Bite to Byte: The Story of Injury Analysis

A tale of forensic innovation with a little mortuary humour blended in. Injuries, usually on victims of murder, are compared with the causative weapon. Teeth are man's oldest weapon and David Lewin extended the expertise used to match bite marks to all other patterned injuries and their possible cause. Following on from there his techniques are used to forecast what could have caused injury patterns on skin as well as marks at crime scenes so the police know what to look for, as with the Victoria Climbie trial. Cases chosen to illustrate the development of the expertise range from the notorious MP Alan Clark whose dog bit the BBC cameraman; to marks on the clothing of a young woman killed fifteen years previously - up until then unsolved. Could David suggest what caused those marks? The author and her husband work together in the mortuary and, back at their office, carry out the analysis. At court they diverge: while Lewin gives expert evidence from the witness box, his wife projects an image of the injury onto a large screen and moves an outline of the weapon over the injury image. They seem to be an intriguing phenomenon on the forensic scene - a husband-and-wife team. Bite to Byte takes a look at the work that goes on behind the scenes at Crown Court, via the custody cells and the mortuary - a mix of scientific invention and life in the witness box plus a whodunnit element where every job has its lighter moments. The various facets of their work are described in 10 cases, chosen from over 200 to date, to illustrate the development of the expertise. Each case has a scientific and human interest and there are thumbnail sketches of those involved in the investigations: forensic experts, detectives, mortuary attendants, barristers, criminals and victims.

Table of Contents:
Getting Started; Bitemarks: The Start of a New Expertise; Forensic Odontology on Trial; The Jersey Murders; A Nasty Injury; The Ashtray Murder; Alan Clark's Dogs; The Kiss of Death; The Lincolnshire Axe Murders; A Double Hit; The Button Case; What Made the Marks; Index.

About the Author :
Persephone Lewin, FGA., DGA started writing with articles for Practical Boat Owner. She had small manufacturing company for many years where she patented several products. She then joined forces with her husband, helping with all aspects of the forensic work. She was Honorary Press Officer for a RNLI fast response inshore lifeboat for nine years while David was director of operations. The media have written that they 'work with those who save life and with those who take life away'. Persephone has two children and lives in East Anglia.

Review :
"When prosecuting I found this work invaluable and beautifully prepared so that I could present it simply to the jury. It is simple and totally compelling work and, when presented as it is here, devastating to the defence..." -- The Hon Mr Justice James Hunt. "Fascinating stuff, written in an eloquent and compelling style. A must for anyone with an interest in forensics..." -- Dr Nat Cary, Home Office Pathologist.