Case studies and recognition

Following allegations of election fraud during a regional election in another country, I was provided with hundreds of forms and asked to determine whether any of them had been completed by the same writers.

The forms contained handwritten numerals only. No letters, names or signatures were available for comparison.

Despite this limitation, systematic forensic examination of the numerals established that a number of forms had been completed by the same individuals. The findings demonstrated that handwritten numerals may contain distinctive and individualising characteristics capable of establishing common authorship, even where no letters or signatures appear on the documents.

In a widely publicised matter involving the late King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu, I was instructed to examine the signatures appearing on a disputed will.

Following detailed forensic examination, I concluded that the questioned signatures were not genuine and identified the forensic indications supporting that opinion.

The findings were reported in The Star on 21 July 2021 and formed part of the evidence presented to the court.