Dr Linda Iles is a forensic pathologist who loves the challenge of medical problem-solving. In this episode she leads us through her involvement in unravelling our suspicious death case. From attending the scene to reaching her final conclusions, Dr Iles helps us understand the contributions she might make to the case, the pitfalls she should avoid and how she is not a coroner.

Guest information:

Dr Linda Iles -

Head of Forensic Pathology Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine

Acting Inspector Brad Mason started his forensic career as a photographer and is now an experienced crime scene investigator with Victoria Police. Brad helps us understand how to process the suspicious death scene and why forensic science actually starts well before the lab. Brad walks us through the meticulous nature of crime scene investigation (CSI) and why investigators have ‘one chance to get it right’. Ali and Stephen talk through the critical steps of CSI from the initial assessment, scene control, recording of the scene and item/trace identification, recognition and collection. Guest information: Acting Inspector Brad Mason, Victoria Police

Forensic science, what is it? In our second episode we explore the fundamentals and the role of forensic science in the criminal justice system. Ali and Stephen ask their guests three key questions: ‘what is forensic science’, ‘what is Locard’s Principle and why is it so fundamental to forensic science’ and ‘is there such a thing as a forensic scientist’. Our experts explore the past, present and future of forensic science and Ali introduces our suspicious death investigation which will be examined by forensic and legal experts in the coming episodes.

Guest Information:

• Professor Linzi Wilson-Wilde, Director, Forensic Science South Australia

• Distinguished Professor Claude Roux, Director, Centre for Forensic Science, University of Technology, Sydney

• Dr Simon Walsh, National Manager, Operational Science and Technology, Australian Federal Police (AFP).

Resource Links:

• Locard’s Principle: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4581004/pdf/rstb20140260.pdf

• Australian Federal Police Forensic Services: https://www.afp.gov.au/what-we-do/operational-support/forensics