Citation

Wheeler LK, Maylia E, Jones MD, Holt CA, Evans SL, Nokes LD. Med. Sci. Law 2000; 40(3): 263-269.

Affiliation

Medical Engineering Research Unit, Cardiff School of Engineering, University of Wales, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, British Academy of Forensic Sciences, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

10976191

Abstract

An important role of an eyewitness to an assault is to effectively quantify the degree of force used; yet evidence of this form is often subjective and relies on personal opinion. Twelve subjects were asked to strike a load cell with a wooden bat, using varying degrees of force. The strikes were recorded by video camera and 50 people observed the video and were asked to grade the strikes. On average 44% accurately assessed the severity of the strikes, whilst 26% over-estimated. Results suggest that the evidence of eyewitnesses should be treated with caution.

Language: en