To be clear I am not saying the alerts are correct or incorrect. Only that they can be used in a UK court uncorroborated by forensic evidence. To show that such alerts are evidence I would only need one case but I have 3 in mind. The murders of Kate Prout, Susan Pilley and most recently Margaret Fleming. All had convictions without forensic confirmation or even a body.
SnipAlmost 300 fragments of bone were discovered in the garden of the house where missing Margaret Fleming used to live, a murder trial has heard.
Analysis by Dr Helen Langstaff concluded that none of the fragments were recognisably human in origin.
Some were recognisable as animal, including deer, while most of the 298 fragments were too small to identify as anything other than bone.
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Dr Langstaff, a forensic anthropologist, told the trial that she examined fragments of bone taken from a blackened area of earth in the garden of the property.
They included part of a hind foot of a deer, which showed signs that it had been exposed to heat.
Prosecutor Iain McSporran QC asked Dr Langstaff: "Could they be human," and she replied: "They could be and could not be."
She added that 298 bone fragments were found - some were fish in origin and some were animal in origin.
"Most were too small and fragmented to identify as anything other than bone," she said. "No bone fragments were found that were recognisably human in origin."
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The jury heard that under the topsoil, a five-metre by four-metre area of blackened soil was found.
Under the blackened soil was a pile of rubble.
'No DNA obtained'
Ms Jones' QC Ian Duguid asked the anthropologist: "The rubble could have been created to burn things," and she replied: "It is not for me to say."
Dr Langstaff agreed with Mr Duguid that the bones could have been there for more than 20 years.
Forensic scientist Fiona McMahon said that she analysed the bone fragments but was unable to obtain any DNA from them.
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The jury heard that under the topsoil, a five-metre by four-metre area of blackened soil was found.
Under the blackened soil was a pile of rubble.
Ms Jones' QC Ian Duguid asked the anthropologist: "The rubble could have been created to burn things," and she replied: "It is not for me to say."
Dr Langstaff agreed with Mr Duguid that the bones could have been there for more than 20 years.
Forensic scientist Fiona McMahon said that she analysed the bone fragments but was unable to obtain any DNA from them.
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A former firefighter later told the court he smelled burning human flesh coming from a bonfire at the home of Mr Cairney and Ms Jones in 2008
Paul Neeson, 77, from Gourock, said the blaze lasted for days.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-48513981A police dog found two "decomposing scents" in the garden of two carers accused of murdering a woman they were looking after.PC Ryan Galloway was part of a dog unit searching the home of Edward Cairney and Avril Jones.
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PC Galloway, 42, said his black labrador Ollie found two possible decomposing scents in the garden close to the River Clyde.
This was in two cup-sized holes dug 18ins (46cm) apart and 24ins (61cm) deep.
PC Galloway said: "The dog's reaction was quite clear as his behaviour changed and he became more focused.
"He tilted his head back and started to bark.
"He is only trained to identify pig and human flesh."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-48275280
