Semen transfer – sexual offence or innocent transfer?
Whilst the presence of semen matching the DNA profile of the defendant may seem compelling evidence when it is detected on intimate swabs or clothing of the complainant, there are other mechanisms of semen transfer which might account for the findings. A forensic sexual offences expert can consider these and evaluate the likelihood of the semen findings given the case circumstances, the allegation made and the defendant’s account.
It is often the case that when the Crown expert prepares their report, they have no knowledge of the defendant’s account and so can only comment on the findings in respect of the complainant’s version.READ MORE