Garlasco’s yellow revolves around the rebus of thefootprints That in 2007, a few days after the murder of Chiara Poggi, they were found by the Ris of Parma inside the house at number 8 in via Pascoli, theater of the officed crime. After 18 years, those finds ended again to the attention of the Pavia Prosecutor’s Office, which opened a file against Andrea Semplio with the hypothesis of crime for murder in competition with unknown persons or Alberto Stasi (the latter was definitively sentenced to 16 years in prison).
Under the investigators’ lens there are a series of traces, including the imprint classified as “find 33”, which was detected on the wall along the stairs that lead to the basement of the Poggi house, not far from the point where the lifeless body of the 26 year old was found. “The imprint 33 has captured the attention of the investigators so that it is assumed that it can be attributed to Andrea Semplio. The prosecutor’s consultants have carried out a series of comparative investigations and have come to identify 15 day -siloscopic minutiae compatible with a well -defined area presumed with the palm of the hands of the always. In order for the imprint to be useful to be attributable to a certain individual. of biological material, we will proceed with the repetable investigations. Alessio Poggijurist specialized in forensic criminalistic and dactyloscopy.
To the attention of the PM Pavesi there would also be two other footprints: the one on the internal handle of the door of the house, of which the paternity remains unknown, and probably the footprint of a shoe on top of the of the steps that lead to the tavernetta. “We should also analyze that. It is a long imprint between 24 and 26 cm compatible with a number between the 36-37 footwear. It was found right at the top of the stairs that lead to the cellar where the body of Chiara Poggi was found. What did that footwear imprint do there? Who belongs to? Is to be analyzed and reviewed”, points out the expert.
Doctor Poggi, what is meant by forensic dictiloscopy and how is this discipline useful for the purposes of a judicial investigation?
“Forensic dactoicoscopy is a branch of criminalism. As the term itself suggests – from the Greek dactylus (finger) e broom (observation and study) – It means ‘study of papillary drawings of the fingers’, namely the study of fingerprints. It is an important discipline in the forensic field. The footprints, in fact, provide a fundamental element for the purpose of investigations: they help to understand who was present in a certain context or on the crime scene “.
How many types of footprints exist?
“There are fingerprints, that is, those of the fingertips of the fingers, the palms, which concern the study of the palm of the hand, and the plantar imprints, which relate to the sole of the foot”.
How are the footprints on the crime scene find?
“First of all, it is necessary to distinguish between visible and latent imprints. The former, as the word itself suggests, are visible to the naked eye. The documentation takes place with a naturally size photographic method and accompanied by a metric reference, which is very important. The latent, on the other hand, need exaltation processes in order to be subsequently found. There are various ways to perform their documentation, which are: the inspection through lights (white light or lights Forensi), with enhancement powders (depending on the surface to be treated) and through chemical reagents, such as cyanacrylate, DFO, ninidrine and others “.
What does the choice of reagent depend on?
“The choice of the reagent depends on the contact surface. For example, to detect the papillary footprint 33 on the crime scene of Garlasco, ninidrine has been used”.
How does the ninidrine work?
“The ninhydrin is applied on the surface above which is presumed to be an imprint and it is interacting with the amino acids that are present in the track to be analyzed. A response is formed by a red-valetal complex that deposits on the papillary crests. When the substance has acted completely, a drawing is defined, which is precisely the digital footprint”.
How long does a imprint be impressed on a surface?
“The imprint is not datable, therefore it can also last decades on a certain surface”.
Can you wear or alter?
“It depends on a series of factors. If on the surface where the imprint is highlighted there has been no next contact or exposure to any atmospheric agents and environmental factors, it can remain intact for a long time”.
What are the dactyloscopic minutiae?
“Dactyloscopic minutiae are those characteristic points that are formed by the intersection of the papillary crests. These provide the typewrittenist the possibility of being able to identify that specific fragment and attribute it to a subject”.
Can a digital imprint be erroneously attributed to an individual?
“Certainly there is never anything, it is always necessary to take into account a margin of error. However, the fingerprints, compared to those palms, provide very defined analysis data. In fact, the fingerprints can be cataloged within four fundamental archetypes (Adelta, Bidelta -Concentrica and complex-, Mono delta -ulnare and Radial-), which make them more easily associated with an individual for an individual Furthermore, of this conformation. Comparison by the technician.
Is there the risk of contamination?
“Certainly the risk is there, given that the crime scene is easily pollutable when the necessary safety protocols are not used. Furthermore, an overlap of imprints can be had, which make the finding activity more difficult and subsequently comparison. Even atmospheric agents can affect considerably, especially in surfaces that are subject to deterioration. In all other cases, it is impossible that it can have a contamination. of the imprint “.
Can an imprint be the signature of a killer on the crime scene?
“Yes. It should be noted that a fragment of imprint, in order to be contextualized to the alleged culprit, must have at least 16/17 characteristic points in common with the original imprint. Under this number it will be necessary to evaluate the possible presence of other tracks that can go to affect a more certain evidentiary framework. Despite this, the find of a fragment in a criminal context provides important information about that specific individual Crime scene in any case, this does not necessarily imply that the indicated subject committed the crime.
Furthermore, when several fragments of imprint are found on the crime scene, of any type (digital, palmari, plantar, footprints), it is necessary to carry out a detailed comparison of each single track to have a linear design of all the people on the crime scene “.