Experts
We can arrange Experts in many different fields of forensic science to ensure the evidence in your case is thoroughly examined. Below are details of just some of our extensive range of Experts (click on the job title for further information), to illustrate the experience and skills they possess.
- Mrs. Nikki Smith, MFSSoc
Nikki has more than 22 years’ experience in fingerprint evidence and crime scene examination, having gained her expertise in the Metropolitan Police where she worked in the Fingerprint Branch at New Scotland Yard and at Police Stations in the London area. Whilst with the Police she completed the Basic and Advanced Fingerprint Courses, the Forensic Awareness Course, the Fingerprint Chemical Development & Cadaver Course, the Expert Witness Course and the Scene Examiners Qualifying Course, and became listed on ‘The National Register of Police & Government Department Fingerprint Experts’. During her career Nikki has conducted thousands of finger and palm print comparisons and has examined crime scene and fingerprint evidence for both the Defence and Prosecution in numerous cases, with the offences ranging from burglary, fraud, Immigration matters and theft, to arson, rape, terrorism and murder. Nikki has worked as an Independent Expert since 1999 and is known by our Clients for her detailed examinations of fingerprint evidence, often identifying beneficial aspects of the evidence that have not previously been highlighted, and her extensive knowledge of many other aspects of forensic evidence. She has attended Crown, Magistrates’ and Youth Courts to give Expert advice and testimony on many occasions.
- Mrs. Victoria Jenkins, BSc(Hons) CBiol MIBiol
Victoria has a BSc.(Hons.) in Pharmacology and Toxicology and has worked as an Independent Forensic Consultant since 1997. She initially gained experience working at Glaxo Research and Development assisting with drug trials. She then undertook subsequent training at the Department of Forensic Medicine and Science in Glasgow as well as additional training in the written and oral presentation of forensic evidence and the use of various breath testing machines. Victoria also worked for three years as Head of the Drug and Toxicology Department at another forensic company. Her encyclopaedic knowledge of the effects and interactions of a wide range of alcohol, drugs and medicines has been of great assistance in many cases, and she has attended Crown, Magistrates’ and Youth Courts, Coroners’ Courts and the Royal Courts of Justice in London and Jersey, to give advice and evidence on various aspects of forensic toxicology.
- Dr. Sara Short, BSc(Hons) PhD MAE MFSSoc
Sara has a BSc(Hons) in Biology and a PhD in Forensic Biology, and has worked as an Independent Forensic Consultant since 1996. She initially spent 11 years at the Forensic Science Service, specialising in the examination of biological evidence, including blood pattern analysis, DNA evidence, fibre evidence and hair evidence, from a whole range of cases, including assaults, burglaries, car crimes, murders and rapes. Sara is regularly requested by Barristers and Solicitors to work on their cases, who are impressed with the thoroughness and tenacity of her examinations. She has attended numerous Courts to give Expert advice and testimony for both Defence and Prosecution, including Crown Courts in England, Scotland, Wales and the State of Jersey, various Magistrates’ Courts and Armed Forces Tribunals.
- Mrs. Deborah Weeks, BSc(Hons) MFSSoc
Debbie is a highly experienced Forensic Scientist specialising in footwear / shoe mark evidence and tool mark evidence. She has an honours degree in chemistry and began her career in 1989 when she joined the Metropolitan Police Forensic Science Laboratory (MPFSL) working in all aspects of forensic chemistry. When the MPFSL merged with the Forensic Science Service (FSS) in 1996, Debbie transferred to the FSS as a Senior Forensic Scientist until its closure in March 2012. Debbie now works as an independent Forensic Consultant, drawing on her vast experience gained from working on a wide variety of cases ranging from burglary to terrorism offences, to critically examine forensic evidence and produce comprehensive reports. Throughout her career, Debbie has attended Crown and Magistrates’ Courts to give expert advice and testimony on numerous occasions.
- Mr. Robert Butler, I.Eng. MIIE(elec)
Rob specialises in the analysis, authentication, enhancement and interpretation of audio and video recordings and other imagery, including ‘facial mapping’, clothing and object comparisons, height estimations, the interpretation of actions and events, vehicle speed estimations and the production of verified transcripts. He has worked as an Independent Expert since 1997, prior to which he spent 19 years with the Metropolitan Police, 11 of those years in the Evidential Analysis Department. Sitting on steering committees at both Metropolitan and National levels he contributed to the development of technical and evidential processes, including setting guidelines for the acquisition and use of video material for evidential purposes. His final three years with the Metropolitan Police were spent as Head of the Metropolitan Police Forensic Video Laboratory. Rob has assisted in numerous cases for the Defence and the Prosecution, the offences including terrorism, murder, drug trafficking, abduction, sex offences, armed robbery, robbery, vehicle crime and traffic offences. He is constantly in demand by Barristers and Solicitors, who are impressed by his skill in presenting evidence both in report form and in the Courtroom, and in identifying crucial errors. Rob has attended numerous Crown, Magistrates’, Youth and Coroners’ Courts, as well as Guernsey Royal Court and The Royal Courts of Justice to give expert advice and testimony.
- Mr. Martin Barry, MA MPhil
Martin is a Forensic Expert with over 20 years’ experience in criminal and civil cases. He holds a MA degree in Modern and Medieval Languages (including Phonetics and Linguistics) and a MPhil degree in Computer Speech and Language Processing, both from the University of Cambridge. He is an elected member of the International Association for Forensic Phonetics and Acoustics, and the British Association of Academic Phoneticians. He is also the former editor of the Journal of the International Phonetic Association. From 1989 to 2008, Martin was lecturer in Phonetics at the University of Manchester and was Head of the Department of Linguistics and English Language from 2002 to 2008, still retaining a connection with the University as Honorary Lecturer in Phonetics. Martin has worked on over 250 cases for both Defence and Prosecution concerning speaker profiling and the use of voice identification parades, involving a whole range of offences including blackmail, murder, robbery and terrorism. As a result he has given expert advice and testimony at Court on many occasions.
- Mr. Ray Jenkins, BSc MSc
Having gained a BSc, Ray began his career in 1967 with the Home Office Central Research Establishment in Aldermaston as a Forensic Scientist. He then gained his MSc in Analytical Chemistry in 1974 and moved to the Home Office Forensic Science Laboratory, Aldermaston, where he undertook the examination of forensic evidence in numerous cases covering a whole scope of offences. In 1987, Ray became Head of Chemistry for the Royal Oman Police, Muscat subsequently returning to the United Kingdom two years later, working as a Forensic Chemist at Home Office Forensic Science Laboratories in Aldermaston, Birmingham, London and Wetherby, carrying out examinations of a range of evidence including arson/fire investigation, footwear/shoe marks, glass fragments, manufacture marks, paint traces and tool marks. He has attended Court on more than 600 occasions providing expert advice and testimony at Crown Courts, Magistrates’ Courts, Youth Courts, Coroners’ Courts, Courts Martial and the Court at Muscat in the Sultanate of Oman. Due to his extensive experience and vast knowledge in this area of forensics, Ray is regularly instructed by Solicitors nationwide.