Since 2017

Evidence of Innocence Project

Impartial Scientific Review of Forensic Evidence

The Evidence of Innocence Project is an independent volunteer scientific initiative founded in 2017 by Dr. Mohsin bin Sulaiman Al-Amri and provided in his personal capacity to serve truth and justice through the review of forensic evidence and the free dissemination of specialized scientific knowledge.

Project Founder

Dr. Mohsin bin Sulaiman Al-Amri

Profile Summary

More than 44 years of experience in forensic science, DNA profiling, and biotechnology.
Awarded a PhD in DNA fingerprinting in 1993 and an MSc in forensic laboratory science and crime scene investigation in 1986 from the University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom, and a BSc in Biology in 1980 from Cairo University, Egypt.
Expert in DNA profiling and forensic evidence at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands.
Former Director of the Forensic Laboratory, Royal Oman Police.
Former Chair of the Arab Scientific Working Group on DNA Evidence, Naif Arab University for Security Sciences, Saudi Arabia.
Worked as an expert in DNA profiling and crime scene examination at the Dubai Police Forensic Laboratory.
Served as a consultant for the establishment of the forensic DNA database for Qatar Police.
Designed and delivered numerous training programs and lectures on crime scenes, forensic evidence, and applications of DNA technologies in various fields for universities, educational institutions, and individuals.
Expert in DNA profiling technologies and their applications in criminal cases, disasters, missing persons, parentage cases, genetic genealogy, and biodiversity studies.
Professional member of the Forensic Science Society, United Kingdom.
Member of the International Society for Forensic Genetics, the International Society of Genetic Genealogy, and the Society for Wildlife Forensic Science.
Former accredited expert in DNA profiling and forensic evidence with the Ministry of Justice, Sultanate of Oman.
Certified training consultant accredited by the International Federation for Training and Development.
International trainer accredited by Oxford International Academy, United Kingdom.

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Consultations

The project provides free, volunteer scientific and technical consultations on the Review and Evaluation of Forensic Evidence, Crime Scene Procedures, and DNA Profiling, including examination of exculpatory evidence, assessment of procedural integrity and scientific interpretation of results, and preparation of an independent technical opinion based on the available documents. Services include:

Reviewing procedures for crime scene response, securing, examination, and documentation.
Evaluating methods used to detect, collect, recover, and package physical traces and evidence.
Reviewing the proper preservation and transfer of evidence and its chain of custody (Chain of Custody).
Evaluating laboratory procedures for examining and analyzing DNA evidence (DNA).
Reviewing the interpretation of DNA profiling results, their evidential value, and the limits of the conclusions drawn.
Evaluating technical and forensic reports and the consistency of their conclusions with the available findings and evidence.
Examining the consistency of physical evidence with accounts and witness statements, within the scope of the documents provided.
Preparing an independent technical opinion identifying strengths, deficiencies, and limitations, and recommending additional examinations or reviews where necessary.

Consultation requests are considered according to the relevant expertise and availability of the necessary documents. A technical opinion does not constitute legal representation and does not guarantee proof or disproof. The confidentiality of information and data is respected.

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Free Scientific Lectures

Forensic Science Between Conviction and Exoneration

A series of short scientific lectures covering crime scenes, physical forensic evidence, reconstruction of events, DNA profiling, and the role of evidence in supporting or excluding allegations.

Lectures are delivered live via Zoom, and attendance is free.
Lecture dates and access links are announced on the website and social media.
Lectures are recorded and published on YouTube, or viewing links are made available through the website.

Lecture Dates and Links

Upcoming lecture dates, access links, and recordings will be announced here.

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Library

Authorship and Publications

E-books

Year of publication: 2025

DNA Fingerprinting: Its Evidential Value and Limitations in Achieving Justice

Read the book onlineApproved link to be addedDownload the book as a PDFApproved download link to be added

Scientific Articles

Scientific articles will be published here soon.

Questions and Answers

Beginning of Forensic Science: Crime Scene Examination, Documentation, and Evidence

1How did crime detection evolve from observation to scientific examination?

Early detection relied on direct observation of traces, injuries, tools, and documents.
Photography, measurement, comparison, and laboratory analysis introduced ways to document observations and test hypotheses.
Every method has limitations: recording the appearance of a trace alone does not establish how or when it originated.

2What have DNA technologies contributed to forensic evidence?

They allow certain biological traces to be compared with suitable reference samples, supporting or excluding hypotheses about their source.
Results must be interpreted in light of the sample type, the context in which it was found, and possible mechanisms of transfer.
The presence of DNA alone does not establish when it was deposited or what activity led to its presence.

3What is a crime scene, and is it limited to one location?

It is a location or group of locations associated with an incident or with relevant traces, persons, or objects.
It may include the main room, corridors, vehicles, entry and exit routes, and places where tools were found.
The scope of examination follows available information and potential evidence and may expand as new findings emerge.

4What is the difference between a physical trace and forensic evidence?

A physical trace is a material, mark, or alteration observed and documented at a particular location.
Its evidential value is assessed through examination, comparison, and interpretation in the context of the incident.
The mere presence of a trace must not be turned into a definitive conclusion about a person or an activity.

5Why is it important to distinguish observation from inference during crime scene examination?

Observation describes what was actually seen, such as scattered glass beneath a window.
Inference proposes an explanation for its presence or for the direction of breakage and requires additional findings or tests.
Keeping the two separate prevents one hypothesis from being treated as fact before alternatives have been tested.

6What are the first responder’s priorities on arrival at a crime scene?

Saving lives and controlling immediate hazards take priority over preserving traces.
Assess risks from electricity, chemicals, weapons, and fire, and request specialist assistance when necessary.
Establish an initial protective perimeter and document changes caused by medical or firefighting intervention.

7How can contamination of a crime scene be minimized?

Control entry and exit and limit the movement of people and equipment within sensitive areas.
Change or appropriately clean gloves and tools between samples in accordance with approved procedures.
Document movements of personnel and equipment and any intervention that could affect interpretation of evidence.

8Why must changes made before the crime scene team arrives be documented?

Rescue operations may require moving objects, opening doors, or removing obstacles.
Recording the time, personnel involved, and nature of each change helps distinguish incident-related traces from response-related changes.
Pass this information to the scene examination lead both verbally and in writing.

9What is the correct sequence for photographing a crime scene?

Overview photographs first show the location, entrances, exits, and surrounding landmarks.
Midrange photographs show where the trace lies in relation to furniture, surfaces, and nearby features.
Close-up photographs record details, using a scale when appropriate, while preserving the original images.

10Why are written notes needed in addition to photographs?

They record details that may not appear in images, such as odors, lighting, sounds, and timing.
They document the condition of doors and objects, locations of traces, and procedures performed.
Record facts in clear descriptive language, distinguishing witness statements from direct observations.

11How should an evidence search method be selected for a crime scene?

Selection depends on the size and nature of the scene, obstacles, number of examiners, and expected traces.
Line, grid, zone, or spiral searches may be used depending on the location.
Document the search area, methods, and limitations; failure to find a trace does not prove its absolute absence.

12What basic precautions should be taken before collecting any crime scene sample?

Document and photograph the sample’s location, condition, and relationship to surrounding objects before moving it; assign an identifier.
Consider possible examinations before applying powders or reagents that could affect other traces.
Use clean tools and appropriate packaging, and record the collector’s identity and collection time.

13How should fingerprints be collected and preserved for examination?

Begin with visual inspection and assessment of the surface and print condition before choosing a development method.
Photograph a print suitable for comparison; collect it by an appropriate method or retain the entire item when preferable.
Protect the print-bearing area from contact and abrasion, and document the detection and recovery methods.

14Why do biological samples require special collection and packaging precautions?

Samples may deteriorate or become contaminated when shared tools or unsuitable packaging are used.
Separate samples and manage moisture and storage according to the sample type and laboratory instructions.
Collect reference and control samples when appropriate to the examination, clearly identifying each one.

15What is the difference between a control sample and a reference sample in forensic examination?

A reference sample comes from a known source and is used for comparison with the questioned trace.
A control sample helps evaluate background material, the substrate, or the collection procedure, depending on the examination.
Package and label them separately to avoid confusion with the evidence sample.

16What should be checked before completing a crime scene examination?

Review areas examined and those that could not be examined, and confirm that photographs and notes are complete.
Check that evidence identifiers match across photographs, diagrams, records, and packages.
Document scene handover, its time, the receiving party, and any remaining hazards or limitations.

17What are the essential elements of a crime scene examination report?

Incident details, location, dates and times, participants, and relevant conditions.
Descriptions of observations, procedures, and evidence documented or collected, with references to images, diagrams, and records.
A clear account of limitations and findings without confusing observations with interpretive opinions.

18What is the chain of custody, and why is it important?

It is a continuous record of the possession and transfer of an evidence item between people and organizations.
It records the identities of the receiving and transferring parties, times, purpose, and package or seal condition.
It helps establish traceability of the evidence but does not, by itself, prove that an examination result was correctly interpreted.

19How does quality management reduce errors in crime scene examination?

It establishes clear procedures for equipment, packaging, training, documentation, and assignment of responsibilities.
It uses checklists and independent review without replacing scientific judgment.
It requires transparent documentation of errors, correction of records, and analysis of underlying causes.

20How does impartial scientific crime scene examination support justice?

It preserves evidence and its context so that information can be reviewed even after the scene has changed.
Results may support hypotheses, exclude them, or show that the evidence is insufficient to reach a conclusion.
It bases evidential weight on evidence, examinations, and their limitations rather than prior assumptions.

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Contact Us

We welcome consultation requests, scientific questions, and inquiries about lectures and publications through the contact form or the contact methods provided on the website. Please do not send sensitive case documents until a secure method of exchange has been agreed upon.

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