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Forensic PSA Test: BLUESTAR® Identi-PSA® – The Essential Tool for Crime Scene

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Forensic PSA Test: "BLUESTAR® Identi-PSA®" An Essential Tool in Forensic Medicine for Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Detection

In the world of forensic medicine, speed and accuracy are crucial. That’s where the Forensic PSA Test, “BLUESTAR® Identi-PSA®,” stands out. It is a rapid test for the detection of prostate-specific antigen from traditional biological samples, as well as from semen samples collected using a swab from either clothing or the body of a suspected victim of sexual assault.

 

Challenges in Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Detection in Forensic Medicine

In the context of forensic medicine, where rapid and accurate detection of prostate-specific antigen is essential, the Forensic PSA Test, “BLUESTAR® Identi-PSA®,” addresses a significant need. It is a rapid qualitative test for PSA detection from traditional biological samples and semen samples collected from clothing or victims’ bodies. It is now used as the preferred marker for detecting sexual assaults, even when committed by men who have undergone vasectomy.

Features and Characteristics of the "BLUESTAR® Identi-PSA®" Forensic PSA Test for Precise PSA Detection

The Forensic PSA Test, “BLUESTAR® Identi-PSA®,” is a rapid immunochromatographic test that detects PSA at levels equal to or above 4 ng/ml. It provides results in less than 10 minutes and is easier to use compared to traditional ELISA methods. The test employs a unique combination to selectively identify PSA antigen in samples with a high degree of sensitivity.

Advantages and Benefits

The use of the Forensic PSA Test, “BLUESTAR® Identi-PSA®,” offers numerous advantages. Its high sensitivity and speed make it a valuable tool for PSA detection in demanding conditions. Additionally, its simplicity compared to traditional ELISA methods makes it more practical and cost-effective.

Comparisons and Differentiation

In comparison to competitors on the market, the Forensic PSA Test, “BLUESTAR® Identi-PSA®,” stands out for its user-friendliness and rapidity. Some tests, although offering high sensitivity, prove less convenient to use. It is important to note that at extremely high levels of sensitivity, DNA extraction becomes impossible. Therefore, the use of a more sensitive test is unnecessary. “BLUESTAR® Identi-PSA®,” with its optimal balance of sensitivity and practicality, appears as an ideal solution.

View the Identi-PSA® product page.

Conclusion

“BLUESTAR® Identi-PSA®” is a valuable ally in forensic investigations. By combining high sensitivity, exemplary reliability, and rapid action, it presents itself as a robust solution for detecting prostate-specific antigen. Its use ensures notable efficiency in identifying this essential biological marker.

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Chemical indicates the presence of human blood in the trailer

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After detectives photographed the inside and took some items into evidence, they cleared the floor in order to apply a chemical known as Bluestar, which lights up blue when it comes into contact with human blood, Liddell said.

What did investigators find under Ruben Flores’ deck? Expert testifies in Kristin Smart trial

The Tribune: September 07, 2022

Traces of human blood were possibly found inside a trailer at Ruben Flores’ home, a San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office forensic specialist testified Wednesday during the Kristin Smart murder trial.

Shelby Liddell, who spoke on the stand in Monterey County Superior Court, has been a forensic specialist for the Sheriff’s Office for about four years. She helped excavate parts of Flores’ Arroyo Grande property, in particular an area underneath his deck — where investigators believe Smart’s body was once buried after his son, Paul Flores, allegedly killed her in 1996. On Wednesday, San Luis Obispo County Deputy District Attorney Chris Peuvrelle walked Liddell through two 2021 excavations she did at Ruben Flores’ home. During the excavations, Liddell said, she helped dig at various areas and helped identify a stain discovered in the dirt beneath Flores’ deck.

Samples of the stain — which archaeologist Christine Arrington previously testified was likely from human remains — was collected as evidence and subsequently subjected to test for human blood and DNA, Liddell testified. She said she focused on carefully collecting soil from the darkest parts of the stain for testing. She said she also collected control samples of soil from various parts of the property, including under the deck, to ensure the samples from the stain could be tested accurately.

EXPERT: CHEMICAL INDICATES PRESENCE OF HUMAN BLOOD IN TRAILER

A cargo trailer was taken from Ruben Flores’ home to the crime lab annex for further testing, Liddell said on the stand Wednesday. The trailer belonged to Mike McConville, boyfriend of Ruben Flores’ ex-wife, Susan Flores. After detectives photographed the inside and took some items into evidence, they cleared the floor in order to apply a chemical known as Bluestar, which lights up blue when it comes into contact with human blood, Liddell said. The chemical may also react to some paints or varnishes, certain animal blood and cleaning chemicals.

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“However the reaction is different” in those cases, she testified.

For example, Liddell said, when the chemical comes into contact with a cleaning chemical such as bleach, it more closely resembles a bright flash and is more white than blue. When it comes into contact with human blood, however, it is more of a slow blue glow — “like that photo,” she said, pointing to a photo of the blue glow emitted on the cargo trailer. The reaction site was on the floor of the inside of the side door of the trailer, the photo showed. While the Bluestar reaction is not direct evidence itself, “it is used as a presumptive to narrow down the search for collection for further testing,” Liddell said.

WITNESS CHANGED PREVIOUS TESTIMONY FOR ‘CLARIFICATION’

On cross-examination, Paul Flores’ defense attorney, Robert Sanger, noted that Liddell’s testimony had changed from what she said during the preliminary hearing — specifically about whether the stain underneath the deck was disturbed.

On cross-examination, Paul Flores’ defense attorney, Robert Sanger, noted that Liddell’s testimony had changed from what she said during the preliminary hearing — specifically about whether the stain underneath the deck was disturbed. In the preliminary hearing, Liddell stated that it did not seem the stain had been disturbed prior to excavation, but in her testimony Wednesday she said it had. When Peuvrelle asked her to explain her answer, Liddell testified she “was taking (Sanger) too literally” and thought he meant the stain itself, not the area around the stain. Liddell said she was provided transcripts of her testimony from the preliminary hearing and reviewed them before giving her testimony Wednesday, but had not conferred with the prosecution about changing her testimony.

She also did not review any reports indicating the change, she said. Liddell testified Wednesday that she decided to clarify her answer because she realized her previous testimony was not clear. Throughout her testimony, Liddell declined to answer questions about how the stain and soil interacted with one another because her expertise is in evidence and DNA collection. “I am not an expert in staining and soil. That’s why we brought in the archaeologists,” she said. This was a point that Ruben Flores’ defense attorney, Harold Mesick, focused on during Wednesday’s cross-examination.

Liddell spoke about taking samples from stained soil and discolored soil. After confirming Liddell did not consider herself an expert in staining and soil, Mesick asked her what the difference was between the two.

She did not immediately answer, and Mesick put a photo of the stain up on the projector and asked her to explain it. She said the larger section is a stain, and the different colors in the middle of the stain were discoloration. Also, while Liddell talked with the archaeologists at the scene, she decided what samples to take on her own, she testified. Liddell testified that no bones, teeth or hair were found at any of the excavations sites she examined — including sites at the Flores home, three in Huasna and one in rural Arroyo Grande, Liddell testified. “Any semi-permeable wraps?” Sanger asked, referring to the prosecution’s theory that Smart was wrapped in a semi-permeable wrap while buried underneath Ruben Flores’ deck. To her knowledge, no evidence of a semi-permeable wrap was found, Liddell testified. Court will resume Thursday with a “full day of testimony,” Monterey County Superior Court Judge Jennifer O’Keefe told the juries, urging them to be on time.

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KU Leuven Students Investigate Virtual Crime Scenes

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Investigating murders as a forensic expert...

(India Education : Apr 26, 2022)

Taking DNA samples, making blood traces visible with a chemiluminescent spray (‘Bluestar’) or with infrared light, searching for semen remains with blue light, visualizing fingerprints and taking photos: everything is possible.”

KU Leuven Students Investigate Virtual Crime Scenes

Investigating murders as a forensic expert: for many KU Leuven students of the Biomedical Sciences program it is a dream job, but it turns out not always easy to gain practical experience. Thanks to a new application, they can now practice their skills using virtual reality .

The virtual approach has many advantages, says Professor Bram Bekaert, lecturer of the Criminalistics course in the Master’s program in Biomedical Sciences. “The pandemic suddenly made it much more difficult for our students to investigate real crime scenes . But even before corona it was often a challenge for students to gain practical experience. This VR application is a very good alternative.”

Three murder scenarios

The new application looks a lot like a computer game, including a 3D environment, VR glasses and two hand controllers . Students find themselves in one of three possible scenarios: a double robbery murder, a double murder of passion, and a suspicious death that could be a murder or suicide.

Upon their virtual arrival at the crime scene, the students are briefed by a police officer. Then they can walk into the house and search. Bram Bekaert: “Just like on a physical crime scene , students can open cabinets and doors, identify traces and perform tests. Taking DNA samples, making blood traces visible with a chemiluminescent spray (‘Bluestar’) or with infrared light, searching for semen remains with blue light, visualizing fingerprints and taking photos: everything is possible.”

Due to the online follow-up of the recorded tracks and the tests performed, the teacher or the student can easily carry out an evaluation.

From crime scene to practice court

Students also learn how to avoid contamination of evidence. Touched the door handle without gloves or stepped through a trail of blood? Then the VR system taps you on your fingers. Bekaert: “The technology we use to investigate crime scenes is becoming more and more sensitive, so it is even more important than it used to be to ensure that no DNA from the investigator ends up in the crime scene samples or that DNA traces are left behind. exchanged between pieces of evidence.”

Students find themselves in one of three possible scenarios: a double robbery murder, a double murder of passion, and a suspicious death that could be a murder or suicide. After the students have completed their virtual research, they formulate various hypotheses and prepare a report.

 Bekaert: “In the long run, we also want them to practice defending that report in a kind of trial court. To do this, we work together with our colleagues from the Faculty of Law and Criminological Sciences: their future lawyers can then challenge our trainee experts.”

The police can also benefit from using this application. In reality, you can only properly investigate a crime scene once. By practicing in a virtual reality environment, points for improvement can be quickly identified or police officers can become acquainted with the challenges of investigating a crime scene.

This VR application was developed by the Biomedical Technology Lab in collaboration with the STEPS Skills Center and the Education Expertise Center of the Faculty of Medicine.

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Forensics, the latest methods

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When pollen and insect larvae are used to solve criminal cases and even historical enigmas...

This documentary takes a look at the fascinating resources of science for investigators.

For Scottish researcher Lorna Dawson of the James Hutton Institute, soils, especially forest soils, can provide valuable clues to the location of a crime based on fingerprints.

Blood samples can also reveal important information: Philippe Esperança, a forensic scientist in France, is working to bring to light traces that are a priori invisible.

At the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Frankfurt, entomologist Jens Amendt works with flies and their larvae, which, when taken from a corpse, can accurately indicate the time of death.

Latest prowess

Used since the 1980s, DNA testing is probably the most important revolution in the history of criminology. As a new and indispensable ally in judicial investigations, it has led to the creation of a true scientific police force and the development of new forensic methods. With the enlightenment of researchers, this documentary offers a panorama of the latest prowess and promise of science in order to break through the most persistent enigmas.

Relatively recent in Europe, the analysis of pollen allows to identify those who were near a corpse, to know the places frequented by the deceased before his death or the season in which he died. The long life span of pollen ensures the preservation of traces dating back thousands of years. In Vienna, Martina Weber’s research has helped to solve crimes and to study historical events such as Pompeii.

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How does the scientific police work?

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How does the scientific police work?
(Le Mag de France Bleu Poitou)

Television loves forensics, because there are crimes, investigations, motives, and we get to see the daily lives of police officers and forensic scientists.

A short history of forensics

Before the first tools of forensic science, testimonies and confessions were the basis for convincing a suspect of his guilt. Alphonse Bertillon (1853 – 1914) founded the first police laboratory for criminal identification in 1882. He constituted the basis of forensic anthropometry, which allows the identification of people.

Ten years later, Francis Galton introduced systematic identification by fingerprints. Other valuable tools in a criminal case are the presence of traces, photos of the scene and a map of the scene. The forensics team makes observations at the scene, verifies and cross-checks the information gathered. It uses all techniques to materialize the facts.

In which cases does the forensic science department intervene?

The daily work of the forensic police of Poitiers is to intervene – in the order of the number of cases – on burglaries, robberies, discovery of stolen vehicles, corpses (found on the public highway, unidentified, suspicious deaths…), violence to persons, damages, fatal accidents, work accidents, rapes and drug trafficking.

In France in 2020, the police made 350 000 interventions and 50 000 identifications. In Poitiers, they made 2,000 trips and 250 identifications.

The forensic police look for material evidence following a very precise protocol. At the scene, they start by taking pictures to freeze the scene, look for traces and clues, install riders (these small numbers that identify the objects in the scene on the pictures) and take samples (objects, weapons).

The tools of forensic science

A number of samples are taken from a crime scene and from the suspect(s): fingerprints, hair, semen, gunshot residue on the shooting hand, presence of blood. To identify the presence of blood that is not visible to the naked eye, because the scene was cleaned before the police arrived, the forensic science team uses Bluestar to reveal the erased traces. The luminol makes the iron in the blood react.

The Poitiers crime lab is a pilot site in France for the digital forensics service.

Forensic medicine and DNA in the service of the truth

Forensic medicine is an essential tool of the scientific police. The autopsy is used to determine the circumstances of the death. Forensic scientists perform two types of examinations:

external examination of the body to determine ante-mortem and post-mortem trauma. The autopsy is an opening of the body to identify types of trauma, violence, blows, to take samples, to see the state of the lungs (in case of drowning) and to identify a body in bad condition, by taking a sample from the femur. The forensic pathologists will submit a forensic autopsy report.

DNA is a tool used on a daily basis by forensic scientists, including for burglaries. DNA is often a hope for cold cases, those cases that have remained unsolved for years (like the Grégory case or the Omar Raddad case). To be efficient, it is necessary to have a large quantity of quality samples and a good conservation of the seals, because the enemies of DNA are known: light, humidity, heat, UV rays…

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Forensic science, clue hunters

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Tarbes: Scientific police, the clue hunters

La nouvelle république des Pyrénées : November 4, 2021

The technical and scientific police of Tarbes opened us the doors of its service, the time of a day. Meeting with these technicians whose job feeds all the fantasies.

“They broke the door and turned everything upside down. A retired Tarbais, victim of a burglary, tells the sad state of the place to the forensic technician dispatched on the spot.

“Did you touch anything?” inquires Nicolas Levan, gloved and camera in hand. The policeman wants to know everything. “What time did you leave? Is that door still closed?” And when he spots mud still fresh on the ground, he asks to see the backyard. “They probably went through there.”

Because before getting out swabs and revealing powder, it is still necessary to understand the path of the authors to locate the surfaces on which they would have, by chance, deposited fingerprints and genetic traces. But this time, nothing happened. Jewelry boxes and a wooden box thrown carelessly on the bed do not allow the technician to find the slightest trace of a finger.

Tracked and traced

“Leather and wood are substrates on which gunpowder does not stick .” Last hope, pray that the burglars “swarmed” some of their DNA on the dresser’s wrists. “Once the sample is taken, we close the seal and send it for analysis. If there are biological traces, they will be compared in the National Automated DNA File (Fnaeg).” One of the two tools fed daily by law enforcement with the Faed, automated fingerprint file

Scanned on site, the seals then take the direction of the forensic laboratory of Toulouse, one of the five accredited to carry out the revelations in France (with Lille, Paris, Marseille and Lyon) , since the operational centralization of technical platforms in 2018.

Science and daily crimes

“There are several levels in forensics. The judicial police, which handles the big criminal cases, and the departmental public safety science services.”

In Tarbes, Nicolas Levan works with three agents under his responsibility. All women. “We mainly do misdemeanors.” Reports of people in police custody (papillary and genetic fingerprinting), robberies on wheels (in cars), burglaries… represent 90% of their activity. But sometimes, the members of the service are called for much more dramatic facts.

Bluestar on crime scene

“When a case goes unsolved after several months, it’s often because there were flaws in the initial scientific findings.” When he runs the Bluestar through Florence’s bathroom, the walls become stained with cleaned blood. “It’s a very powerful product. The morphoanalysis specialists took over to interpret the traces.” Expertise that have been confronted with the claims of the alleged author, and weakened his version of events. If he confides that being exposed to such violence can be psychologically difficult, Nicolas Levan- expresses the feeling of accomplished duty. “On this file, I was able to participate in the manifestation of the truth, for the benefit of the victim.”

American Myth

Far from the image conveyed by the American police series, the technical and scientific police of proximity are essential in the treatment of everyday cases. “I liked CSI Las Vegas. But the American judicial system and ours don’t work the same way. And to shatter a myth: “Only on TV do you systematically find DNA from a single hair.”

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A state-of-the-art portable crime lab

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Costa Rica's First Female Forensic Biologist Designed a State-of-the-Art Portable Crime Lab

MENAFN : 18.09.2021

In 2010 Tatiana López had to present a University project, she was already working in the Judicial Branch and, together with her partner, Alejandro Castillo, reflected for her work one of the dreams she had for years, the design of a portable laboratory where, under adequate conditions, analyzes of the crime scenes that had been modified could be carried out. A decade later, her task evolved, the dream was fulfilled and the laboratory became a reality and has been part of the many innovations that Costa Rica has had in forensic science .

At 49, Tatiana López does not hesitate to look at the past and remember each of the obstacles that she went through to improve the techniques of analysis of crime scenes and, better yet, she looks forward to the future because she still has many dreams to fulfill. .

Her work has been developed in the Department of Forensic Sciences and the Canine Unit, right now he is working on a project to improve techniques

“At this moment I am in charge of a project called the consolidation of the multidisciplinary team and field criminology, and the idea is to make a team where we work on highly specialized scenarios, but also within my work and what I have in charge is all that are the scenes, the analysis and collection of evidence in modified scenes where it is presumed that a crime event has occurred and this has been tried to erase and that is why they are called modified scenes, where the blood is not seen through with the naked eye, what we call latent blood tests.

“We also do the search for evidence with blood in scenes, whether in closed or open sites, the search for human remains and at this moment we also have the part of the search for evidence with semen and in the relatively near future, the search for the human smell through signs, this by mixing or blending, using specialized dogs and laboratory tests and equipment” she explained.

To carry out the work, Doña Tatiana requires specialized techniques, the use of luminol and bluestar“which is what we can see the blood with when we cannot see it with the naked eye.”

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“With the blood in the eye” Bioarchaeology and Biomaterials.

by ArcheologyNews

"With blood in the eye". Romano et al. Axis 1 - Bioarchaeology and Biomaterials.

Presentation of the paper “With blood in the eye”. Revealing and documenting traces of latent blood in archaeological materials.

This paper is presented by Andrés Romano, Sara López Campeny, Jorge Martínez and Juan Ronelli.

The first three authors belong to the Instituto Superior de Estudios Sociales (ISES-CONICET) and the Instituto de Arqueología y Museo (IAM-UNT), while Juan Ronelli is Director of the Specialization in Crime Scene Analysis, Coordinator of the Natural Sciences Area of the B.Sc. in Criminalistics and professor at the Instituto Universitario de la Policía Federal Argentina (IUPFA).
Police (IUPFA).

InDyA website
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Canine Handlers and Forensic Specialist Testify in Smart Hearing on 2021 Searches

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Canine Handlers and Forensic Specialist Testify in Smart Hearing on 2021 Searches Neither cadaver dog made strong alerts to seized Volkswagon or Ruben Flores’s property

Paso Robles Press : Sep 3, 2021

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Two cadaver dog handlers and a forensic specialist testified in court on Thursday, Sept., 2 in the preliminary hearing for Paul (44) and Ruben (80) Flores.

The father and son are charged in connection with the 1996 disappearance and murder of 19-year-old Cal Poly student Kristin Smart. Paul has been charged with her murder, and Ruben is being charged with accessory after the fact. Both men were arrested in April. Ruben is out on bail, but Paul remains in the San Luis Obispo County jail with no bail.

Getting through this together, Paso Robles

Kristin’s remains have never been found, but she was declared legally dead in 2002.

Kristine Black, Karen Atkinson, and their cadaver dogs were called to search under the back porch of Ruben Flores’ home in the 700 block of White Court after warrants were executed on the residence in March and April of this year.

Both women are Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office Canine Specialized Search Team handlers. Both dogs are certified in human remains detection through the California Rescue Dog Association, according to testimony.

As the assistant director for the search and rescue team, Black talked about her search of Ruben’s home on White Court in Arroyo Grande on March 15.

She said she brought her Belgian Malinois, Annie, with her and first searched a maroon 1985 Volkswagon that was later seized from Ruben’s home as part of the investigation.

Black says Annie, who is only trained in detecting human remains, went inside the vehicle but did not have a final response. They headed into Ruben’s backyard next.

Black said she intentionally stood out of sight from the house at the end of White Court in order to not influence her search.

She testified that Annie started to show changes in behavior in an area under the left side of the deck behind some lattice. While the behavior change was consistent with odor, Black says Annie did not go to a final response, instead of putting her nose down and changing her breathing and snorting hard while circling the area.

Atkinson testified that she searched the property with her dog, Amiga, on the same day and had the same results.

She noted a slight change in behavior in Amiga as she worked a long, narrow area that sloped up near the foundation. According to Atkinson, Amiga began to sniff and make “head pops,” which indicated she detected an odor. Atkinson described the change in behavior as being characteristic for when Amiga detects her target odor – human remains – but Atkinson says the dog’s alert is sitting, which she did not do.

Attorney Sarah Sanger, who represents Paul with her father Robert Sanger, questioned whether a change in behavior is not an alert. Atkinson explained Amiga will not alert until she reaches the strongest point of the odor. Harold Mesick, Ruben’s attorney, questioned whether Black searched any trailers on the property, to which she replied no. During the afternoon session, the court heard testimony from a forensic specialist with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office.

Shelby Liddell talked about two different searches at Ruben’s home on Mar. 15 and 16, 2021. She was assigned to process the scene at 710 White Court, including taking photos and collecting soil samples. Liddell testified that at three feet deep, while detectives were digging up under the deck in the backyard, they started noticing staining in the soil. According to Liddell, dark staining was noticed down to four feet. She told the court she collected samples along with control samples around the property.

She said she returned on Apr. 13 and 14 to collect more samples from under the deck again.

Liddell also testified to spraying the inside of the trailer seized from the Flores’ residence with Bluestar, a forensic chemical used to detect blood and other bodily fluids.

According to the sheriff’s Detective, Clint Cole, the trailer belonged to the boyfriend of Susan Flores, Paul Flores’ mother, and was seized on the belief that it was used to transport the remains of Smart from Ruben Flores’ residence in February 2020.

Liddell said that 30 minutes after spraying Bluestar, a blue luminescent stain approximately a foot-and-a-half wide appeared on the inside of one of the trailer’s doors, which was documented with a camera.

Bluestar, which reacts to the hemoglobin in human blood and is a proprietary formula, can also show false positives for cleaning materials and some types of vegetables. However, according to Liddell, the reaction is typically a “white flash” that goes away after a while.

The preliminary hearing resumes at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 3, at the San Luis Obispo County Superior Courthouse.

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