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Lip Prints: An Obscure Evidence of a Crime Scene
Hemant Kumar
Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Science, Dyal Singh College, Karnal, Haryana
Abstract:
Like fingerprints lip-prints of an individual are also unique, permanent, inimitable, and
classifiable, which can be used for the identification and individualization of a person. At the
scene of the crime to establish the link of a criminal to the crime, a sufficient number of
evidence could be found. But in the routine practice of crime scene investigation establishing
the identity, only some common evidence is collected by investigating agencies like
fingerprints and blood stains. But the other prints like lip prints and ear prints which can also
be helpful to identify the real culprit of crime are usually left on the scene of the crime.
Although in literature there are different methods of developing and recording lip prints
available. But in practice investigating agencies are not much focused on these types of
prints.
Keywords: Lip print, Fingerprint, Crime scene, investigation,
Introduction:
Identification and individualization are the first prime motive of any forensic investigation. A
crime scene is a place, that may provide potential evidence to an investigator. The
fundamental principle of forensics is that every contact leaves a trace. This may be the
contact of a person with a person, contact of a person with a vehicle or location, or of a
vehicle with a location, etc. Forensic investigators identify those traces and analyzed them to
explain what has happened. Evidence at crime scenes may include:
Biological samples such as DNA from blood, semen, saliva, and breath, hair,
fingerprints, lip prints ear prints and body part prints, urine, and teeth.
Fibres such as pieces of material torn from clothing, or pieces of weapons broken
during an attack.
Photographs, videos, drawings, and plans.
Documentary evidence such as receipts, travel tickets, or bank statements.[1]
The International journal of analytical and experimental modal analysis
Volume XIV, Issue VII, July/2022
ISSN NO: 0886-936732
Page No : 1353
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Fingerprint patterns are unique, permanent, inimitable, and classifiable due to these
characteristics’ fingerprints are the first choice of the investigator to establish the identity of a
culprit. But with advancement and awareness in our society criminals are also become aware
of the importance of fingerprints at the scene of the crime. So criminals start using gloves or
just wipe out the evidence after committing the crime. In these situations, if lip prints are
available as evidence on a crime scene, then is sole can establish the link of a criminal to the
crime.
Lip prints are the normal lines and furrows in the form of wrinkles and grooves present in the
zone of transition of the human lip between the inner labial mucosa and outer skin.[2]
They can be found in cases of murder rape sexual assaults and burglaries.
Investigator should look for lip prints on cutlery and crockery items.
They could be found in photographs and letters.
Lip prints may also appear side by side with tooth marks on food items.
They may be found on plastic bags and cigarette ends.
Lip Traces may be found on the glass door at the scene of the crime.
Historical Background:
The biological phenomenon of systems of furrows on the red part of human lips was
first noted by anthropologists; R. Fischer was the first to describe it in 1902.
In 1932, one of the France′s greatest criminologist Edmond Locard recommended the
use of lip print for the identification of a person.
The idea of using lip print for identification was first suggested by Le Moyne Snyder
in the year 1950. He introduced a case in which lip prints helped the crime scientist in
an unusual way.
Dr. Martins Santos 1960 proposed that these lip characteristics could be used in
personal identification and devised a simple system for classifying lip prints.
In 1967, Suzuki made a detailed investigation of the measurement of lips, the use and
the color of rouge, and the method of its extraction to obtain useful data for forensic
application.
Later in 1971 Suzuki and Tsuchihashi, conducted a study and devised their own
classification.
The International journal of analytical and experimental modal analysis
Volume XIV, Issue VII, July/2022
ISSN NO: 0886-936733
Page No : 1354
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Mc Donell in 1972 conducted a study on lip prints between two identical twins and
reported that two identical twins seemed to be indistinguishable by every other means
but they had different lip prints.
Cottone in 1981, reported in his book Outline of Forensic Dentistry, that cheiloscopy
is one of the special techniques used for personal identification.
In 1990, Kasprzak conducted research for the period of 5 years on 1500 persons to
elaborate on the practical use of lip prints.
It was during the period 2000-2012 that the study was carried out by several
researchers from other countries and also in India. Different aspects of lip prints like
stability, morphological patterns, and sex determination among different groups of the
population. So all this research suggests that Cheiloscopy can be used as an adjuvant
technique in identification.[3]
Classification:
On the lips, Klein’s zone is the mucosal area which is covered with wrinkles and grooves that
form the characteristic lip pattern and lip prints. In 1967, Clauco Martin Santos, Professor of
forensic dentistry at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, first classified lip
grooves into four groups as shown in Table 1 [4, 2, 6, 14, 15, 21]. In 1970, Suzuki and
Tsuchihashi proposed another classification of lip prints as shown in Table 2 and Figure 1
shows the five patterns of this classification [2, 9, 13]. French scientist Renaud [6] studied
4000 lip prints and classified them as shown in Table 3. In 1979, Afchar-Bayat lip prints
classification was based on groove organization as shown in Table 4 [2]. Kasprzak [1]
classified lip patterns into 23 types of individual features as shown in Table 5.
Lip anatomy and the thickness and position of lips are also analyzed in cheiloscopy, and
according to the thickness, lips are classified into four as shown in Table 6 [18].
Table 1. Clauco Martin Santos Lip print Classification.
Simple types (formed by a single element) Composite types
Straight line Bifurcated
Curved line Trifurcated
Angled line Irregular
Sine shaped line
The International journal of analytical and experimental modal analysis
Volume XIV, Issue VII, July/2022
ISSN NO: 0886-936734
Page No : 1355