Estimation of stature from footprint and foot outline dimensions in Gujjars of North India

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2007.05.014Get rights and content

Abstract

Estimation of individual's stature is an important parameter in forensic examinations. Examination of footprints provides important evidence in a crime scene investigation and helps in estimation of stature of a criminal. Analysis of bare footprints is often carried out in developing countries like India where the footprints are frequently recovered at the scene of crime. The present study attempts to reconstruct stature in a sample of 2080 bilateral footprints and foot outlines collected from 1040 adult male Gujjars of North India ranging in age from 18 to 30 years. Bilateral footprints and foot outlines of each individual were measured for ten and eight measurements, respectively. The results indicate that T-2 length (length of the footprint from heel to 2nd toe) and T-5 length in footprint and T-1 length, T-4 length and breadth at ball in foot outline show statistically significant bilateral asymmetry. Significant and positive correlation coefficients exist between stature and various measurements of footprint and foot outline (P < 0.001 and 0.01) except toe 1–5 angle of declination which shows insignificant correlation coefficient. The highest correlation coefficients were shown by the toe length measurements (0.82–0.87) indicating a close relationship between the stature and these measurements. Regression analysis presents smaller mean errors (2.12–3.92 cm) in estimation of stature than those of division factor method (3.29–4.66 cm), thus, gives better reliability of estimate than the latter. The regression equations were also checked for their accuracy by comparing the actual stature with estimated stature.

Introduction

Footprints are of immense value in establishing personal identity of the criminals in forensic examinations. They are found as a kind evidence at the crime site and link between the crime and the perpetrator. Although, footprints can be collected from almost all types of crime scenes but the possibility of their recovery at the scenes of sexual offences and homicides is relatively more. Examination of barefoot impressions is important especially in developing countries like India where majority of the rural population like to walk barefooted because of socio-economic and climatic reasons [1], [2]. The partial or complete footprints can be found on rain covered surfaces, newly waxed floors, freshly cemented surfaces, moistened surfaces, in dust, mud, sand, oil, paint and can be left in blood at the murder scenes.

Analysis of footprints helps in estimation of an individual's stature because of existence of strong positive correlation between one's stature and foot size; the footprints are also considered as indicators of skeletal and body structure of a person. Gayer [3] was probably the first person to conduct a detailed study of footprints while working in the United Province of India and published his results in the form of a book. In the past, various other studies have been conducted on individualization [1], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9], [10] and estimation of stature from foot and footprints [11], [12], [13], [14], [15], [16], [17], [18], [19], [20], [21]. All these studies suggest different ways of utilization of footprints in forensic examinations. Earlier studies by Robbins [11], [13], Barker and Scheuer [18], Topinard [22], [23], Martin [24], Martin and Saller [25], Pales [26], Jasuja [27], provide a number of foot length/stature percentages for various populations ranging from 14.9 to 18.1. Some studies [13], [27], [28] have derived multiplication factors calculated by dividing stature by a foot/footprint measurement. However, these methods result in very high estimation error. Later on, various authors made use of regression equations [19], [20], [27], [28], [29], [30] in estimating stature from foot/footprint dimensions.

As most of these studies have been conducted on mixed populations throughout the world, no such study is available on an endogamous population. So, the present study attempts the estimation of stature from various dimensions of footprints and foot outlines in an endogamous group (in other words, genetically isolated population) of North India. The study includes every part of footprint and foot outline (rather than taking length and breadth only as in most of the studies), so that the study will be applicable not only to complete footprints but also to partial footprints in estimation of stature. The study further compares the reliability of stature estimation by division factor method and regression analysis.

Section snippets

Sample

The sample of the present study is based on 1040 adult male Gujjars inhabiting the Siwalik hills and adjoining plains in the Sub-Himalayan region near Chandigarh city in North India. The age of the sample ranges from 18 to 30 years with mean age 24.47 years. The Gujjars are an endogamous group strictly marrying within their own caste. As a part of Indian caste system, the Gujjars form a major caste group of North India. This population is sedentary and agriculturist having animal husbandry as a

Results

Table 1, Table 2 present the means, standard deviations, minimum and maximum values of left and right footprints and foot outlines in all the subjects. One can observe range of variation in the measurements of variables by examining the low and high figures of the minimum and maximum columns of the tables. Descriptive information emerges when the numerical data of the footprint and foot outline tables are examined together; one can sort out variables that exhibit greater or lesser changes in

Discussion

The results indicate that one can successfully estimate stature from different parts of the footprint and foot outline with a prescribed mean error using division factor method and regression analysis. However, it must always be kept in mind that precise prediction of stature from an individual's footprint or foot outline may be an unachievable and unnecessary goal, there would always be an estimation error of a few centimeters.

In the present study, the reason for taking the adult sample

Conclusion

From the present investigation, it has been concluded that footprints and foot outlines are of utmost importance in estimating the stature in forensic examinations. Footprint and foot outline lengths are strongly correlated with stature and thus give better prediction of stature than the other measurements. It is further concluded that the reliability and prediction of stature by the regression method is better than that of the division factor method. In view of the significant bilateral

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank my subjects for their excellent cooperation and participation in the study. My special thanks are due to Professor M.Y. Iscan for supplying related material and encouraging me to go ahead with my research project. I am also grateful to Dr. O.P. Jasuja, Professor, Department of Forensic Science, Punjabi University, Patiala, India and Dr T. Abraham Philip, Professor of Forensic Medicine, St. Johns Medical College, Bangalore, India, for providing me reprints of their valuable

References (45)

  • G.E. Laskowski et al.

    Barefoot impressions—a preliminary study of identification characteristics and population frequency of their morphological features

    J. Forensic Sci.

    (1988)
  • R.B. Kennedy et al.

    Statistical analysis of barefoot impressions

    J. Forensic Sci.

    (2003)
  • R.B. Kennedy et al.

    A large-scale statistical analysis of barefoot impressions

    J. Forensic Sci.

    (2005)
  • V.L. Naples et al.

    Making tracks: the forensic analysis of footprints and footwear impressions

    Anat. Rec. B: New Anat.

    (2004)
  • L.M. Robbins, A method for analyzing footprints/shoeprints, in: Proceedings of the 10th Triennial Meeting of the...
  • L.M. Robbins

    Footprints—Collection, Analysis and Interpretation

    (1985)
  • L.M. Robbins

    Estimating height and weight from size of footprints

    J. Forensic Sci.

    (1986)
  • E. Giles et al.

    Height estimation from foot and shoeprint length

    J. Forensic Sci.

    (1991)
  • C.C. Gorden et al.

    Linear models for the prediction of stature from foot and boot dimensions

    J. Forensic Sci.

    (1992)
  • S.L. Barker et al.

    Predictive value of human footprints in a forensic context

    Med. Sci. Law

    (1998)
  • K. Krishan, Limb bilateral asymmetry and footprints of male adult Gujjar population in parts of Punjab and Haryana, PhD...
  • K. Krishan et al.

    Estimation of stature from foot-prints in adult male Gujjars

  • Cited by (158)

    View all citing articles on Scopus
    View full text