HOMICIDE AND SERIOUS CRIME VICTIMS - Determine Investigation Priorities Flashcards
Investigate all suspects thoroughly. Aspects that might influence the setting of priorities are;
- WEIGHT of the evidence
- LIKELIHOOD of their LEAVING the AREA
- URGENCY of solving the case
- AVAILABILITY of staff
ANY PHOTOGRAPHS OF CLOTHING OR DUPLICATES OF PROPERTY USED BY THE SUSPECT MAY BE UTILISED IN ANY COMBINATION OF THESE WAYS:
- For release to the media
- To be used by investigators during an area canvass
- In the conduct of suspect enquiries.
WHERE THE PLACE OF RESIDENCE OF A SUSPECT WHO HAS YET TO BE IDENTIFIED IS KNOWN, CONSIDER?
- NIA enquiries
- Enquiries with the local council to identify the property owner
- Conducting a reconnaissance of the area
TRACE, INTERVIEW AND ELIMINATE (TIE) ENQUIRIES?
- A TIE category is created by selecting a common characteristic shared by a group of people, which may include the offender.
- The suspect team must conduct elimination enquiries by tracing and interviewing persons who populate these TIE categories, and where possible, eliminating them against a set of elimination criteria determined by the OC Investigation.
INTELLIGENCE CATEGORIES:
Research should aim to collect all available information and attempt to establish or find?
- Details of all landline and cellular telephones used by the suspect
- A full description of the suspect
- A recent photograph of the suspect
- Medical records
SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
Take a broad view of the potential sources where information about a suspect may be acquired from. These should include passive data generators which are automated systems that gather and collate information for various purposes.
These may include?
- Financial information/bank records
- CCTV and other images
- Personal computer information
- Telecommunications information
UNDERSTANDING CROSS-CONTAMINATION:
Where more than one suspect is involved, an appreciation must be made regarding which staff are assigned to seize clothing from suspects?
- It is vitally important officers involved are fully aware of cross contamination issues and where possible, separate officers should be assigned to each suspect.
- Suspects must be kept apart including during travel in vehicles and when in cells.
- All clothing should be packaged, labelled and sealed in accordance with standard procedures before transfer to OC Exhibits
MEDICAL EXAMINATION:
The OC Suspects will arrange, in consultation with the OC Investigation, for a Police doctor to examine the suspect.
The doctor must:
- Note any injuries, such as scratches or bruises
- Take samples identified as necessary by the OC Investigation using a specialist Medical Examination Kit, including:
o Blood
o Saliva
o Head hair
o Pubic and body hair, if relevant
o Fingernail scrapings
o Swabs of the suspect’s hands or other relevant areas - Swab the suspect’s hands for firearms residue using a specialist Firearms Detection Kit, as soon as possible where a firearm has been involved in an offence. Such residue may persist on the hands or clothing of a suspect for up to three hours. Refer to the Police Manual chapter ‘Firearm Discharge Residues’.
- Provide a professional opinion regarding the condition of the suspect.
BULLY - When Crown solicitor direct police to interview an alibi witness what actions must the police take
o Make enquiries to determine the veracity of the alibi
o Conduct Inquiries as directed by the OC investigation and crown solicitor including NIA checks on the alibi witness
o Forward results of these enquiries to the crown solicitor, including any statements obtained.
BULLY - IN INVESTIGATING ANY ALIBI OFFERED, THE O/C SUSPECTS MUST?
- Make enquiries of people other than the persons whose particulars have been supplied to confirm or rebut evidence in support of the alibi
- Complete enquiries to establish where the suspect was at the time of the offence, who they were with and what they were doing
- Wherever possible, corroboration of the alibi provided by the suspect should be sought from forensic or other sources that are independent of the suspect
What is the Purpose of a File Manager?
- Assist the 2IC with the identification and recording of evidential material
- Ensure a flow of information throughout the investigation
- Assist with the preparation of the prosecution file
- Assist with management of the trial.
Setting up the Investigation Headquarters:
The File Manager, where there is no logistics officer appointed, must liaise closely with the 2IC to establish the requirements for the Investigation Headquarters, including?
- Location
- Office support staff
- Transport
- Equipment
- Communications
- ICT requirements.
What would the appropriate instructions in relation to the questionnaire?
o Stress that the questionnaire is only a guide to ensure the questions are asked, but should be regarded as flexible, in that information supplied could lead to other questions.
BULLY * Why is it important to debrief members of the suspects team?
o OC suspects must regularly debrief their team members on the enquiries they have conducted and the results of these enquiries so that they can maintain a constant flow of information at conferences, between the members of the suspects team and other investigation staff
BULLY - * Obligations when Defence replaced? *
o Ensure replacement is provided with all material previously disclosed
o This may be achieved by obtaining in writing they have received te material from outgoing counsel
o Or providing counsel with a feesh copy of material
