Page 20 - Law Academic Newsletter 2015

Juta Law hosts panel discussion on Ethics in forensic investigation during National Book Week
A panel discussion on Ethics in Forensic Investigation was hosted at the Irene Country Lodge to mark the publication of a new work entitled Forensic Investigation: Legislative Principles and Investigative Practice.
Edited by UNISA academics Prof Rudolph Zinn and Dr Setlhomamaru Dintwe, the multi-authored seminal work focuses on all aspects of forensic investigation and features a highly respected panel of 18 contributors drawn from practice and academia. Prof Zinn mentioned that the book is first and foremost aimed at investigators due to the poor conviction rate of crimes in South Africa because of their heavy caseloads. The work deals with the minimum tasks or ‘must-dos’ that a first-on-the-scene investigator needs to follow. Advocate Gerrie Nel, who wrote the foreword delivered the keynote address and lauded the work as an invaluable training tool and reference resource. Guest of honour Minister of Communications, Faith Muthambi, praised the work saying: “What especially excites me about this book is its focus on good governance and accountability.”
The panel discussion, focusing on the need for ethical practices in criminal and commercial forensic investigations both in the government and private sector, was expertly moderated by ENCA investigative news reporter Iman Rappetti who commented on the need for a work of this nature, written as it is in a clear and accessible style for journalists and practitioners alike. Citing the need to demystify the complex area of forensic science in pursuit of justice she recalled a comment once made during a trial she was covering that “...the dead don’t die, they point! We need to pay attention to the signposts”. Co-editor Dr Setlhomamaru Dintwe summed up forensics as follows: “An investigation is like surgery, it has to be done correctly the first time.”
Contributing authors to the title are:
Prof Rudolf Zinn, Dr Setlhomamaru Dintwe, Dr Bernadine Benson, Trevor Budhram, Antony Cooper, Dr Juanida Horne, Gideon James, Jason Jordaan, Dr Gérard Labuschagne, Hendrik Lochner, Matsidinkane Manamela, Rakgetse Mokwena, Yoginderan Naidoo, Joe Smith, Dr Peter Schmitz, Marcel van der Walt, Johan van Graan and Teresa van Niekerk.
Dr Dintwe, Minister Muthambi, Prof Zinn & Adv Nel
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