Homicide and Serious Crime Victims Flashcards
What are the three key elements of a homicide?
Location, Victim, suspect
What are the responsibilities of the OC Body?
- Ensure death has been certified
- Maintain security of the body
- Secure and guard the body
- Note and record observations relating to the body
Who’s responsibility is it to notify the coroner of death?
OC investigation
**Key areas of consideration when initial response, in order to brief relevant parties
- Photos
- Actions of first responders
- History of the body
- Timeframes around discovery of body
Factors to consider when making an appreciation prior to body removal
- Notification and response from the coroner
- Views of pathologist, ESR, Crown
- Consultation with other relevant experts
- Requirement for any examination or action needed before removal, based on known facts of the case
If a body has been moved during the initial stages, what should you do?
Do NOT attempt to restore to original condition
Make enquiries to enable the original unchanged scene to be reconstructed and photographed if required
**What are examples of when it is advisable to take specimens from the body at the scene?
When evidence would otherwise be lost or contaminated by moving the body, such as:
- Larvae and insects
- Potential fingerprint evidence from skin on the body
- DNA swabs
- Loose hairs, fibres
**What are some factors to be considered in the appreciation prior to the post mortem?
- ID of body at mortuary
- Authority for coroner to conduct post mortem
- Consultation with pathologist
- Safe custody of exhibits
What is the primary role of OC Body during a post mortem?
Observe, document and deal with exhibits associated with the body in a structured, methodical manner
What is the primary purpose of a post mortem?
Establish cause of death
Aside from establishing cause of death, what information might a post mortem find?
- Determining mode and time of death
- Establish how injuries and or/ events at the scene may have contributed to the death of the victim
- Determining nature and size of any weapons used
- Determining approx. height/ stature of the suspect
**Who may attend a PM?
- Pathologist
- Coroner
- Doctor
- Nurse
- Police
- Any other person authorised by a coroner
Who are the police who should attend a PM?
- OC investigation
- OC Body
- Exhibits officer for PM
- Photographer
**Particular consideration should be given to seeking authority from the coroner for the following parties to attend the PM:
- ESR forensic scientist
- Crown Solicitor
**What is some of the equipment the OC body will need to have at PM?
- MEK kit
- Toxicology kit
- Body label
- Notebook and pens solely for PM
Steps to take by OC body on arrival to mortuary
- Ensure mortuary staff do not wash the body
- Ensure body is labelled and secured in the secure mortuary fridge
- Retain any key used to secure the body until it is required for the PM
- Ensure body remains in present condition until the commencement of the PM
- Arrange formal ID of the body
Who is responsible for arranging formal ID of the body?
OC body
Where ID cannot be established, consider
- Fingerprints
- DNA profiling
- Dental records
- Personal effects
When skeletal remains are found, a pathologist can usually provide info such as
- Whether remains are actually bones
- Whether the bones are human
- The age, gender, height and race of the person
When does stripping the body take place?
Immediately before the PM
What paperwork does the OC Body give the OC Exhibits?
- PM exhibit schedule
- Notebook
- FWS
When might a second or subsequent PM be directed by the coroner?
- The pathologist is unable to determine the cause of death in the initial post mortem
- A suspects lawyer seeks approval from the coroner to conduct an independent PM
- The solicitor general orders a further PM, after an application to the High Court
Who is responsible for requesting the coroner to make an order for the body to be released?
OC Investigation
The body must not be moved until the ______ has given authority for its removal
OC investigation
The body must be stripped in the presence of:
The pathologist
