Crime Scene Investigation 2

Question 1

What are the three key elements to a homicide investigation

Answer 1

Location, Victim, Suspect

Question 2

What are the Responsibilities of the OC Body

Answer 2

death has been certified by a doctor
• maintain security and continuity of the body,
• secure and guard the body, body samples and any exhibits relating to the body
• note and record observations relating to the body
• note details of medical staff or others who have attended the victim
• record what actions have been taken by any party in respect of the body
• establish if the body has been moved or disturbed
• ensure the body is photographed ‘in situ’
• arrange transportation of the body to the mortuary
• complete sudden death procedures
• arrange formal identification
• obtain historical medial records of victim for information of pathologist
• attend the post-mortem examination with the OC Investigation
• ensure all cultural responsibilities have been addressed

Question 3

What is required by attending the post mortem

Answer 3

attend the briefing of the pathologist, contribute as
required
- ensure the Police photographer takes appropriate and sufficient photographs
- preserve evidence from the body
- record, label and secure all samples and exhibits associated with the body
- arrange for fingerprints and palm prints to be taken, if required

Question 4

A police officer should never assume a person is dead unless the circumstances are such
that no other conclusion is possible, for example

Answer 4

a badly decomposed or mutilated corpse

Question 5

To assist with briefings in regards to post mortem Some key areas for consideration include

Answer 5

• photographs and/or video recordings taken at the scene
• actions of the first responders
• identity of the body
• history of the body
timeframes relating to the finding of the body,
• scope and priorities of the investigation
• any special evidential expectations and requirements
• environmental factors at the scene

Question 6

At the earliest opportunity, the OC Investigation, in consultation with the Crime Scene Coordinator and the OC Body, must make an appreciation in respect of the removal of the body. These factors should be considered in the appreciation:

Answer 6

• Notification to and response from, the Coroner
• Views of the pathologist, ESR forensic scientist and Crown Solicitor attendingthe crime
scene
• Consultation with other relevant experts
• Requirement for any examination or action needed before removal, based on known
facts of the case
• Best method and route for the body removal, to minimise contamination of the scene
or the body, for example by using sterile stepping plates
• Supervision of the body removal
• Chain of custody of the body from the scene to the mortuary
• Safe custody of exhibits
• Family and/or cultural considerations

Question 7

Specimens should not be taken from the body unless consultation has occurred between attending ESR staff, the pathologist, the OC Investigation, Crime Scene Coordinator. This is advisable where evidence would otherwise be lost or contaminated by moving the body, such as

Answer 7

• larvae and insects
• potential fingerprint evidence from the skin on the body of the victim and/or items of clothing worn by the body
• DNA swabs
• extraneous items such as loose hairs, fibres, glass, paint or other fragments
• firearm residue samples

Question 8

What are the steps that detail the action to be taken when recording body details and removing a body from the scene.

Answer 8

• Record the position of the body by sketch plan and direct a Police photographer to take photographs
• consider marking and recording the position of the body before moving it,
• Cover the hands, feet and head with paper bags, secured with tape to prevent any trace evidence being lost when the body is moved.
• Ensure clothing on the body is not contaminated by contact with foreign objects.
• Wrap the body in a plastic sheet and place it in a body bag.
• Carefully search underneath where the body lay.
• Obtain approval from the OC Investigation to remove the body from the scene.
  Consider health risks when moving the body

Question 9

What details should be recorded in regards to the position of the body before it is moved

Answer 9

• Position of the limbs.
• Appearance of the body.
• Wounds and clothing.
• Direction of any trails of blood present on the body.
• Lividity, if present (coloration of skin due to gravitational movement of
blood).
• Extent of any rigor mortis present

Question 10

At the earliest opportunity, the OC Investigation, in consultation with the OC Body, must make an appreciation in respect of the post-mortem examination. These factors should be considered in the appreciation:

Answer 10

• Authority from the Coroner to conduct post-mortem
• Consultation with the pathologist
• Safe custody of exhibits
• Identifying who should attend the post-mortem
• Requirement for any specific need for examination or sampling based on the known
facts of the case
• Appropriate resources at the post-mortem, for packaging exhibits and taking
photographs
• Family and/or cultural considerations arising from the post-mortem
• Any likely requirement for a second or subsequent post-mortem.

Question 11

What is the primary role of OC body during a PM

Answer 11

is to observe, document and deal with exhibits associated with the body, in a structured, methodical manner.

Question 12

What is the purpose of the PM

Answer 12

• determing where possible, the mode and time of death
• establishing how injuries and/or events at the scene may have contributed toward the
death of the victim
• determining the nature and size of any weapon(s) used
• determining the approximate height and stature of the suspect
• providing areas of interest for subsequent interviews of witnesses and/or suspects
• negating possible defences
• identifying the victim, if identity has not been established.

Question 13

Who is in Attendance at post-mortem

Answer 13

• the pathologist
• the Coroner
• any other pathologist assisting
• a doctor who treated the deceased
• a doctor, nurse or funeral director representing the deceased
• any other doctor or trainee doctor (if authorised by the Coroner)
• Police
• any other person authorised by a Coroner.

Question 14

On arrival at the mortuary, the OC Body must:

Answer 14

1 Ensure mortuary staff do not wash the body.
2 Ensure the body is labelled and secured in the secure mortuary fridge.
3 Retain any key used to secure the body, until it is required for the postmortem.
4 Ensure the body remains in its present condition until the commencement of
the post-mortem.
5 Arrange formal identification of the body.

Question 15

What are some of the methods of identification

Answer 15

• fingerprints
• DNA profiling
• dental records
• eye examination records
• medical examination records
• personal effects
• facial reconstruction.

Question 16

What are the steps to ensure the body is stripped in the appropriate manner

Answer 16

1 The body must only be stripped in the presence of the pathologist.
2 Remove the body from the secure mortuary fridge and assist mortuary staff
to take the body into the post-mortem examination room.
3 Remove the body from the body bag, causing minimal disturbance to the body.
4 Take possession of the body bag and any sheets or wrappings used to transport the body, as exhibits.
5 If necessary, direct the Police photographer to take additional photographs to ensure that appropriate and sufficient photographs of the body are taken
6 Remove items of clothing from the body
7 Make an inventory of clothing and possessions, as each item is removed.
8 Label each item of clothing and each possession.
9 Seal each item in a separate paper bag or container.
10. Ensure exhibits do not cross contaminate by coming into contact with each other
11. Maintain security and continuity of the body and exhibits
12. When serious head trauma before washing the body consider putting a fine sieve in the mortuary drain table

Question 17

Photographing the body
In addition to photographs taken at the scene, the OC Body must ensure the photographer at the mortuary takes sufficient appropriate photographs of:

Answer 17

• the body, before it is stripped
• the body, after it is stripped
• close up photographs of any wounds

Question 18

The OC Body must hand all exhibits to the OC Exhibits, in order to maintain an unbroken
chain of exhibit continuity and security. They should also provide the OC Exhibits with:

Answer 18

• the post-mortem Scene Exhibit Schedule
• copy of the OC Body’s notebook entries
• formal statement.

Question 19

The OC Body must prepare the Sudden Death (1S) file and submit as soon as possible, so that a coronial inquest can be opened. The file must include

Answer 19

• statement relating to the victim’s formal identification
• copy of the Police form 47
• copy of Deceased Person Certificate (Police form 265)
• copy of Deceased Person Identification

Question 20

A second or subsequent post-mortem may be directed by the Coroner, if:

Answer 20

• the pathologist is unable to determine cause of death in the initial post-mortem
• a suspect’s lawyer seeks approval from the Coroner to conduct an independent postmortem
• the Solicitor General orders a further post-mortem, after an application to the High
Court.

Question 21

What are some of the toxicology samples that are taken

Answer 21

Blood
Stomach contents
Head and pubic hair
Urine
Liver
Lungs

Question 22

What is the role of FLO

Answer 22

involves the day-to-day management of the
partnership between the family of the deceased and the Police investigation.
The FLO must also offer, facilitate and co-ordinate support that addresses the needs of the family.

Question 23

Family Liaison Plan
The plan should be developed whilst considering the needs of the family The plan should be recorded and
consider:

Answer 23

• selection of the FLO and criteria employed for the selection
• exit plan for the FLO
• objectives of the family liaison
• assessing the most appropriate methods of conducting interviews with family members
• information to be released to and withheld from, the family
• requests made by the family which have not been agreed to, and the reasons for this
• liaison with Victim Support and other support services

Question 24

Suspect within the family
Where a family member is suspected of being involved in the offence, the OC Investigation must take great care and assess any risks associated with deploying an FLO.
The OC Investigation must review the plan regularly, which should consider:

Answer 24

• the FLO’s welfare and safety
• increased monitoring of the FLO’s work and interaction with the family
• the level of information disclosure to the FLO and, in turn, the family
• the process by which any intelligence that arises from FLO contact with the family will be
managed
• the need for the FLO to be clear in their interactions with the family
• the importance of fully documenting all contact and interactions with the family
• the possibility of deploying a more experienced FLO if appropriate

Question 25

Before meeting the family, which should occur as soon as possible, the FLO must:

Answer 25

• liaise closely with the OC Investigation regarding parameters of information to be shared
with and/or held back from the family
• familiarise themselves with the enquiry
• familiarise themselves with all information established concerning the family
• establish what contact the family has had with Police since the incident/death
• establish what information has been given to the family
• establish what information concerning the incident is already in the public domain.

Question 26

During the early stages the FLO must:

Answer 26

• provide immediate appropriate information to the family concerning the death of the
victim and explain to the family what happens next in respect of the body
• provide the family/NOK with the Coronial booklet “When someone dies”
• establish from family members any immediate evidence, information or rumors,
• as far as possible, protect the family from unwarranted media intrusion
• use their knowledge of the criminal justice system and Coroners processes to advise
family members, as appropriate
• where appropriate and on direction of the OC Investigation, arrange for the Crown
Solicitor to meet the family to explain decisions taken.

Question 27

Where an offender is arrested, the FLO must

Answer 27

• inform the family of their rights to register on the victim notification register
• make all reasonable efforts to ascertain any views the family have on the accused being
released on bail
• inform the victim’s family of:
- charges laid or reasons why charges are not laid
- the date and place of each Court appearance
- release on bail of the accused

Question 28

Property should be returned to family members by the FLO. When authorised by the OC
Investigation, the FLO should liaise with the OC Exhibits regarding the return of property.
These issues should be considered:

Answer 28

• What property does the family wish to be returned?
• How do they want the property returned, for example do they wish items to be cleaned?
• Are there likely to be any delays in the return of any property?
• Property should be inspected to ensure all Police and Court exhibit tags have been
removed.

Question 29

The FLO must not issue any statements to the media unless specifically requested to do so by the OC Investigation, in consultation with the Media Liaison Officer. The family should be prepared for possible media interest and the FLO should take steps to:

Answer 29

• prepare the victim’s family for the anticipated level of media interest and provide them with a copy of the “Media information letter to family of the deceased”
• establish the family’s views on any media appeals
• request the family to nominate a spokesperson, at an early stage
• consult the family before the release of personal details relating to the victim
• where possible, provide copies of media releases to the family before distribution
• inform the victim’s family of significant developments in the investigation before
releasing such information to the media,

Question 30

What information can be obtained through skeletal remains

Answer 30

Whether the remains are actually bones
Where the bones are human
The age, gender, height and race of the person.