linked Crippen to the remains in the cellar? A pajama shirt
What other inconsistencies were found in the case when the evidence was re-examined? Why do you think these inconsistencies were ignored at the time of the Crippen trial? The hair follicles and sweat glands aren’t consistent with scar tissue. Because the defense didn’t persuade the jury enough.
Do you think Crippen killed his wife? Why or why not? From the evidence examined by forensic scientist I don’t think he killed his wife because they don’t have enough evidence to prove it.
Your lab link can be found at Executed in Error. A written transcript is also available for this lab.
Why was the Crippen case important? It was the first case for forensic science
What was Crippen accused of? Why was he accused of this crime? He was accused of killing his own wife and cutting her into pieces, because he was the husband of the victim
Why do you think people were so interested in Crippen's case? It’s a rare case where the victim was poisoned, and then cut into pieces.
Why was forensic science important in Crippen's trial? How was it used in the trial? They used forensics to offset the perceived limited or lack for a better word of incriminating evidence. He pointed out that a distinctive scar (which was written in medical records) matched that of the skin segment found from the cellar. Cloth fragments from the remains also matched he victim’s pajamas. Along with that, a distinctive poison was found in the remains, which Crippen had.
What do modern forensic scientists find when they examine samples of the remains? Dna results conclude that the dna of descendants of Cora did not match that of the victim’s, meaning that the victim wasn’t Crippen’s wife.
What other evidence linked Crippen to the remains in the cellar? A pajama shirt
What other inconsistencies were found in the case when the evidence was re-examined? Why do you think these inconsistencies were ignored at the time of the Crippen trial? The hair follicles and sweat glands aren’t consistent with scar tissue. Because the defense didn’t persuade the jury enough.
Do you think Crippen killed his wife? Why or why not? From the evidence examined by forensic scientist I don’t think he killed his wife because they don’t have enough evidence to prove it.