Expert Legal Testimony Can Be Given By A Forensic Neuropsychologist In Los Angeles

By Marci Glover


In many court cases, from murder one to manslaughter, a forensic expert is needed to assist the prosecutor or the defense attorney. The accused and defense witnesses may choose to lie and a jury may choose to believe them. There are ways to provide concrete evidence. The facts as provided by a forensic neuropsychologist in Los Angeles are indisputable.

A scientific expert can test samples of blood, semen and other trace elements to offer indisputable evidence to either prove or disprove the facts. Blood does not wash away, ever. Footprints and tire tracks left in mud, dust or sand can be matched to the soles of a pair of shoes or a specific vehicle.

There may be many such shoes in the same size worn by many people. However, each person has an individualized wear pattern and the sole will reveal that if compared to another pair owned and worn by the suspect. The same is often true of tires.

Some plant life or other residue can be left on the undercarriage of a car. Perhaps it is something that only grows in a few places. If what is trapped under the car can be matched to the place where a body was dumped, that will indicate the guilt of the automobile owner.

When the owner becomes a suspect, a search warrant will be executed to search the car and trunk. If there is any blood or fluids, a forensic scientist can match them to the owner. Blood is never eradicated. A liquid, Luminol, can be sprayed on the interior and any blood will show up under a special light.

Experts can match blood to a murder suspect, the deceased or a pet dog. Other forensic experts specialize in gunshot residue and identifying which gun a bullet was shot from. They can determine the position of the shooter and victim at the time the bullet entered the body or a nearby wall.

Blood, even that extracted from bone marrow of skeleton remains, can be typed and matched. A skeleton can reveal age, gender and the ethnic background of the victim. Teeth can be matched to dental records. A healed bone can be matched to medical records.

The neuropsychologist is expert at providing a verbal description of brain damage, or preparing an animation of how that inflicted damage has impacted the brain. He or she can also use a brain scan to support or disprove the legal competence of the suspect to stand trial. When combined with other incontrovertible evidence that suspect can then become a convicted murderer.

Among the services provided by this highly-educated scientist are testifying in court as an expert witness, doing neuropsychological evaluations, reviewing cases, conducting medical evaluations and private consultation as an attorney prepares a case. The creation of a customized brain animation is a pictorial representation of what happened. A non-scientist can often gain a clearer understanding of the relevant facts when able to view this visual presentation.

The animation labels the parts of the brain and describes how the damage caused aberrant behavior. This assists the judge, jury and all interested parties to understand the facts. It is true that sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words.




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