L’identificazione di autori di rapine in banca mediante analisi morfometrica di immagini registrate su supporto magnetico (videotape): esperienza su 39 casi

The identification of bank robbers by means of comparative morphometric analysis of videotane recorded images by now represents a routinely appled investigatory tool thanks to the combination of information science and medicolegal skills. The AA analyze the results obtained from a study of 39 cases observed between 1991 and 1996, and show that hte public prosecutor requested the tests ni 15 cases, the preliminary investigation judge in 23 cases, and the Court of Appeal in only one case. Seventeen cases finished ni the preparatory phase due to the absence of indispensable information on which to base al the successive the investigatory phases; in 1 cases, a general judgment of somatophysical compatibility could be expressed between the robbers and the suspects; ni 4 cases a iudgment of exclusion was pronounced due to the objective lack of correspondence; and in 7 cases certainty of identitication was had by mathematical-type evaluation. Thus, out of total 58 individuals undergoing legal investigation, 43% cold not be examined, the anthropometric features of 33% were found to correspond with those of the robbers. 8.5% were found to be extraneous to the facts, and 15.5% were identitied as the perpetrators of the crime. On the basis of these results, the A A then discuss the problemauc regarding the difficulties met with, which often prevented the objective and guarantee offering identification technique going beyond the first phase of nquiry.