Top American university scientist offers help to find deer killers (From Bournemouth Echo)

Top American university scientist offers help to find deer killers

9:40am Saturday 13th June 2009 in

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A SCIENTIST at a top American university has joined the hunt for the killers of a baby deer stamped to death in Upton Country Park.

As reported in today’s Daily Echo (Saturday June 13) scientists at the University of California have offered to test the fawn’s carcass for traces of DNA that might lead police to its killer.

Now, Beth Whitton, the university’s director of veterinary forensics, has told why she offered her services to Dorset Police’s wildlife officer, PC John Snellin.

“It really touched me, because you think of a new born fawn it is so innocent and vulnerable,” Ms Whitton told the BBC.

“If they could locate items of clothing, shoes, trousers and so forth that were worn by suspects at the time, we could test those items for deer blood and match them with that specific individual deer.

“Numerous studies have shown the type of people who brutalise innocent animals will go on to have violent criminal activity histories.

“It is important to get to these people and either help them or bring them into the criminal justice system,” she added.