Mansfield forensic college students solve 'murder'

After a ‘body’ was discovered on a field at Mansfield’s West Nottinghamshire College, it was up to the forensic students to find out what happened.
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Their mission was to put their new-found learning to the test to determine how the casualty died, gathering biological, chemical and physical evidence at the scene using specialist equipment to measure and analyse.

The outdoor investigation at the Derby Road campus was the first practical lesson the students have had together since the first lockdown last year.

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Their tutor Melanie Pykett provided the group with the evidence already gathered by police which included a student witness statement, details of a tyre track and footprint found on the grass and where the body was found.

Students applied their classroom theory of forensics to the mock crime sceneStudents applied their classroom theory of forensics to the mock crime scene
Students applied their classroom theory of forensics to the mock crime scene

Using forensic skills they have been taught on the diploma course, students were tasked in pairs to approach the crime scene using specialist equipment including evidence markers, plastic sheets, tape measures, swabs and containers, in order to determine the cause of death.

Student Robin Murphy said: “It’s good to be able to get hands-on with this mock crime scene outside of the classroom.

"We can see that the victim has a head injury and has most likely been drinking so it’s up to us to take accurate samples at the scene to analyse.

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“We have to measure the crime scene so that this area can be recreated on a drawing ready for us to assess all evidence.”

Tutor Melanie Pykett said: "It’s been great to finally get together as a class and take part in this practical session.”

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