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Forensic evidence pros and cons
From: "Daniel Sichel" <daniels () Ponderosatel com>
Date: Tue, 5 Jul 2005 10:02:50 -0700
The police find the data where they find it. That's called 'circumstantial evidence' and digital evidence will always be treated exactly as such no matter who we successfully convince of the flaws inherent in the filing cabinet or printed document/glossy photograph analogy.
It is not circumstantial, it is physical evidence. I believe that what you meant was that it's probitive value is uncertain because there is no chain of custody solely from a defendant to a forensic expert. That is to say that even though the device was in possession of the defendant, persons unknown likely also had access. Therefore you cannot assume that information found on the device was placed there by, or at the behest of, the defendant. No, I am not an attorney, but if you do LAN administration for five years at a law firm that does criminal defense work, you learn a few things. BTW, if some of this type of information began showing up on the computers used by judges, ADAs, district attorneys, and senior law enforcement officers they might change their minds quickly as to the probitive value of such finds. Surely, in our august ranks there are some who, speaking hypothetically of course, could arrange such events. It would nicely highlight the ambiguity of the situation. And I don't even want to think of the bragging rights.... Just a conjecture. Dan Sichel Network Engineer _______________________________________________ Full-Disclosure - We believe in it. Charter: http://lists.grok.org.uk/full-disclosure-charter.html Hosted and sponsored by Secunia - http://secunia.com/
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- Forensic evidence pros and cons Daniel Sichel (Jul 05)