TXT 4N6:method, consistency, and distinctiveness in the analysis of sms text messages

This paper presents a case study in forensic authorship analysis for SMS text messages. The case involves a domestic murder where the husband attempted to disguise the timing and mode of his wife’s death through sending a series of SMS text messages from her phone. Late in the evening on Sunday, January 17, 2009, the fire brigade was called to the home of Christopher and Amanda Birks in Stoke-on-Trent, UK. After phoning the emergency services, Christopher Birks entered the house and rescued his sleeping children from the lower floors. On the arrival of the firefighters, he informed them that his wife had gone to bed in the attic bedroom and that she must be trapped there. Placing themselves at considerable risk, firefighters entered the building to attempt a rescue from the top floor bedroom, but were only able to recover Amanda Birks’ severely burned body. Apparently Amanda had been in bed