Going back to forensics, I've used this example before, and I think it bears repeating:
From the Portuguese scientific laboratory:
To: Police Scientific Laboratory
Lisbon
5th June 2007
Subject: Sending of Pyjamas
The present inquiry investigates the disappearance of Madeleine McCann on 3rd May 2007. I am herewith delivering to the Police Scientific Laboratory a pair of girl's pyjamas.
The Pyjamas are from Marks and Spencers, size 2 to 3 years -97 cm.
The pyjamas are composed of two pieces: camisole type without buttons and half sleeves, pink with designs, letters and tracing in white with (small) floral patterns, the right pyjama bottom leg has a design (smaller size) which is identical to that of the camisole.
The pyjamas being sent are 'equal' in make, model, size, colours and designs as well as presumably the texture, to those the little girl was wearing at the time of her disappearance. The article sent serves for eventual comparisons with fibres collected by the competent officers of the Police Scientific Lab, within the scope of the current investigation.
With compliments
Signed
The Coordinator of the Criminal Investigation
Goncalo Amaral
And the bewildered response of the laboratory:
1723 to 1725 Letter 15 March 2007 from LPC to PJ Portimao asking what should be done with the pyjamas there having been no fibres collected during the Inquiry
07 Processos Vol VII Page 1723 to 1725
07_VOLUME_VI1a_Page_1723
Letter
To: The Coordinator of the Criminal Investigation
Date: 2007/03/15 (sic)
Ref: NUIPC 201/07 GALGS
Your communication: 2007/06/05
Ref no. 15971 Reg Correspondence 6429/07
Subject: Information
With reference to the abovementioned letter and in compliance with the despatch, we request you to provide us with information with regard to what should be done with the material sent, given that in this Scientific Police Laboratory there are no fibres that have been collected within the scope of the investigation mentioned above.
With compliments.
PP The Director of the SPL
Armando Santos
(Haed of Sector)
07 Processos Vol VII Page 1724
also Outros Apensos I, Vol I Page 33
07_VOLUME_VI1a_Page_1724
Amaral repeats:
Letter
To: Scientific Police Laboratory
Date: 5th June 2007
Subject: Sending of Pyjamas
The present inquiry investigates the disappearance of Madeleine McCann on 3rd May 2007 from P da L.
By means of this note I am sending a set of child's pyjamas to the Scientific Police Laboratory.
The pyjamas are of Marks $ Spencers make and size 2/3 years, 97 cm.
The pyjamas are composed of two pieces, a camisole without buttons and half length sleeves, pink in colour with designs and letters and white trousers with floral motifs (small), on the right leg there is a design (smaller size) that is the same as the design on the camisole.
The pyjamas being sent are 'equal' in make, model, size, colours and designs and presumably texture, as those the girl was wearing at the moment of her disappearance.
The article sent serves for eventual comparison with 'fibres' collected during the competent examinations carried out by staff from the SPL, within this inquiry.
Compliments.
G. Amaral
(Note: there is handwriting over the text which I can't fully make out).
07 Processos Vol II Page 1725
also Outros Apensos I, Vol I Page 34
07_VOLUME_VI1a_Page_1725
Handwritten)
Examinations Carried Out
BG - 200708360
8359
8357
7143
CR/L - 200708272
8271
8270
8269
8268
7357
7356
7116
What's to say?
The laboratory gave up.
In the Cipriano case, a fridge said to have been used to store Joana's body was identified but never forensically examined.
Had it, actually, been used to store a body, it would have been teeming with that person's DNA.
In court,
photographs of tools, said to have been used to dismember Joana's body were produced.
The tools themselves, had they actually been used for that purpose, again, would have been teeming with Joana's DNA.
Returning to the Madeleine investigation, Kate was roundly excoriated on-line for washing cuddle-cat. Cuddle-cat (conceivably) might have yielded forensic clues and certainly should have been taken in the initial Portuguese forensic sweep. But it never was. 3 months later was too late.
I think it fair to say that the Portuguese approach to forensic work in the aftermath of a crime is not as thorough as the British.