The suspect powders (Evidence number LMW-6 and LMW-9) were both analysed using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). HPLC is used to separate the different components of mixtures, and enables both the identification of the components and quantitative information to be obtained. FTIR allows identification of a substance by comparing the molecular fingerprint of the sample to a library of known spectra.

FTIR analysis of the suspect powders.

HPLC analysis of the suspect powders.

Both the HPLC and FTIR analysis identified that both suspect powders (Evidence number LMW-6 and LMW-9) were heroin, but were from different sources, as the purity and quantity of heroin in the sample from the paper fold in the kitchen (Evidence number LMW-6) were much higher than the sample from the paper fold in the victim's bedside table drawer (Evidence number LMW-9).

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