Perceptive Analyses of the Most Complex Cases in Forensic Chemistry
Forensic Chemistry casework, involving the most complex cases, is a highly demanding skill covering a wide range of scientific areas of expertise. Such cases are required to be completed to often very tight deadlines and under situations of high pressure in support of the Courts.
O.G.T Forensic is pioneering new, highly effective, 21st-century methods to provide incisive reports in this field. This service goes further than the usual limited scientific expert assistance that seeks to restrict expert input to just the bare minimum required to interpret the scientific evidence alone.
Here at OGT Forensic we provide an overarching interpretation of the complete case evidence, seeking to assist Legal Counsel and the Court with defining how the scientific evidence fits into, and effects, the entire interpretation of the case circumstances.
This skill linked to complete command of the peer reviewed scientific literature, updated to the day that expert evidence is heard in Court is a game changer.
We serve Forensic Chemical Expert Investigation of Cases in all aspects of three main areas: Explosives, Incendiaries and Firearms Residue, Drugs and Toxicology, and DNA Traces, as well as the complete range of other very specialist areas involving the application of chemistry to forensic science (Chemical Warfare Agents, Security Dyes, Counterfeits, Illegal laboratories etc).
My experience covers 38 years as a forensic expert, and provision of expert evidence in over 350 cases (listed at forensic-expert.org). These cover every aspect of the skills areas that we are involved in and includes many high profile cases (below).
Underpinning this scientific expertise is firm, practical, “Down and Dirty”, expertise as a Special Forces Regimental Demolition Instructor, with further experience in use of firearms, and also fundamental pioneering forensic research expertise that includes major contributions to the science of detecting traces of drugs and explosives along with the most important quality control techniques now used world wide in all areas of forensic science.
The assessment of the quality of the service provided to the Courts and the Legal Community is provided in the form of solicitors and barristers comments on our website (forensic-expert.org).
Shaping the Journey
At the helm of O.G.T Forensics is Dr. Douse, who had begun his forensic practice in 1979. Since then, he has served 25 years in the military reserve gaining experience and training, 14 years pioneering forensic research and case-work, and discovering his ability to perform effectively as an expert in the Pan Am 103 Lockerbie Enquiry 2001.
He performs his duties as an expert witness, which is a great privilege in his eyes, and upholds the responsibility for an individual’s life and the success of a commercial company.
Presently, he is a regular expert on various internationally high level, and the most influential Commercial and Criminal cases.
Dynamic Expert
Dr. Douse attended Oxford University, graduating in Chemistry with a doctorate (DPhil) in Organic Chemistry. He has specialization in synthetic organic, medicinal, analytical, and spectroscopic chemistry. He was a forerunner in the use of capillary column gas chromatography, making his own capillary columns and pioneering the techniques used today worldwide for forensic trace analysis of explosives, drugs and CW agents.
While serving in the military, he gained additional experience which gave him the expertise in the use of firearms, explosives, chemical warfare agents, and all military knowledge. He gained a high level of expertise as a regimental demolition instructor running courses in demolition and sabotage using all types of manufactured and improvised explosive and incendiary devices.
“I served for four years at the Forensic Explosives Laboratory (Fort Halstead) running the trace analytical laboratory and introducing my pioneering new techniques in explosives trace analysis, and also pioneering the first introduction of cleanroom technology quality control techniques in forensic science,” asserts Dr. Douse.
Expert Opinions & Stellar Successes
“I have been an independent forensic expert witness for 20 years, and a forensic scientist for over 38 years, and have prepared reports in over 350 cases in my specialist fields of Explosives, Toxicology, DNA traces, Firearms Discharge Residue traces, and general forensic chemical applications of all types,” states Dr. Douse.
Dr. Douse provides expert reports and gives oral evidence in the UK and Foreign Courts concerning cases involving his expert specialties.
Commercial Law
- Health & Safety Executive v Roxel (Rocket Motors Ltd.) 2016. (Dr. Douse's opinion overcame all five challenges and the Legal Team described that they were delighted with his work).
- Salvage of the hazardous material carrier M/S Bow Diamond (Spillage from 500 tons TNT/RDX Explosive cargo). His opinion overcame that of the opposing expert.
- Many complex Insurance cases involving drugs and toxicology. For example: Mid Air Collision of a light aircraft and a helicopter (carbon monoxide poisoning, Waddesdon, UK, 2020), unexplained deaths involving prescribed and illegal drugs.
Criminal Law
- R v Wadge (2020): Accusation of intent to make and deploy explosives, hydrogen cyanide, and nerve agents as means of assassination. (Defendant acquitted on all such charges).
- R v Ali (2008): Liquid Explosive (Transatlantic Airliner) Bomb Plot: His report was selected from four others to defend all eight defendants.
- Toxicology toxins: The Wood Green Ricin Factory, Thallium, Ricin, Hydrogen Cyanide, Insulin (Leeds Insulin Serial Killer), Arsenic, Nerve Agents, Carbon Monoxide (aircraft crash), Hydrogen Sulphide, MDMB CHIMICA (a synthetic cannabinoid).
- In a very special case in Sweden he was successful in defending the license of an individual (in 2011) who had experienced the production of endogenous alcohol (by Candida yeast fermentation of carbohydrates in the gut) and who had become intoxicated and was involved in a motorway crash. At the time this type of defence was generally not believed, but the phenomenon is now realized to be not uncommon.
- Explosives: Pan Am 103 Lockerbie inquiry, Hyde Park Bombing, Liquid Explosive Bomb Plot, London Glasgow Bombings, SAM incident with C-130 Aircraft.
- Firearms Discharge Residue: Shakespeare Ellis Drive-By incident, Lybian Embassy Siege, Birmingham Gangland Murder
