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Philip Boyce 

BSc. MSc.

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Area of Expertise

 

Firearms and ballistics >

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Comparison macroscopy

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Crime scene reconstruction

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Explosive devices

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Firearms and ammunition legislation

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Gunshot Blood Pattern Analysis (GBPA)

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Gunshot residue (GSR)

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Weapons testing

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Forensic chemistry

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Tool and manufacturing marks

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Philip Boyce  BSc. MSc. - Senior Forensic Scientist

Summary

With over 33 years’ experience Philip Boyce is a leading and highly respected forensic scientist, whose expertise in firearms, ballistics, gunshot residue (GSR) and tool marks have gained him international recognition.

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Philip has examined countless evidential items and crime scenes; with his expertise often utilised at medical examinations, post mortems and exhumations. He has provided thousands of expert witness statements for both the prosecution and defence and given expert witness testimony for many courts, both in the UK and internationally, including: Juvenile, Magistrates, Crown Courts, High Courts, Courts of Appeal and Military Court Martials.

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Philip started his career in 1977 with the Territorial Army. He left at the rank of Sergeant Technician / Weapons Instructor and upon completion of his MSc in Forensic Science immediately joined the FSNI (Forensic Science Northern Ireland). In 2002 Philip moved to Forensic Alliance (now LCG Forensics) and then subsequently in 2006 set up the firearms facility at Key Forensics (KFS). Philip joined Forensic Equity in 2010, where he excels in providing independent expert opinion, advice and training to both the prosecution and defence.

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Philip’s 33 years of service, particularly those during the Northern Ireland troubles, have given him an unrivalled level of expertise in Firearms, Ballistics, Gunshot Residue and Tool Marks.

Experience

  • Leading forensic firearms expert with over 33 years’ experience.

  • Internationally recognised forensic scientist in all aspects of firearms, ballistics, gunshot residue (GSR) and tool marks.

  • Highly skilled in the science of comparison macroscopy.

  • Leading gunshot residue (GSR) expert.

  • Highly experienced in firearms examination and weapons testing, with an acute knowledge and ability to classify weapons and ammunition according to UK legislation.

  • Highly experienced in the assessment of the condition of weapons or firearms, including velocity testing to determine muzzle energy.

  • Leading expert in the interpretation of bullet damage, gunshot wounds and gunshot blood pattern analysis (GBPA) caused by the discharge of a firearm.

  • Crime scene reconstruction expert and leading authority in secondary forensic analysis.

  • Qualified and highly experienced crime scene examiner and forensic investigator.

  • Leading authority in the review, re-examination and re-interpretation of criminal cases involving weapons or firearms.

  • Prepared and presented firearms and ballistics evidence in courts of all types, appearing as a firearms expert witness.

  • Highly experienced in offering critical evidence in numerous high profile and complex cases.

  • Vastly experienced in supporting the defence or prosecution team by assisting with cross-examination.

  • Highly experienced forensic defence expert with an outstanding record of success in cases where his initial review finds cause for concern.

  • Holds an unrivalled level of cross and multi-disciplined forensic knowledge, having been heavily involved in many, multi-discipline criminal investigations. 

  • Fully trained (with the Metropolitan Police) in the use of the IBIS system, both in cartridges and 3D bullet acquisition. Training essential in order to conduct complex casework.

  • Vastly experienced in liaising and coordinating with a range of bodies including the Coroner’s Office, pathologists, intelligence officers, police investigating officers, WERC, ACPO, NCIS, NCS, SIB RMP, ICPC, SOCO’s, CSI’s, and both civil and criminal defence solicitors and barristers.

  • Experienced and qualified trainer in all aspects of firearms, ballistics and tool marks having lectured to amongst others: The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), police scenes of crime officers (SOCO), police exhibit officers, junior and senior detectives, forensic medical examiners, forensic military medical examiners, forensic radiologists, forensic pathologists, Forensic Science Society, European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENSFI) and American Scanning Electron Microscope committee (SEM).

Committee Memberships

  • Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) expert advisor.

  • National Police Improvement Agency (NPIA) expert advisor.

  • Participating member of the Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners (AFTE)

  • Member of the International Expert Committee for the Forensic Chemistry and Physics Laboratory of Health Sciences Authority, Singapore.

  • Former participating member of The European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENSFI) from 1995 to 2010.

  • Registered forensic practitioner and a specialist assessor for firearms, ballistics and comparison macroscopy for the CRFP (Council for the Registration of Forensic Practitioners) prior to the register being closed in 2009.

Notable Work

  • Designed and developed a number of applications, including a Home Office award-winning Police Administration System for Leicestershire Police.

  • Represented Vodafone on a number of GSM and ETSI committees and in working parties responsible for designing the GSM and 3G networks.

  • Product manager responsible for the design and implementation of many of the major Vodafone products, such as bundled tariffs and the first introduction of pre-pay into the UK.

  • Undertaken cell-site analysis work in multiple jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Cayman Islands.

  • Senior Associate in the National Forensic Firearms Intelligence Database (NFFID) Service Providers Group where he made a significant contribution to the formation and implementation of the National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NABIS) program.

  • Requested by the Special Investigation Branch, Royal Military Police (SIB RMP) to conduct scene examinations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and investigate other controversial shooting incidents. These have involved amongst other things, the exhumation and examination of bodies and the trajectory of the armaments from Challenger II tanks.

  • Awarded a Commendation for his work on a controversial case investigated by the Police Service, Northern Ireland. The case involved 14 firearms which couldn’t be excluded from the incident. However with the use of the IBIS system and by comparison, Philip provided a conclusive link to one of the questioned firearms and excluded the others.

  • Completed his role as an UNDP (United Nations Development Program) Forensic Ballistics Advisor for Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2011.

  • Advisor to the UNLIREC (United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs - Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean) 2012 - 2013.

  • Currently the Ballistic Specialist for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Kosovo.

Notable Cases

  • R V David Bain (New Zealand) – Appeal case

Phillip appeared as an expert witness, commenting on the firearms aspects of the case. Subsequent to his expert witness testimony, David Bain was acquitted, having spent 13 years in prison for the murders of his parents and siblings. This is one of New Zealand’s most complex and controversial murder cases. Read more in the press or watch the ITV programme ‘Bamber – The New Evidence’.

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  • Casework for Police forces across England, Wales and Northern Ireland

Casework, including high profile shooting incidents and cold case reviews. Notably, Philip reviewed the murder of Lt Col Robert ‘Riley’ Workman in 2004 for Hertfordshire Police and provided expert witness testimony in the trial that finally convicted his killer in October 2012.

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  • Metropolitan Police - Operation Trident

Provided expert forensic opinion for the Metropolitan Police in cases related to operation Trident.

 

  • Independent Commission for Police Complaints (ICPC) -  Terrorist cases

Appeared as a firearms and ballistics expert for the Independent Commission for Police Complaints (ICPC) in a number of ‘controversial’ terrorist cases.

 

  • New Scotland Yard and The National Crime Squad (NCS)

Conducted numerous investigations on their behalf including an investigation in Qatar.

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  • Police Ombudsman Northern Ireland and Police Service Northern Ireland (PSNI)

Examination of cases and cold case reviews.  Awarded a commendation in 2009 for his work .

 

  • Morris Tribunal Dublin

Examination of the Firearms aspects for the Tribunal

Recommendations

“Philip Boyce had a wonderfully down to earth and common sense approach that cut through the scientific jargon and theories of his opposite number. It meant that a case which looked unwinnable, based on the Crown papers was, in the end, a victory! Many thanks!”

Andrew Storch Solicitors

 

“Philip was calm and knowledgeable. He gave his evidence confidently and clearly and was not unsettled by probing cross examination. He gave his evidence in a manner which the jury were able to follow and was generally an impressive witness.

I would have no hesitation in recommending Mr Boyce as an expert in the areas of firearms and explosives.”

Emery Johnson Astills

 

“Thank you for your report. Defendant, Counsel and I are all very pleased - the Crown accepted a plea to section 5(1)(b).”

Stuart Miller Solicitors 

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