Title: To the future and back: a voyage through the links and gaps between digital, DNA and traditional documentary evidence

Authors: Jonathan M.W.W. Chu

Addresses: William W.L. Fan & Co., 1005, 10/F Far East Finance Centre, 16 Harcourt Road, Hong Kong

Abstract: With the continued reliance by Courts, parties to litigation and law enforcement agencies on modern types of evidence such as digital and DNA evidence, it would be natural to be impressed that digital and DNA evidence are distinct from traditional documentary evidence due to their scientific nature. This paper explores the salient similarities and differences between these types of evidence to better understand the underlying nature of and use for digital, DNA, and traditional documentary evidence in legal proceedings.

Keywords: digital evidence; DNA; deoxyribonucleic acid; genetics; genes; electronic records; traditional evidence; documentary evidence; law courts; litigation; law enforcement agencies; similarities; differences; legal proceedings; private law.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPL.2012.047316

International Journal of Private Law, 2012 Vol.5 No.3, pp.249 - 261

Published online: 20 Sep 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article