Journal article

Glass fragments from portable electronic devices: Implications for forensic examinations

Kelsey E Seyfang, Kahlee E Redman, Rachel S Popelka-Filcoff, K Paul Kirkbride

FORENSIC SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL | ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD | Published : 2015

Abstract

Personal electronic devices (PEDs) are now widespread in the community. Many such devices have glass display screens that, despite being a relatively strong and specialised material, are vulnerable to breakage. Unlike other glass objects that are usually thrown away when they break, PEDs can still function with a broken or cracked screen and it is not uncommon for their owners to keep using them in this condition. Broken PED screens, therefore, might represent a new and significant source of glass fragments that are present on the clothing and belongings of the general public and individuals suspected of offences involving the breaking of glass. The forensic implications of this new source o..

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Grants

Funding Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge the assistance of Adelaide Microscopy, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, and in particular Aoife McFadden, for assistance with the collection of LA-ICP-MS and SEM-EDS data. We are also grateful to Alltech Pty Ltd., Payneham, Adelaide, South Australia, a mobile telephone repair company, and several individuals who donated samples of glass or broken PEDs for analysis. Finally, we wish to thank Forensic Science, SA for provision of funds from the Ross Vining Research Grant.