Chapter 30: General principles of law of relevance to fingerprint evidence
Introduction
Corroboration, proof beyond reasonable doubt and the best evidence rule
Corroboration
Proof beyond reasonable doubt
Admissibility and assessment of evidence
Productions and best evidence
Expert evidence
The admissibility of expert evidence
Evaluation of expert evidence
The expression of opinions by experts
The expert's duties to the court
Authorities since 1999
Transparency and pre-trial preparation
Routine evidence: sections 280 and 281 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 553
Disclosure
The duty of investigating bodies to provide information to the prosecution
The duty of disclosure by the prosecutor to the defence
Lord Coulsfield's review
The Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010: disclosure
Chapter 31: The law relating specifically to fingerprint evidence
'Infallibility'
R v McNamee and R v Buckley
Routine evidence: sections 280 and 281 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 563
Commentary
Fingerprint evidence: unable to exclude
Chapter 32: The sixteen point standard
Introduction
A history of the 16-point standard
Equal certainty
Lack of substantive base for the 16-point standard
England and Wales: evidence other than in accordance with 16-point standard
The 16-point standard in Scottish practice
The detail of the 16-point rule
The definition of a characteristic
Unexplained differences
Identifications and eliminations
Chapter 33: The move to the non-numeric 'standard' in Scotland
Introduction
Reviews in England and Wales
1994: review of the 16-point standard in Scotland
Lord Advocate's draft Guidelines
HMICS report
2002 draft Scottish Fingerprint Standard
Introduction of the non-numeric system
Crown Office circular and other guidance
Misnomer describing non-numeric as a 'standard'
Impact on fingerprint examiners' method of work
OIG report on Brandon Mayfield case