Page 171 - CFDI Guide

Certified Forensic Death Investigator (CFDI) Program
Dean A. Beers, CLI, CCDI, CFDI-Expert and Karen S. Beers, BSW, CCDI, CFDI-SME
Associates in Forensic Investigations, LLC
Criminal Defense Investigation Training Council (CDITC) Accredited

Deiner - (or morgue deiner or forensic autopsy assistant / technician) Refers to the person that assists the
forensic pathologist with the autopsy. Often includes photography, toxicology and specimen collection

and organ removal.
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Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) - A nucleic acid that carries the genetic information in the cell.
Disclosure and/or Discovery - A category of procedural devices employed by a party to a civil or criminal
action, prior to trial, to require the adverse party to disclose information that is essential for the

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preparation of the requesting party's case and that the other party alone knows or possesses.
Disposition – The final outcome of a legal proceeding. This may be a settlement, plea negotiation or verdict

handed down by the judge (trial to the court) or jury (trial to the jury).

Equivocal - Two more plausible explanations for the same event; questioned.
Evidence - Any matter of fact that a party to a lawsuit offers to prove or disprove an issue in the case. A
system of rules and standards that is used to determine which facts may be admitted, and to what extent

a judge or jury may consider those facts, as proof of a particular issue in a lawsuit.
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Exculpatory - Justifies or excuses a defendant’s actions
Exemplars - A known example, such as a known fingerprint, writing sample, signature, or shoe impression.

This is compared to an unknown – or ‘Questioned’ sample.
Forensic - The use of science and technology to investigate and establish facts in criminal or civil courts of

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law.
Interview - In speaking with another person, a conversational tone for the purpose of obtaining information.

Interrogation - In speaking with another person, a confrontation tone for the purpose of obtaining a
confession or admission of guilt, culpability or other involvement.

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Manner of Death - A classification of death based on how the cause of death was brought into play.
Commonly referred to as the “Type” of death; there are five: Natural (i.e. disease, cardiac, etc.), Accident

(fall, automobile, industrial, etc.), Homicide (death is caused by another person), Suicide (death is caused
by the decedent) and Undetermined (facts and investigation are inconclusive). During an investigation

a “Pending” Death Certificate may be issued.
Medicolegal - The application of medicine to the law

Mitigating - Evidence that reduces the degree of negligence or participation in a crime or civil tort.

7 http://www.thefreedictionary.com/DNA
8 http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/discovery
9 http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/evidence
10 http://www.thefreedictionary.com/forensics
11 Basic Competencies in Forensic Pathology (College of American Pathologists, 2006)

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