By Hyacinth Estrada
In the relentless pursuit of justice, the Trace Investigation Unit of the National Police’s Criminal Department in Turkey is resolving cold cases that were previously believed to be unsolvable.
Equipped with cutting-edge technology and scientific techniques, the team examines tangible evidence, such as tool traces, shoe prints, broken vehicle bits, and abandoned weapons, frequently assembling crimes like a challenging jigsaw puzzle.
“Our focus is on examining physical evidence and findings using technology to contribute to the pursuit of justice,” Simla Yilmaz, deputy chief of the Trace Investigation Unit, told Turkish state news agency Anadolu in an interview.
Stabbing case solved
One striking example of the unit’s thorough investigation involves a homicide where a woman was stabbed in the head.
The team matched a tiny, glossy piece found in the victim’s head to a broken knife found at the crime scene.
“By connecting the broken knife tip to the metal fragment found in the skull, we not only identified the weapon used but also confirmed that the suspect, the victim’s brother, committed the crime,” Yilmaz told Anadolu.
In addition to violent crimes, the team plays a key role in combating hit-and-run and car fraud.
They assist in identifying modified automobiles and connecting them to criminal activity by examining chassis and engine numbers or remnants found at accident scenes.
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Car owners warned
On the topic of car theft, Yilmaz warns car buyers to carefully check vehicle numbers to avoid unknowingly purchasing altered or stolen vehicles.
“It is essential to have a professional inspection to ensure that no tampering has occurred,” the deputy chief said.
Through the use of ballistic data, DNA traces, and fingerprints on weapons, Turkey’s evidence hunters are demonstrating that even the smallest hint can change the course of a case that has been forgotten and guarantee that justice is done.
“We follow up in cases with the belief that ‘every criminal leaves a trace’,” explained Yilmaz.
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