From Insect to Evidence – Forensic Entomology

In the 2004 case of Leigh Matthews, the discovery of a small black spider on her body served as silent evidence, contradicting Donovan Moodley’s claim that he had shot her at the location where
her body was found. Specialist scientist Ansie Dippenaar-Schoeman identified it as a funnel-web spider, common in the Highveld grasslands. The small black spider had spun a web on Leigh’s upper
thighs. The scientist concluded that Leigh’s body had likely destroyed the spider’s original web, forcing it to seek safety and spin a new, fragile web on the body – a white webbing only hours old at the time of discovery. No fly eggs were discovered on Leigh’s body which meant that there were no blood, open wounds or bodily openings that attracted flies to lay eggs.

DNA – Our Unique Blueprint

DNA and fingerprints are unique to each individual, much like a signature that cannot be faked. DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is often described as the “blue print of life,” because it contains all the information that an organism requires to function and for
reproduction. Each molecule contains a
genetic code that is specific to one person, except in the case of identical twins.

THE TRACKS THAT ARE LEFT BEHIND

Fingerprints are a highly reliable method of identifying people. They are used in the
process of obtaining identity documents and
passports; providing biometric security
(such as access control to secure areas or systems); identifying unknown deceased persons; and playing a crucial role in criminal investigations by confirming or disproving a person’s identity.

Newsletter Nov/Dec 2024

Read the latest news from the Wesco team as we close the year of 2024. It’s been a wonderful year.
* Read a word from our CEO and founder, Wessie van der Westhuizen.
* We Welcome new members to the team so be sure to see who they are!
* Take a sneak peek into 2025 with all the training we offer!

Unsolved Mysteries: South Africa

Cold cases can be revived with advanced forensic techniques and expert investigation. If these cases employed Wesco Forensics, chances would have been bigger in finding these culprits.

The Silent Witness: Unlocking Hidden Clues in Forensic Science

In the world of forensic science, even the smallest trace of evidence can speak volumes. Silent Witness explores how cutting-edge forensic techniques unlock hidden clues that often go unnoticed, providing a voice for the voiceless in high-profile criminal investigations.

Wesco Servamus September 2024

When Moegamat Yusuf Isaacs from Ottery in Cape Town kidnapped and murdered his neighbour’s granddaughter, eight-year-old Sasha-Leigh Crook, who was visiting her grandparents for the holidays in July 2003, he did not realise that tyre tracks would link him to her murder.

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