Visual and Forensic Evidence Assessment in Transnational Targeted Killings: A Criminological Analysis of Crime-Scene Inspection and Ballistic Patterns

Abstract

Targeted killings by state actors are critical challenge for forensic and criminological analysis, especially in a cross-border context. Despite much criminological and policy discussion, a striking lack exists of a systematic process of integration of visual and forensic information used to measure the validity of official accounts of investigations. This research uses the concepts of State Crime Theory and Crime Scene Reconstruction Theory to put state actions in perspective and understand forensic data in the context of accountability. A qualitative case study approach adopting an interpretivist paradigm was used to analyze source materials for this project, which included publicly available fact-finding reports, crime scene photographs, ballistics records, post-mortem results and narrative versions of the investigation. Visual content analysis, ballistic trajectory analysis and narrative-forensic consistency analysis showed that there were great discrepancies between what was being said and what the material evidence showed. Major points such as directional, controlled fire that is not related to moving vehicles, biomechanically impossible trajectories of wounds, patterned bloodstains that are spatially confined, and deviations in processing of evidence are significant. These results illustrate the effectiveness of forensic and visual evidence combination to visualize event dynamics and the critical analysis of the legitimacy of force use by the state. On the basis of these results, the research suggests the use of uniform forensic guidelines, consistency theories on evidences/ narratives, special investigators, and external controls as solutions to enhance accountability, transparency, and integrity of operations in politically sensitive or transnational murders and all other associated crimes. All in all, this study provides a replicable methodology of forensic evaluation of targeted murders that connects empirical studies and theoretical criticism and provides empirical advice on policy and investigative practice.