Mir Raza case: Forensic experts flag serious errors from crime scene to autopsy

Forensic experts have expressed concern over the failure to collect important samples during both the first and second post-mortem examinations and serious violations of standard operating procedures at the crime scene., major SOP violations were committed at the crime scene.

When Mir Raza’s body was removed, the area was not properly cordoned off and the person handling the body was not wearing gloves. The experts said an area roughly twice the size of the spot where the body was found should have been cordoned off., securing a larger area increases the chances of recovering important evidence.

Forensic experts said the primary purpose of a crime scene unit is not merely to collect evidence but to preserve, document and secure the entire scene in a manner that makes the evidence usable in court.

They said the crime scene unit should have first secured the area, avoided immediately moving the body, conducted complete photography and video recording, preserved the condition of gunshot wounds and clothing, searched for shell casings and bullets, documented bullet holes and trajectory-related evidence, preserved blood evidence and collected evidence from the hands and body.

The position and condition of anything moved at the scene should also have been documented beforehand. Senior forensic experts said clear gunshot residue (GSR) evidence was found on Mir Raza’s right hand. They also pointed to bruising on his chest and clear abrasions on his right palm, saying these findings were not properly examined.

Possible marks from a rope or another object were also observed on the right hand but were not adequately assessed. The experts said both sides of the hand should have been examined to establish the continuity and pattern of any marks before reaching a final and strong conclusion.

Earlier forensic reporting also confirmed the presence of GSR on the skin of both hands as well as around the chest and back wounds., traces of bupivacaine, a local anaesthetic, were detected in Mir Raza’s blood. The reported forensic findings also showed that no sedative, psychotropic, narcotic or poisonous substance was detected in several other samples examined.

The experts further said that no X-ray was conducted to determine the bullet’s trajectory, despite its potential importance. They explained that if a bullet damages the skull, ribs, spine, arm or leg bones, the resulting damage can help reconstruct its trajectory.

X-rays or CT scans can be particularly useful when examining a decomposed body. Forensic experts also expressed concern over the failure to collect fingernail samples during both the first and second post-mortem examinations.

They said fingernail samples can be important in suspected murder cases where there is a possibility of resistance, defensive injuries or physical contact between the victim and an attacker.

Trace material beneath the nails may potentially contain another person's DNA, blood, hair, clothing fibres or other particles., if the circumstances indicated a possibility of resistance or physical confrontation, collecting such samples during the first post-mortem would have been more appropriate because potential trace evidence is generally better preserved at that stage.

They said the possibility of recovering DNA or trace material from fingernails after exhumation is not completely eliminated, but decomposition, environmental exposure, handling and contamination can affect the evidentiary value of such material. The experts stressed that fingernail samples are primarily collected for DNA and trace evidence and should not be considered a substitute for GSR testing.

They said failure to collect such samples during both post-mortems cannot by itself be treated as proof of a particular conclusion or deliberate wrongdoing. However, if the circumstances indicated a reasonable possibility of resistance or physical assault, a potential opportunity to recover trace evidence may have been lost.

Earlier reports had also identified significant shortcomings in the original post-mortem, including the absence of an X-ray and failure to collect hand samples for GSR analysis. Forensic experts said police crime scene units should include officers with science degrees and specialised training, as trained personnel are better equipped to cordon off areas and handle bodies.

They further said doctors and forensic experts should be present at crime scenes, while police station personnel and rescue volunteers who reach a scene after an incident should also receive specialised training on preserving evidence.

The final medical examination report in the case found that the bullet entered Mir Raza’s upper left back, passed through his body and exited from the front left side of his chest, causing fatal damage to his heart.

The report also found GSR around the entry wound and on the shirt and said the findings were not consistent with the suicide theory.