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Friday, December 18, 1998 Published at 09:56 GMT


UK

Computer unlocks Scottish body mystery

Experts at Glasgow University used computer graphics to rebuild the man's face


Jill Dando, on Crimewatch UK, with more clues about the mystery walker
Detectives have successfully identified the body of a man found in a Scottish wood four months ago thanks to computer technology.

Strathclyde Police identified the corpse in just three days after a 3-D image of the man's face created by experted at Glasgow University was shown on BBC TV's Crimewatch UK programme.


[ image: This is the computer-generated likeness of the man found in the woods]
This is the computer-generated likeness of the man found in the woods
The body of the 31-year-old man from north-east England was found by two fishermen in woodland on the A82 Loch Lomondside Road, near Tarbet, in August.

Police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of the man, whose family has requested he is not named.

Using laser technology and 3D computer graphics, the Glasgow team came up with a photofit of what the dead man would have looked like at the time of his death.


[ image: The area is popular with hikers and hill walkers]
The area is popular with hikers and hill walkers
The likeness, and a number of other clues, were shown to millions of viewers of the BBC's Crimewatch UK programme on Tuesday night.

A spokesman for the university said: "We are obviously very pleased that the expertise of Professor Vanezis and his colleagues has been of assistance in this case.


[ image: These distinctive tattoos were on the man's arms]
These distinctive tattoos were on the man's arms
"It demonstrates the way leading technology developed by universities can be deployed in a wide range of practical uses."

Glasgow, the only university in the world using this form of computer graphics, has a 50% success rate with facial reconstructions and has been called upon several times by German police.





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