ABSTRACT
Damage to clothing of the victim of a crime, or indeed the perpetrator, is often found in serious crimes of violence such as homicide and rape. Items of clothing are torn in a struggle, cut by knives in assaults, or have ruptures or holes created by gunshots. Clothing may also be damaged for use in other crimes, such as burglary or armed robbery — the creation of masks from sweaters, for example. Garments may even be damaged by an alleged victim in order to mimic an assault (Taupin, 2000). Damage to clothing can also reflect environmental insult, such as heat damage, insect attack, or decomposition due to time and weather.
