Moreno B. dribbled and sprinted up and down the corridor twice, under the eyes of the court, members of the Public Prosecution Service, involved lawyers and several journalists. B. denies that he was the shooter and hopes to prove it with how he runs.
Everyone has a unique gait
That sounds unusual, but it happens more often. In the United States and England it is already established in case law. “Then they really look at how you walk,” says podiatrist Lars Fuit. “It’s not as unique as your fingerprint, but everyone has a unique gait.”
But what to pay attention to is quite tricky. “How is the arm swing, how is the posture, how far apart are the legs?” sums up the podiatrist. “You’re basically chopping it up.”
And there are certain things you can identify that make you walk or run a little differently than others. “If the Achilles tendon is too short, or a short calf muscle, then you walk a bit jumping,” Fuit gives as an example. “Or if one leg is shorter than the other leg. And with flat feet, the leg turns a little more inward.”
Indication for detection
More research is also beginning to emerge. “Especially the question of whether runs are sufficiently distinctive,” says criminologist Jasper van der Kemp. “For example, you look at the rhythm of the steps. Is it natural, or is it learned?”
In investigation cases, it is also sometimes stated how someone walks. “It is often referred to, for example in Opsporing Requested. People can then recognize a known person by such a walk. Then you have an indication for further investigation.”
But in court cases it is still quite difficult, thinks the criminologist. “In a case you always need more evidence.”
