ABSTRACT
The conclusion which a forensic scientist expresses in his report will be directed to his client. It may be favourable to the client’s interests or it may not; it may be too inconclusive to be of any use either way. In many cases the final outcome is a hearing in a court of law. Often, this is avoided by a settlement beforehand or a plea of guilty or a decision not to prosecute in a criminal enquiry, but most reports and statements of a document examiner are liable to be the basis of an eventual testimony from the witness box.
