- Email: [email protected]
Robin Keeley 1944–2010
Science and Justice 50 (2010) 156–157
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Science and Justice j o u r n a l h o m e p a g e : w w w. e l s ev i e r. c o m / l o c a t e / s c i j u s
Obituary
Robin Keeley 1944–2010 Everyone in the world of forensic science will be saddened by the unexpected news of Robin's death. He was a true pioneer in the field of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and its applications to forensic science. Robin joined the Metropolitan Police Forensic Laboratory (MPFSL) in 1971 when they had just bought their first SEM. It had been intended as a powerful microscopic tool for looking at biological materials. Robin had studied Botany at Kings College, London and was interested in materials like coccoliths, diatoms, pollen seeds, grains found during archaeological digs and plant structures and set about his task enthusiastically. However, he soon realised there were many more applications as a micro-analytical tool. He began exploring these and whenever he found something interesting he would share it with the scientific community. He was never self-interested or overambitious, always willing to share knowledge and experiences with others. He became known all over the world as the leading forensic electron microscopist. It wasn't long before all laboratories purchased the new technology and forensic scientists came flocking to the MPFSL lab to learn more, helping it to create its reputation as a world leader in forensic science. During his career he travelled the world passing on his knowledge and enthusiasm to many budding forensic scientists in such countries as Australia, Israel, Brazil, America, Japan and Cyprus where this year's ENFSI GSR meeting will be held. He spoke passionately about his subject and was always willing to spend time with anyone willing to listen and learn. He is most remembered for his ground breaking discovery of firearms residue. In 1975 he made the first observation of characteristic particles originating from the primer in a round of ammunition and termed the phrase “Firearms Discharge Residue”. He collaborated with Jim Wallace and Vic Beavis of the Northern Ireland Forensic Science Laboratory to develop the method. The following year The Aerospace Corporation of America independently published a study of what they called Gunshot Residue (GSR), a term that has since been adopted worldwide. In 1979 he undertook an evaluation of the best SEM for use in forensic science. This started a long association with Camscan. Their innovative approach which enabled particles to be readily located and examined in the SEM was ideal for FDR work. A lifelong friendship with Barry Drayton, the founder of the company followed, and many labs including the Home Office Forensic Science Service, Israeli, Italy and Northern Ireland all became equipped with Camscan instruments. Many others were to follow suit. Robin's reputation was enhanced by a number of interesting and high profile cases on which he worked, starting with assassination of Georgi Markov on Waterloo Bridge in 1978. Markov fell ill after he was prodded in the leg with an umbrella. Three days later he was dead. A small spherical pellet 1.5 mm in diameter was found in his leg. Robin found it to be made of an extremely hard alloy, platinum–iridium, and that it had two tiny holes drilled through it at right angles. Not the work of an amateur, but an ingenious, sophisticated object requiring doi:10.1016/j.scijus.2010.06.004
high-tech equipment to fabricate it. Famously, at one point he dropped the pellet on the floor and an almighty search followed to recover it. By calculating the volume of the holes it was deemed that only the most toxic of materials could have been used to poison Markov. Suspicion fell on the use of ricin, which was later confirmed by the Coroner at the Inquest following tests at Porton Down. In 1980 he and Jim Wallace organised the first teach-in for FDR. From then on laboratories in the UK routinely started to carry out FDR examinations. By 1984 he realised that the only way forward was to automate the process. He persuaded Camscan to cooperate and together they conceived the first automated FDR system. This was further developed by his colleague Peter Nolan and even today these concepts form the basis of modern automated particle analysis systems. He was a great believer that forensic science was not a separate scientific discipline, but part of mainstream science. To this end he forged many links with museums, universities and other scientific institutions. All of which was helpful in bringing about an awareness and credibility to the field of forensic science. The SEM was in its heyday in the 1980s and Robin was at the forefront. His enquiring mind and great insight were much admired. His advice was sought by many and he was involved in a number of high profile cases and investigations. One such case involved the shooting of WPC Yvonne Fletcher outside the Libyan Embassy in 1984. Robin and Peter along with Brian Arnold, the head of firearms, were allowed inside the building after a siege lasting eleven days. Much of the interior had been cleaned. Samples were taken from around all the windows to help identify a firing point. There had been suggestions it was a lone gunman acting without authority, or that the shots were fired from another building by an anti-Gaddafi group. A spent cartridge was found in the folds of one of the net curtains. FDR was found around the window and an adjacent window on the first floor of the building, adding to the theory that there were actually two gunmen firing simultaneously in an organised manner from within the embassy. In October 1984 the Provisional IRA carried out an attack on the Conservative Party conference in Brighton and bombed the Grand Hotel. Robin helped in analysing many of the fragments of debris that were recovered in an attempt to identify bomb fragments and parts of the timing device. One tiny fragment of printed circuit board that Robin extracted from one of the victims' body became the focus of attention. It was believed to have come from the timing device. After much research it was eventually found to be a tiny splinter of the victim's own digital watch. The use of SEM had now become routine throughout the world, but there were still those who sought to challenge it. In 1984 Robin was invited by the Australian Government to act as an advisor to the Splatt Inquiry. In 1978 Edward Splatt had been convicted of the brutal
G. Warman / Science and Justice 50 (2010) 156–157
assault and murder of a young girl. Forensic evidence played a significant part in his conviction. Techniques such as SEM were brought into question. Particles of spray paint and other debris had been found on the victim's bed and analysed by a range of techniques including SEM. The suspicion fell on Edward Splatt who was a paint sprayer. He was convicted but so vigorously contested his conviction that an Inquiry was set up. It was eventually shown that the debris could have been born on the wind and Splatt was released. Nobody had looked into how closely his workshop was to the scene and how many other surfaces were contaminated with the same material. Robin spent several months in Australia listening to evidence and was able to defend the application of SEM and other techniques in forensic science. He became acutely aware of the responsibilities of a forensic scientist. The inquiry had been particularly critical of the use of the word ‘consistent’ as having misled the jury about the strength of evidence. As a result he was the first to introduce a technical section into his reports outlining the nature and interpretation of FDR. Robin was recognised for his broad and deep understanding of analytical chemistry. In 1989 he was appointed a scientific advisor for the prosecution in the May enquiry which led to the release of the Guildford Four and Maguire Seven on the grounds that their convictions were unsafe. The enquiry had many ramifications for forensic science and led to a Royal Commission on Criminal Justice being set up in 1991 to deal with the problems of disclosure of evidence and the role and responsibilities of the forensic expert. This in turn led to the merger of the HOFSS and the MPFSL in 1996 to form the Forensic Science Service. When Ray Williams the director of the MPFSL retired in 1990 Robin took over his appointment as visiting professor in Applied Chemistry at the University of East Anglia. He provided interesting and stimulating lectures and posed his students challenging questions. He enjoyed the challenge of solving analytical problems and had
157
a practical skill and eye for neat solutions using a wide range of techniques; whether it was field tests for gold particles as in the Brinks–Mat bullion robbery, or for dumped radioactive waste for the Environment Protection Agency he always had an interesting strategy. Amongst other things he was a skilled optical microscopist and built a micro XRF instrument for analysing small glass fragments. Having been interested in model-engineering he designed and made most of the parts himself. The McCrone Research Institute voted him Microscopist of the Year and for several years he was on the committee of the Royal Microscopical Society. Outside of his work he had many interests and friends. He was widely read and retained an encyclopaedic knowledge of many things. He would often be able to recall the first line of a book that he had read. He always lived life to the full. This was born out of a thankfulness and feeling that he was living on borrowed time. As a young man Robin suffered from a form of leukemia, but successfully underwent treatment to become one of the few survivors at the time. He grew up as a keen supporter of Somerset cricket club and loved to watch test cricket. At one time he was secretary of their London supporter's branch, organising their meetings and making sure there was always a beer tent. He also loved fishing and sailing and became a qualified yacht navigator. He had many adventurous trips across the Channel, once falling overboard in a storm and cracking his ribs. He and the boat had to be rescued by the Coast Guard. He may have been the founding father of Firearms Chemistry but to many he was also the godfather. He will be sorely missed by those who had the privilege to know him.
Geoff Warman E-mail address: [email protected].
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Science and Justice j o u r n a l h o m e p a g e : w w w. e l s ev i e r. c o m / l o c a t e / s c i j u s
Obituary
Robin Keeley 1944–2010 Everyone in the world of forensic science will be saddened by the unexpected news of Robin's death. He was a true pioneer in the field of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and its applications to forensic science. Robin joined the Metropolitan Police Forensic Laboratory (MPFSL) in 1971 when they had just bought their first SEM. It had been intended as a powerful microscopic tool for looking at biological materials. Robin had studied Botany at Kings College, London and was interested in materials like coccoliths, diatoms, pollen seeds, grains found during archaeological digs and plant structures and set about his task enthusiastically. However, he soon realised there were many more applications as a micro-analytical tool. He began exploring these and whenever he found something interesting he would share it with the scientific community. He was never self-interested or overambitious, always willing to share knowledge and experiences with others. He became known all over the world as the leading forensic electron microscopist. It wasn't long before all laboratories purchased the new technology and forensic scientists came flocking to the MPFSL lab to learn more, helping it to create its reputation as a world leader in forensic science. During his career he travelled the world passing on his knowledge and enthusiasm to many budding forensic scientists in such countries as Australia, Israel, Brazil, America, Japan and Cyprus where this year's ENFSI GSR meeting will be held. He spoke passionately about his subject and was always willing to spend time with anyone willing to listen and learn. He is most remembered for his ground breaking discovery of firearms residue. In 1975 he made the first observation of characteristic particles originating from the primer in a round of ammunition and termed the phrase “Firearms Discharge Residue”. He collaborated with Jim Wallace and Vic Beavis of the Northern Ireland Forensic Science Laboratory to develop the method. The following year The Aerospace Corporation of America independently published a study of what they called Gunshot Residue (GSR), a term that has since been adopted worldwide. In 1979 he undertook an evaluation of the best SEM for use in forensic science. This started a long association with Camscan. Their innovative approach which enabled particles to be readily located and examined in the SEM was ideal for FDR work. A lifelong friendship with Barry Drayton, the founder of the company followed, and many labs including the Home Office Forensic Science Service, Israeli, Italy and Northern Ireland all became equipped with Camscan instruments. Many others were to follow suit. Robin's reputation was enhanced by a number of interesting and high profile cases on which he worked, starting with assassination of Georgi Markov on Waterloo Bridge in 1978. Markov fell ill after he was prodded in the leg with an umbrella. Three days later he was dead. A small spherical pellet 1.5 mm in diameter was found in his leg. Robin found it to be made of an extremely hard alloy, platinum–iridium, and that it had two tiny holes drilled through it at right angles. Not the work of an amateur, but an ingenious, sophisticated object requiring doi:10.1016/j.scijus.2010.06.004
high-tech equipment to fabricate it. Famously, at one point he dropped the pellet on the floor and an almighty search followed to recover it. By calculating the volume of the holes it was deemed that only the most toxic of materials could have been used to poison Markov. Suspicion fell on the use of ricin, which was later confirmed by the Coroner at the Inquest following tests at Porton Down. In 1980 he and Jim Wallace organised the first teach-in for FDR. From then on laboratories in the UK routinely started to carry out FDR examinations. By 1984 he realised that the only way forward was to automate the process. He persuaded Camscan to cooperate and together they conceived the first automated FDR system. This was further developed by his colleague Peter Nolan and even today these concepts form the basis of modern automated particle analysis systems. He was a great believer that forensic science was not a separate scientific discipline, but part of mainstream science. To this end he forged many links with museums, universities and other scientific institutions. All of which was helpful in bringing about an awareness and credibility to the field of forensic science. The SEM was in its heyday in the 1980s and Robin was at the forefront. His enquiring mind and great insight were much admired. His advice was sought by many and he was involved in a number of high profile cases and investigations. One such case involved the shooting of WPC Yvonne Fletcher outside the Libyan Embassy in 1984. Robin and Peter along with Brian Arnold, the head of firearms, were allowed inside the building after a siege lasting eleven days. Much of the interior had been cleaned. Samples were taken from around all the windows to help identify a firing point. There had been suggestions it was a lone gunman acting without authority, or that the shots were fired from another building by an anti-Gaddafi group. A spent cartridge was found in the folds of one of the net curtains. FDR was found around the window and an adjacent window on the first floor of the building, adding to the theory that there were actually two gunmen firing simultaneously in an organised manner from within the embassy. In October 1984 the Provisional IRA carried out an attack on the Conservative Party conference in Brighton and bombed the Grand Hotel. Robin helped in analysing many of the fragments of debris that were recovered in an attempt to identify bomb fragments and parts of the timing device. One tiny fragment of printed circuit board that Robin extracted from one of the victims' body became the focus of attention. It was believed to have come from the timing device. After much research it was eventually found to be a tiny splinter of the victim's own digital watch. The use of SEM had now become routine throughout the world, but there were still those who sought to challenge it. In 1984 Robin was invited by the Australian Government to act as an advisor to the Splatt Inquiry. In 1978 Edward Splatt had been convicted of the brutal
G. Warman / Science and Justice 50 (2010) 156–157
assault and murder of a young girl. Forensic evidence played a significant part in his conviction. Techniques such as SEM were brought into question. Particles of spray paint and other debris had been found on the victim's bed and analysed by a range of techniques including SEM. The suspicion fell on Edward Splatt who was a paint sprayer. He was convicted but so vigorously contested his conviction that an Inquiry was set up. It was eventually shown that the debris could have been born on the wind and Splatt was released. Nobody had looked into how closely his workshop was to the scene and how many other surfaces were contaminated with the same material. Robin spent several months in Australia listening to evidence and was able to defend the application of SEM and other techniques in forensic science. He became acutely aware of the responsibilities of a forensic scientist. The inquiry had been particularly critical of the use of the word ‘consistent’ as having misled the jury about the strength of evidence. As a result he was the first to introduce a technical section into his reports outlining the nature and interpretation of FDR. Robin was recognised for his broad and deep understanding of analytical chemistry. In 1989 he was appointed a scientific advisor for the prosecution in the May enquiry which led to the release of the Guildford Four and Maguire Seven on the grounds that their convictions were unsafe. The enquiry had many ramifications for forensic science and led to a Royal Commission on Criminal Justice being set up in 1991 to deal with the problems of disclosure of evidence and the role and responsibilities of the forensic expert. This in turn led to the merger of the HOFSS and the MPFSL in 1996 to form the Forensic Science Service. When Ray Williams the director of the MPFSL retired in 1990 Robin took over his appointment as visiting professor in Applied Chemistry at the University of East Anglia. He provided interesting and stimulating lectures and posed his students challenging questions. He enjoyed the challenge of solving analytical problems and had
157
a practical skill and eye for neat solutions using a wide range of techniques; whether it was field tests for gold particles as in the Brinks–Mat bullion robbery, or for dumped radioactive waste for the Environment Protection Agency he always had an interesting strategy. Amongst other things he was a skilled optical microscopist and built a micro XRF instrument for analysing small glass fragments. Having been interested in model-engineering he designed and made most of the parts himself. The McCrone Research Institute voted him Microscopist of the Year and for several years he was on the committee of the Royal Microscopical Society. Outside of his work he had many interests and friends. He was widely read and retained an encyclopaedic knowledge of many things. He would often be able to recall the first line of a book that he had read. He always lived life to the full. This was born out of a thankfulness and feeling that he was living on borrowed time. As a young man Robin suffered from a form of leukemia, but successfully underwent treatment to become one of the few survivors at the time. He grew up as a keen supporter of Somerset cricket club and loved to watch test cricket. At one time he was secretary of their London supporter's branch, organising their meetings and making sure there was always a beer tent. He also loved fishing and sailing and became a qualified yacht navigator. He had many adventurous trips across the Channel, once falling overboard in a storm and cracking his ribs. He and the boat had to be rescued by the Coast Guard. He may have been the founding father of Firearms Chemistry but to many he was also the godfather. He will be sorely missed by those who had the privilege to know him.
Geoff Warman E-mail address: [email protected].