The interpretation of forensic evidence using a likelihood ratio

Abstract

SUMMARY Forensic scientists often have to interpret refractive index measurements made on fragments of window glass, some taken from the scene of a crime and some found on a suspect. Adopting a model used recently by Lindley (1977) and Seheult (1978) this contribution proposes a non-Bayesian solution based on a likelihood ratio. The problem of deciding whether the fragments have come from a common source is distinguished from the problem of deciding the guilt or innocence of the suspect.