Research activities
Our research activities involve a number of key areas in pathology, facial anthropometry, clinical forensic medicine and forensic biomechanics.
- Research projects:
- Recent forensic publications
Bruising in living subjects and cadavers
Queen Mary, University of London, the University of Verona and the University of Crete are collaborating in a project is to investigate ageing of bruising by a number of techniques in different categories of healthy living subjects and cadavers.
The data obtained from such an investigation will enable an assessment to be made of the relationship of the appearance of bruising with time in order that a more accurate assessment can be made of time since injury. It is anticipated that such information will be of practical value to physicians and advocates employed in a forensic setting.
Facial identification research
Facial identification for the purposes of use as evidence in a court of law is becoming increasingly important. Such identifications fall into different categories and are carried out by practitioners from different disciplines. With the increasing use of surveillance cameras, there is a wealth of information and therefore potential evidence that may be used in the investigation of crime. The identification of criminals from such cameras may be the primary or in some cases only evidence available.
Facial reconstruction is used to assist in the initial recognition of the deceased person when there is no ante-mortem data available for comparison. Once a putative identity is suggested then a definitive identification is carried out using principally dental or DNA techniques.
Our group is engaged in a number of projects in this area using laser-imaging techniques as well as facial comparison of CCTV images.
Evaluation of knife marks on bone
This project was initiated as a BMedSci project and further work is being organised with the Department of Materials at Queen Mary, University of London.
The aim of the project is to examine the site of injury of soft tissue and bone using animal models (carcasses) to assess whether or not it is feasible to accurately define the type of weapon used or more specifically the actual weapon employed.
Recent forensic publications
[Please note that all external links open in a new window]
Professor Peter Vanezis
Kleinberg KF, Vanezis P, Burton AM
Failure of anthropometry as a facial identification technique using high-quality photographs.
J Forensic Sci. 2007 Jul;52(4):779-83.
Tarran SL, Craft GE, Valova V, Robinson PJ, Thomas G, Markham R, Langlois NE, Vanezis P
The use of proteomics to study wound healing: a preliminary study for forensic estimation of wound age. Med Sci Law. 2007 Apr;47(2):134-40.
Kleinberg KF, Vanezis P
Variation in proportion indices and angles between selected facial landmarks with rotation in the Frankfort plane, Med Sci Law. 2007 Apr;47(2):107-16.
Meijerman L, Nagelkerke NJ, Van Basten R, Van Der Lugt C, De Conti F, Drusini AG, Giacon M, Sholl S, Vanezis P, Maat GJ
Inter- and intra-individual variation in applied force when listening at a surface, and resulting variation in earprints.Med Sci Law. 2006 Apr;46(2):141-51.
Hadi S, Vanezis P, Goodwin W
The autosomal STR frequencies in Pakistani populations. J Forensic Sci. 2004 Jul;49(4):868-9.
Meijerman L, Sholl S, De Conti F, Giacon M, van der Lugt C, Drusini A, Vanezis P, Maat G
Exploratory study on classification and individualisation of earprints, Forensic Sci Int. 2004 Feb 10;140(1):91-9.
Vanezis M, Vanezis P, Minnis H, McMillan A, Gillies M, Smith S
The creation of inter-ethnic images for studies in applied psychology, Med Sci Law. 2003 Oct;43(4):301-6.
Mohammed AA, Linacre AM, Vanezis P, Goodwin W
STR data for the GenePrint PowerPlex 1.2 system loci from three United Arab Emirates populations. Forensic Sci Int. 2001 Jul 15;119(3):328-9.
Vanezis P
Interpreting bruises at necropsy. J Clin Pathol. 2001 May;54(5):348-55.
Ahmed A, Linacre AM, Mohammed AA, Vanezis P, Goodwin W
STR population data for 10 STR loci including the GenePrint PowerPlex 1.2 kit from El-Minia (Central Egypt). Forensic Sci Int. 2001 Apr 1;117(3):233-4.
Dr Jason Payne-James
Payne-James JJ, Sheridan RD, Smith G.
Medical implications of the Taser (editorial). BMJ 2010;340:c853
Payne-James J.
Clinical risk and detainees in police custody.
Clinical Risk 2010;16:56-60.
Payne-James JJ, Anderson W, Green PG, Johnston A.
Provision of Forensic Medical Services To Police Custody Suites in England & Wales: Current Practice. J Forensic & Legal Medicine 2009 16 189-195
Payne-James JJ, Green PG, Green N et al.
Healthcare issues of detainees in police custody in London, UK. J Forensic & Legal Medicine 2008 doi: 10/1016/j.jflm.2007.10.011
Norfolk GA, Payne-James J.
In response to: Bond P., Kingston P. & Nevill A.
Operational efficiency of healthcare in police custody suites: comparison of nursing and medical provision. J Adv Nurs. 2007 Oct; 60(2):127-34.
Payne-James JJ. Norfolk, G, Seymour C, Burnham R.
Faculty of Forensic & Legal Medicine: progress at last. BMJ Career Focus 2006 BMJ Careers 332; 21 January 2006: 25
Payne-James JJ. Assault: Sexually Motivated. 2009
In: Wiley Encyclopedia of Forensic Science. Jamieson A, Moenssens A (eds). John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester UK, pp 234-242.
Bucke T, Teers R, Menin S, Payne-James JJ, Stark MM.
Near Misses in Police Custody: a collaborative study with Forensic Medical Examiners in London. IPCC, 2008
Payne-James JJ. Restraint injuries and crowd control agents. Good Practice Guidelines for FMEs. (Eds) Rogers DJ, Stark MM, Norfolk GA. April 2008. Metropolitan Police Service, 2008.
Apple M, Payne-James J.
Dr Apple’s Symptoms Encyclopaedia.
The reassuring guide to self-diagnosis. KyleCathie Ltd, 2007.
Payne-James JJ, Crane J, Hinchliffe J.
Injury assessment, documentation and interpretation. In: Stark MM ed. Clinical Forensic Medicine. A physician’s guide. 2nd Ed. Humana Press 2005 pp 127-158
Payne-James JJ.
History and development of clinical forensic medicine. In: Stark MM ed. Clinical Forensic Medicine. A physician’s guide. 2nd Ed. Humana Press 2005 pp1-36
Payne-James JJ, Munro MH, Rowland Payne CM
Pseudosclerodermatous triad of perniosis, pulp atrophy and 'parrot-beaked' clawing of the nails--a newly recognized syndrome of chronic crack cocaine use. J Forensic Leg Med. 2007 Feb;14(2):65-71.
Payne-James J
The journal, special issues & evidence.
J Clin Forensic Med. 2006 May;13(4):159. Epub 2006 Mar 24.
Best D, Havis S, Payne-James JJ, Stark MM
Near miss incidents in police custody suites in London in 2003: a feasibility study.
J Clin Forensic Med. 2006 Feb;13(2):60-4. Epub 2005 Oct 11.
Payne-James JJ, Wall IJ, Bailey C
Patterns of illicit drug use of prisoners in police custody in London, UK. J Clin Forensic Med. 2005 Aug;12(4):196-8.
Peel M, Hughes J, Payne-James JJ
Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation following torture. J Clin Forensic Med. 2003 Sep;10(3):193-6.
Payne-James J
Substance misuse and the legal system in England and Wales. J Clin Forensic Med. 2001 Mar;8(1):7-16.
Stark MM, Norfolk G, Rogers DJ, Payne-James JJ
The validity of self-reported substance misuse amongst detained persons in police custody.
J Clin Forensic Med. 2002 Mar;9(1):25-6.
Blanco Pampín J, Morte Tamayo N, Hinojal Fonseca R, Payne-James JJ, Jerreat P
Delayed presentation of carotid dissection, cerebral ischemia, and infarction following blunt trauma: two cases. J Clin Forensic Med. 2002 Sep;9(3):136-40.
Payne-James J, Rogers D
Drug-facilitated sexual assault, 'ladettes' and alcohol. J R Soc Med. 2002 Jul;95(7):326-7.
Payne-James J, Wall I, Dean P
Full time forensic pathology service. Practical alternative to forensic pathology service exists.
BMJ. 2002 Mar 30;324(7340):791.
Dr David Rouse
Hortobágyi T, Wise S, Hunt N, Cary N, Djurovic V, Fegan-Earl A, Shorrock K, Rouse D, Al-Sarraj S.
Traumatic axonal damage in the brain can be detected using beta-APP immunohistochemistry within 35 min after head injury to human adults. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol. 2007 Apr;33(2):226-37.