Development of a laboratory test for knicker tearing re-creation studies

D J Carr; J L Mitchell; B E Niven; E Girvan; S Carney

doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.02.038

Development of a laboratory test for knicker tearing re-creation studies

Forensic Sci Int. 2016 May:262:138-42. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.02.038. Epub 2016 Mar 2.

Authors

D J Carr¹, J L Mitchell², B E Niven³, E Girvan⁴, S Carney⁵

Affiliations

¹ Impact and Armour Group, Centre for Defence Engineering, Cranfield University at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, Shrivenham, SN6 8LA, UK. Electronic address: d.j.carr@cranfield.ac.uk.
² Impact and Armour Group, Centre for Defence Engineering, Cranfield University at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, Shrivenham, SN6 8LA, UK.
³ Centre for Applications of Statistics and Mathematics, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.
⁴ Otago Centre for Electron Microscopy, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.
⁵ Ethos Forensics, Manchester, M32 0PP, UK.

PMID: 26986974
DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.02.038

Abstract

False sexual assault and rape claims result in wasted forensic and police resources and stigma for the alleged offender. In this work a laboratory method was developed to (i) recreate the ripping of knickers and (ii) measure the force required to rip the garments. The effect of laundering was considered as a means to mimic age of garment, and the effect of speed of ripping was used as a measure of forcible removal of garments. Whilst laundering resulted in visual damage to the thongs, it did not affect the mechanical properties. Faster test speeds resulted in higher measured forces and increased levels of damage. This may allow comment to be made regarding the level of force used during an attack.

Keywords: False claims; G-string; Rape; Sexual assault; Thongs.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Clothing*
Deception
Female
Forensic Sciences / methods*
Humans
Laundering
Muscle Strength
Rape*
Tensile Strength*