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During the course of a drug
cultivation investigation, exhibits were seized from two fields of
cannabis marihuana that were physically separated by a distance of
several miles. Examination of the exhibits from the first
field produced fingerprints on a fertilizer container that were
identified positively to the arrested suspect. Examination of
the exhibits from the second field failed to find fingerprints or
any other direct link to him.
However, it was found that at each site a homemade wooden stirring
paddle had been located and exhibited. The fertilizer for each
crop site had been mixed and stirred in a vat of water with a
paddle. Visual inspection of the two paddles revealed that
they were very similar in materials and workmanship, and required
further analysis and comparison.
Each of the paddles consisted of a hardwood handle that could have
originally been a rake or mop handle, with a piece of softwood board
attached to one end of each (as shown above). The handles were
identical in length, diameter, and all other aspects, including a
varnish like finish and a red painted area of similar size at the
paddle end. Both handles had been tapered at the blade end in
an identical fashion to provide a flat surface on which to fasten
the flat blade. Each blade was fixed to the handle with
three wood screws of identical type and size, each being a Robertson's type
screw. The positioning of the three
screws in each handle to fasten each blade was identical, and there were
similar tool marks present on each handle’s wooden surface at both of the top
screws as shown in the photo above.
Examination of each blade revealed numerous similarities.
First, both blades were identical in size and shape. The board
from which each was cut was a piece of softwood siding material with
a tapered finish allowing for one edge to be narrower than the
other. The length and width of each blade were identical.
Each blade had similar tapered edges where a plane or sharp edged
tool had been used to bevel the wooden edge at all eight edge
surfaces of each blade, and the four corners of both blades were
rounded. |
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Added to this was the fact that when the paddle blades were placed
side by side, several features of the wood grain appeared in both
pieces. Because of knot and associated grain patterns in the
wood, unique grain patterns continued across the cut from one blade
to the other. The lower photo
shows the knot in the right blade, and the associated grain pattern that
continues into the left blade. The
grain lines up perfectly and there can be no doubt that the two pieces of wood
were originally one continuous piece, with these areas side by side in the
original board.
The photo also shows some of the vertical saw blade lines across the
face of each board. These are not necessarily of much value, as
this is common to every board of this type.
Their value lays in their angle from vertical, in this case the same for
each paddle blade. If the angle was
different, it would be a definite non-match.
The only difference between the two exhibits was the colour of the
paddle blade. One blade surface appeared to be darker in tone
than the other blade’s corresponding side. This was likely due
to exposure to the elements while at the sites after the paddles had
been made.
So, through workmanship, construction techniques, and materials, it
was evident that the same person, whoever that may have been,
produced the paddles. This fact provided a solid common link
between the two fields of illegal drugs. The fingerprints then
directly connected the suspect to one of the sites where the paddle
was an integral part of the cultivation process.
The suspect was charged and entered a plea of guilty to both
matters. |
