Laptop proves a key witness

["Richard M. Smith" <rms () computerbytesman com>]

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/opinion/op_ed/view.bg?articleid=1103284&for
mat=text

What is truly extraordinary about the Neil Entwistle murder trial and
verdict is not the crime itself; it is the government's key witness. The
government called more than 30 people to the witness stand in this
three-week trial, but the most important witness against Entwistle was his
own laptop computer.

The trial was a dramatic example of the evolving use of computer evidence to
reveal a defendant's most intimate and detailed actions.

Sadly, the crime itself was neither new nor unusual. In this case, though,
each sordid step of the way - each point of the government's theory - was
proven or supported by the defendant's own laptop. These points include:

Sexual frustration. In the days before and after the murder of his wife and
baby, this supposedly happily married man used a password-protected folder
on his laptop to troll for prostitutes and free sex, at sites like "Naughty
Nightlife."

Financially frustrated. Entwistle searched a "get rich quick" site.

Planning the murder. Days before the murders, he searched for "how to kill
with a knife," but decided to use a gun.

Planning the cover-up. Before the murders, Entwistle searched sites to learn
about "suicide," then claimed that this is what happened.

Planning the escape. Just before the murders, he searched the British
Airways Web site. The day after, he hopped British Airways to London.

...



_______________________________________________
Fun and Misc security discussion for OT posts.
https://linuxbox.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/funsec
Note: funsec is a public and open mailing list.