Lectori Salutem,

This is a generic letter circulating among fingerprint experts around the world.

I apologise for  the fact I am unable to address to you personally and in your own language.

We appeal to your expert judgement and professional ethics.

As you may have heard a dreadful mistake is made in Scotland with a wrong identification of a latent mark in a murder case against a police officer named Shirley McKie.

Her life and career are ruined as a result of this. After a long investigation the experts of the Scottish Criminal Record Office refuse to admit to the mistake hiding behind their opinion.

They will be reinstated in their job and may continue to discredit the fingerprint science and to make new victims.

Attached is a transcript of a presentation from Iain McKie, the father of Shirley, a retired Police Super Intendant. It is an accurate summary of the events in this case and at the same time it makes very clear what devastating effects it has had upon their lives.

Just recently the Scottish authorities have announced that no mistake was made, SCRO staff simply has another opinion. This puts the suspicion back upon Shirleys shoulders and will certainly make it more difficult for her to find  justice and compensation.

You can find the mark and the comparison print on the internet at <WWW.SCAFO.ORG>

Go to <ONLINE INFORMATION> next <FOR EXPERTS ONLY> next <SCOTLAND CASE> You may also visit <ONIN.COM/FP> and you will be able to see  all the postings upon this matter.

With the prints from the internet you can make your own comparison and draw your conclusion.

This statement is an initiative from Mr. Michael Russell a Member of the Scottish Parliament and is an appeal to the Fingerprint community.

We need to speak up for the sake of the McKie family and for the sake of the fingerprint science.

We have a moral and professional obligation to do so.

If you agree that the identification is wrong we ask you to support the statement attached to this mail. It is written such that it expresses your opinion/conclusion in your professional domain at the same time minimising the risk of getting in conflict with your own organisation.

Their will be a list of undersigning experts from all over the world that state

their name, position, organisation, city and country.

As long as the situation in Scotland continues we will enable experts to join this list that may grow as long as necessary, this will be “the indefinite list”

The statement will be sent to the Minister of Justice from Scotland,

Mr. Jim Wallace , to the media and will be in the public domain. The Media version may be an abstract.

We don’t have much time, within two weeks their will be a debate in Scottish Parliament and it would be very helpful if it was ready by then.

Please forward this Email to your fellow experts in your country and ask them to join even if you don’t.

If you want to join your name will be listed underneath.

For this you simply E-mail the attached document; “consent” back to dact.arie@12move.nl .

If you are under threat of diciplinairy action you may undersign anonymous,

we will veryfy your identity and will only supply the key information you provide;

For example; fingerprint expert, 45 years, (organisation), City, Country.

If you are not able to join or don’t want to, it is appreciated if you reply so I know you have received the mail and I can stop chasing you.

Thanks for your cooperation

Arie Zeelenberg
Head National Fingerprint service
The Netherlands

Mail:
Postbus 3016
2700 KX Zoetermeer
The Netherlands 

E-Mail
dact.arie@12move.nl

What is asked;

- Judge the prints

- Forward this message to your fellow experts in your country.

- Supply E-Mail addresses to me from known experts in your own and other countries.

- If you reply make a separate E-mail, please don’t return the whole package.

- Be aware that we might be forced to limit the list of the statement send to the Minister or media, but  all of the names will be published in the public domain.

 - Please react within a week.