Shallow Graves: My life as a Forensic Scientist on Britain's Biggest Cases

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The mitochondria and their DNA lie outside the centre of the cell and, more importantly, the DNA is passed straight from mother to child. Those who shared this mitochondrial DNA would, somewhere along the line, share a female ancestor. If, as appeared increasingly likely, Adam had been brought into the country from Africa, it might help tell detectives where to look. Ray Fysh isa Charlton Athletic fan from Woolwich, a natural raconteur and also one of the finest forensic detectives the country has ever seen.Ray began work for the Met Police in the 1970s when the forensic investigation was seen as little more than a geeky sideshow, only in existence to confirm or eliminate evidence. The key breakthrough came when they turned to Professor Ken Pye, a forensic geologist from Royal Holloway, University of London. "We talked it through and came up with the fact that, as is recognised in the scientific literature, we are what we eat, particularly in areas where food does not travel great distances," says Fysh. By the mid-90s, Ray and his team had made huge progress in their field, contributing to the UK becoming a world-leading innovator in forensic techniques. Ray was named Special Adviser (SA) to the Forensic Science Service.

The role of media in shaping public perception and understanding of true crime cases cannot be understated. In recent years, media has played a significant role in how true crime cases are covered, reported, and consumed by the public.

Having a huge interest in forensics, when I saw this I knew I had to read it. I didn't expect to be quite so blown away and gripped by the stories within. This area will be the author’s hang out so keep passing by across the weekend to for some very special intimate moments. One of the best stories is that of 'Adam' a headless, limbless torso of a young boy found in the River Thames. This poor child is still unnamed, unclaimed by any family. However, due to the work undertaken by the FSS, incredible advancements with DNA profiling, the use of plants and isotopes led to many discoveries about where this young boy was from and likely what happened to him. For two-and-a-half weeks they bumped their way down rough roads from the north to the south-west of Nigeria, collecting a macabre selection of objects.

The murder of Sarah Payne, Adam the Thames Torso, the London bombings, the Night Stalker and the poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko... The solving of all these cases can be linked to one man: Ray Fysh, a Charlton Athletic fan from Woolwich, a natural raconteur and also one of the finest forensic detectives the country has ever seen. On October 21st, after seven hours of deliberation, the jury reached a verdict in the trial of Jemma Mitchell. Guilty of murder. They ended up scouring the internet and scientific literature for research papers and small databases. It gave Fysh some rough pointers, but not enough to take the investigation forward by much. The impact of media on current true crime cases is complex and multifaceted. While media coverage can raise awareness about crime and highlight important social issues, it can also sensationalise cases, influence public opinion, spread misinformation, and impact the victims, suspects, and the criminal justice system. Ray Fysh was one of the leading Forensic Scientists in the UK, and was given a unique job at the now defunct Forensic Science Services (FSS)Ray began working for the Met Police in the 1970s when a forensic investigation was seen as little more than a geeky sideshow, existing only to confirm or eliminate evidence. The murder of Sarah Payne, Adam the Thames Torso, the London bombings, the Night Stalker and the poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko... The solving of all these cases can be linked to one man: Ray Fysh.

It takes many years for the isotopes in our bones to change so this was a good test for a five year old: if only there had been a thorough isotopic map of the world. Overall I enjoyed it, but something about it just doesn't sit right with me. Here are a few examples of things I just can't let go of:The hard work involved as the result of the 7/7 and 21/7 failed bombings features, as does the Litvinenko poisoning, and M25 rapist. CrimeCon has invited key figures of the media to join a live panel discussion at the event to explore how media ensure responsible reporting and uphold journalistic integrity whilst being mindful of the potential consequences of their coverage on ongoing true crime cases.