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In a case discussed at the AAFS meeting, bruises made by a hairband had been matched to the suspect's dentition. There is also the compounding factor that forensic odontologists generally know which set of teeth belongs to the main suspect.

This might make them more likely to come up with a positive match for that person. Cardoza admits that bite-mark evidence will always have a subjective element: "The best bite mark is one you can swab for DNA." He says the technique works best when there is a limited number of possible suspects: for example, if other evidence indicates only two or three people could possibly have committed the crime.

If cases like Krone's are to be avoided in future, Plourd says, the ABFO must urgently review the technique, and raise the standards used to analyse bite mark evidence. "They owe him something."

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Contact: Claire Bowles
claire.bowles@rbi.co.uk
44-207-331-2751
New Scientist
10-Mar-2004