Consideration of the probative value of single donor 15-plex STR profiles in UK populations and its presentation in UK courts I

• NCJ Number: 307083
• Journal: Science & Justice Volume: 53 Issue: 3 Dated: 2013 Pages: 371
• Date Published: 2013
• Author(s): Andrew J. Hopwood; Roberto Puch-Solis; Valerie C. Tucker; James M. Curran; James Skerrett; Susan Pope; Gillian Tully
• Length: 1 page
• Grant Number(s): 2011-DN-BX-K541
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)

Annotation

This article examines 15 new locus STR multiplex systems and how UK forensic science would benefit if guidelines for reporting the strength of DNA evidence using likelihood ratios was established.

Abstract

The adoption of new 15 locus STR multiplex systems into UK forensic science would be facilitated by agreed guidelines for reporting the strength of DNA evidence using likelihood ratios. To facilitate such an agreement, the authors present an analysis of previously published UK allele frequencies for white Caucasian, Afro-Caribbean and Indo-Pakistani populations and investigate their effect on likelihood ratios for single donor profiles. The authors consider the implication of the five additional loci and suggest a procedure for reporting likelihood ratios for 15-plex STR profiles.