Expert Witness Journal Issue 66 April 2026 - Flipbook - Page 99
worn extensively since the damage occurred. This is
because washing, prolonged wear or environmental
exposure can soften, distort or obscure the 昀椀ne
features generated at the time the damage was
caused. Establishing recency helps determine
whether the damage is likely to be associated with
the incident under investigation.
Kidnappings
2. Comparing damage with potential
causative implements
Fragments of fabric can be found at points of entry,
on barbed wire, broken glass or protruding nails,
allowing comparisons to any suspect’s clothing.
Textile comparison can assist in the examination of
ligatures, bindings or gags, including whether torn
fabric used to restrain someone matches materials
recovered elsewhere.
Burglaries
In many cases, investigators want to know whether
a particular weapon or object could have caused
the observed textile damage. This often involves
knives but may also include machetes, scissors,
screwdrivers, axes, hammers or improvised items.
Even household objects can generate distinct textile
signatures.
Road Tra昀케c Collisions
Abrasions to clothing may help determine contact
with the road surface, whether a person was
dragged or was under a moving vehicle, and in what
orientation.
Arson and Thermal Damage
Scientists may also be asked whether the damage
is more likely to be generated by a stabbing action
rather than a slashing action, or whether multiple
cuts represent multiple actions. The complexity
increases when folds and layering of clothing, and
movement of the wearer are considered. Clothing
rarely sits 昀氀at during an assault. Items can bunch,
twist or lift as a person moves in response to threat
or pain, and this can in昀氀uence the appearance of
the resulting damage.
Fabrics show characteristic patterns when exposed
to heat or 昀氀ame. Even microscopic features, known
as 昀氀ash damage, can be important in cases involving
accelerants or incendiary devices, allowing an
evaluation of a wearers proximity to the events
being investigated.
Ballistic Damage
Entry and exit holes, often coupled with associated
soot or residues, can provide vital information.
Forensic 昀椀rearms specialists can recreate ballistic
damage under controlled conditions to support
interpretation.
3. Physical Fit Examinations
Sometimes the question is whether two pieces of
fabric once formed part of the same garment or
item. This is known as a physical 昀椀t or jigsaw 昀椀t
examination. Although occasionally the pieces
can be aligned perfectly, it is often more complex.
Missing sections, distortion and incomplete edges
require additional comparisons of fabric type,
weave, colour, stitching patterns and overall wear.
A physical 昀椀t can provide exceptionally strong
evidence that two items once belonged together
and may support or refute an account o昀昀ered by a
suspect or victim.
Corrosive Substance Attacks
Di昀昀erent 昀椀bre types respond di昀昀erently to acids,
alkalis and oxidising agents which can cause
distinctive chemical degradation to 昀椀bres.
Understanding Common Types of Damage
General Wear and Tear
Recognising normal wear helps distinguish
evidential damage from everyday deterioration.
Areas subject to heavy wear such as elbows, hems
or inside pockets may naturally unravel, fray or
thin. Modern fashion trends can complicate matters
because some garments are manufactured with
intentional distressing.
Typical Case Types
Textile damage analysis appears across a wide range
of investigations:
Violent Assaults and Homicides
Damage to clothing can help answer questions
“ the number and direction of stabbing or
about
slashing actions, whether a weapon may have been
used, or whether the pattern of damage is consistent
with defensive movements such as raising the arms.
Cuts
Cuts are among the most common and important
forms of textile damage. Their features depend on
the sharpness of the implement, the type of fabric
and the dynamics of the cutting action. A sharp blade
typically produces cleanly severed 昀椀bres aligned
in a single plane. In contrast, blunt knives may
distort or tear 昀椀bres before slicing them. Similarly,
a smooth-edged blade will tend to produce much
neater damage features than a serrated blade. It is
Sexual O昀昀ences
Where consent is disputed, damage to underwear or
clothing may be one of the few features capable of
supporting or challenging accounts. Recently torn
seams or ripped fabric can be highly signi昀椀cant.
EXPERT WITNESS JOURNAL
97
APRIL 2026
