On homicide, forensic practice, and forensic discourse in Madrid

Abstract

The judicial and legal records of early modern Spain are a valuable source of information on criminal investigative practices prior to the emergence of modern forensic science in the nineteenth century. Drawing on court records from Madrid’s highest tribunal during the early modern period, and particularly those dealing with domestic violence, this essay sheds light on the investigative process and the forensic techniques employed by justice officials and medical personnel in the search for criminal evidence. It also considers written testimonies in the form of memorials and “forensic discourses” written by judges and prosecutors, with the aim of highlighting the importance of the forensic function in the resolution of criminal cases. Forensic technology was used as a means of “knowing the truth” but was also an essential component of the administration of justice.