Entomological Contributions to the Legal System in Southeastern Spain

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Insects and other arthropods found at a forensic scene are considered to represent relevant evidence regarding the time and place of death, a possible antemortem or postmortem treatment of the victim, the geographical origin of narcotic substances, drugs, etc. However, in order to derive firm conclusions from entomological evidence, it is critical to understand the different aspects of the insect biology of the whole area under consideration. Moreover, most forensic investigators are not specially trained in basic entomology procedures, which can result in limitations when trying to achieve an accurate expert report. The present work illustrates the utility and necessity of such entomological studies and the expert training that is required using actual forensic cases. ABSTRACT: The aim of this work is to present a number of forensic cases that took place in Southeastern Spain (Murcia province) in which the entomological evidence aided to fully solve the issues raised during the legal enquiry, enhancing the close interrelationships between experimental studies performed and actual forensic cases assessed. In all cases, the expert report was requested by the police agents or the medical examiners, the latter attempting to make stronger their own conclusions. The assessment of all cases was possible by comparing the evidence and circumstances of each one with the experimental data previously obtained in our laboratory concerning aspects such as faunistic, ecological, morphological, etc., and by considering data from other researchers. In all cases, the evidence could be addressed, although in some cases, it had not been properly collected or processed. Thus, the utility of the experimental studies in forensic practice, even when being considered merely biological, and without immediate practical application, can be demonstrated as well as the need for providing specialized instruction on Forensic Entomology procedures to the different agents involved in forensic investigation.