Final answer:
The preliminary investigation at a crime scene is the responsibility of the First responding officer, whose role is crucial to the investigation's success. Forensic scientists later analyze the collected evidence to provide scientific findings for legal proceedings.
Step-by-step explanation:
The preliminary investigation at a crime scene is the responsibility of the C. First responding officer. Their actions at the scene can greatly influence the ultimate success or failure of the investigation.
While not on site when the crime occurred and thus not witnesses to the events, first responders can gather crucial evidence much like how chemists collect evidence in a laboratory to build a theory.
This evidence collection is essential for piecing together a theory of the crime, just as scientists use observed properties to theorize about those that cannot be directly observed.
Forensic scientists then come into play, applying scientific principles to analyze trace material associated with crimes. They perform analyses, including DNA processing and examination of biological evidence, to provide scientific evidence that will be used in courts.
The work of forensic scientists, akin to other scientific disciplines, requires rigorous evidence collection and interpretation that can stand up to scrutiny "beyond a reasonable doubt".