On Some Aspects of Detection and Fixing Traces of Human Skin Cover on Outer Shell of Plant Fruits

In the field of practical forensic activities due attention is not given to the examination of human skin cover traces left on the outer shell of plant fruits both while conducting an incident site inspection and during forensic examination. A few scattered publications available predominantly in the foreign forensic literature provide recommendations towards examination of such traces through the use of both conventional physic, physical-chemical methods and technical means for detection and fixation of latent hand traces and non-standard ones (applied to food colourant powders, corn meal powders, cocoa powder etc.). In the course of experimental works latent hand traces were formed on the most commonly encountered fruits and vegetables having different retention times (tomatoes, apples, potatoes, onions, pumpkins, bananas). To detect and fix them there were applied such technical and forensic means as fingerprint powders (magnetic and non-magnetic powders, including luminescent ones), dispersive medium of dark color (analogue of commercial product - small particle reagent), cyanoacrylates. The authors analyzed the obtained experimental material and submitted recommendations towards the detection of hand traces formed on the outer shell of plant fruits.