Landmark Case Of People V Slone (1978)

People v. Slone (1978) In the landmark case of People v. Slone (1978), the defendant, Mark Steven Slone, stood accused of murder under Penal Code section 187 for the death of 13-year-old Barbara Collins. Penal Code section 187 states that “[m]urder is the unlawful killing[s] of a human being” or a fetus, with malice aforethought (Caselaw, 2024). The trial commenced with Slone entering a plea of not guilty, which he later withdrew his plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. Collin's body was discovered on December 20, 1975, in a Carson parking lot, clothed only in jeans and tennis shoes, with a light green blanket covering her from the waist upwards (Justia, 2024). This can be referenced as the Locard Exchange Principle. The Locard Exchange Principle states that a

Edmond Locard, from 1877 to 1966. Deputy Coroner Bucklin then determined the cause of death. The cause of death was signs of manual strangulation and post-mortem mutilation along with evidence of excoriation while the victim was still alive. Fortunately, the California Court of Appeals upheld the admissibility of bite mark photographs when utilized for comparison by a forensic odontologist, as Scott (1969) referenced. Forensic odontology is dedicated to identifying and analyzing human teeth in legal matters (according to the American Dental Association in 2024) which allows people to identify the case. This connects forensic odontology to the case, highlighting the significance of the true and accurate representation of forensic photographs. In addition to other injuries, a forensic odontologist analyzed the pattern of injuries found on the victim’s thigh and determined that they were bite marks. This ultimately forms a connection between forensic odontology and forensic imaging. Forensic imaging also played a crucial role in the case People v. Slone by providing essential evidence that contributed to establishing the defendant's