Hello Oudeis
Here's feedback from Phil Kettingley at JtR Forums about that program that covered the Ripper case. You can also read my reply to Phil below.
Originally Posted by
Phil Kellingley
I've just watched it (recorded it last night). It was, as I suspected, Kim Rossmo. His analysis indicates that the killer was an inhabitant of Flower and Dean street.
I've got a number of problems with Rossmo's method:
- By his own admission you need at least 6 sites for it to be reasonably accurate. He used 5.
- His theory uses a grid system - because most US cities/towns are grid based. Victorian London wasn't.
- Although the basics of what he does are OK (and can be verified by work from people like David Canter) his method requires the introduction of some variables that are more or less pure guesswork.
It's one of those things I'm working on - but trying to use better methodology than Rossmo. I don't disagree with his findings - I said the JTR was an inhabitant of Flower and Dean street over 25 years ago (possibly Thrawl Street) based purely on the evidence given at the inquests. Rossmo is the acknowledged expert in this area and his methods and software are used by police departments all over the world but they will only provide a reasonably good estimate of where a perpetrator lives. They are not 100% pin point accurate.
His JTR analysis is available, I believe, somewhere on the net or in his book.
I believe that Rossmo has been discussed in this forum [JtR Forums] before, so it might repay a search of the forum to find out what was said.
Hi Phil
Many thanks for this feedback. I realize that from your explanation you are using a similar methodology to Kim Rossmo although I must say it strikes me as being a bit "pin the tail on the donkey." I am similarly skeptical of the Scotland Yard efit of Jack the Ripper that came out several years ago, shown below. Yes the killer might have looked like that but just as likely he might not. Such things are conjectural and are not really evidence based -- although each approach, yours, Rossmo's, and the efit have the veneer of "science" and thus will (maybe) impress some people. Sorry to be a doubting thomas, Phil.
All the best
Chris
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Scotland Yard efit of Jack the Ripper
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