February 28, 2008
'CSI murderers' fail to trick police
Two CSI: fans who killed and dismembered their half-brother, and then tried to use knowledge gleaned from the American television drama to outwit detectives, were facing lengthy prison terms today. Times Online reports [via TV Tattle].
"... Detectives said they found a host of CSI: DVDs at the Baigents' house and there was evidence that the brothers had tried to use “forensic” knowledge to cover their trail.
The court heard that Charlotte Baigent also told friends how they took ideas from CSI:, which stars actor William Petersen. They dismembered Mr Scanlan’s body and hid the parts in separate woodland graves, wrapping their hands in sticky tape to clean a car the victim had travelled in. They also used an ultra-violet light to search for tell-tale fibres in the car and sent a fake text from Mr Scanlan’s phone to give the impression that he was still alive.
But real scenes of crime officers and forensic scientists had been too clever and were led to the killers by following a trail of mobile phone calls.
Related:
-- CSI: Underpants sees scientist dismissed over test that trapped cheating husband - A forensic scientist who performed a CSI-style examination of her husband’s underpants to see if he was cheating has been fired from her job for misusing the police crime lab.
-- 'CSI effect' is teaching criminals to cover tracks - Forensic science professionals, police departments and criminal prosecution lawyers are now complaining that these shows have educated criminals about the best way to cover their tracks.
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