Homicide and serious crime victims (OC body) Flashcards
What are the responsibilities of the OC body
- Make sure teh death has been certified by a doctor or advanced paramedic
- Maintain the security and chain of custody of teh bodya dn any exhibits from the body
- note observations of the body
- Note any medical and police staff who have come in contact with the body
- Photograph body in situ
- obtain from staff or witnesses if body has been moved and who moved it.
- Attend post mortem if required
What are the responsibilities of the OC body
- Make sure teh death has been certified by a doctor or advanced paramedic
- Maintain the security and chain of custody of teh bodya dn any exhibits from the body
- note observations of the body
- Note any medical and police staff who have come in contact with the body
- Photograph body in situ
- obtain from staff or witnesses if body has been moved and who moved it.
- Attend post mortem if required
What kind of samples can be obtained at the scene of a deceased person
- Larvae and insects
- DNA swabs
- Potential fingerprints from the body
- firearm residue swabs
- loose items such as hair, glass, fibres.
What things should be done for preparing the body for removal
- Record the position of the body and draw a sketch in your notebook. consider photograph or video
- Note the positon of the body and limbs
- any wounds and clothing
- lividity and extent of rigor
- any direction of trial of blood
- if determined a homicide scene leave clothing on
- cover hands in paper bags using wide tape. make sure tape not too tight to create new marks and are taped at an anchor point and not ont eh skin
- wrap teh body in a new plastic bag and seal off noting the seal numebr
- once body removed look under neath and deal with accordingly, ie seize exhibits
- Obtain approval from OC investigation prior to body removal.
What should be considered prior to post mortem
- Identiofication of body at mortruary
- consultation with pathalogistwho is to be present
- requirements of the PM
- appropriate resources
- cultural considerations
What is the responsibilites of teh OC body at a PM
Observe, document and deal with exhibits associated witht eh body
Purpose of PM?
- Establish cause of death
- determining nature and size of weapon
- negate possible defences
- establish the identity of the victim
What are a number of things that should be taken to a PM
MEK toxicology kit Body labels A notebook soley for the purpose of the PM Scene exhibit schedule Exhibit packaging PPE Roll of brown paper for placing between folds of
What are the things to consider upon arrival to the mortruary?
- Make secure the staff do not wash the body
- Ensure teh body is labelled and placed into a secure fridge
- Retain the key that is used to secure the body in the fridge
- Ensure teh body stays in the same condition prior to PM
- Arrange for for formal identification.
Discuss stripping of the body
- Can only be done in front of the pathologist
- Remove body from the fridge and place in the pm examination room, making sure the bag is still sealed and labelled
- remove body from bag and seize as an exhibit
- take photos of the body and record clohting and injuries
- Remove clothing from the body and search the clothing then seize separately. Cutting of clothing should be avoided
- Maintain continuaty of the body until the PM has been completed as there maybe a request for a second PM
- In case of servere head trauma, consider using a small sieve at the drainage point so when teh pathologist washed the head you catch any trace evidence.
When should photos be taken by a police photographer
- Before the body is stripped
- After the body is stripped
- Close up photographs of wounds, marks which must include measuring scales.
When can the OC body take notes of the pathologist findings and cause of death
Only when the OC investigation and or pathologist advises to do so.
The pathologist will provide a full report of their findings
These notes will assist with investigations needs and briefings.
What must the OC body hand over to the OC exhibits post PM
exhibit schedule
notebbook entries and
FWS
Under what conditions can the coronor approve a second PM be conducted (3)
-The pathologist can not determine the cause of death
-the suspects lawyer seeks approval from the coronor for a second PM
The solicitor general order a further PM after obtaining an application from the high court
When can a body be released
When the OC investigations is satisfied that the body is not longer required who then informs the coroner who then makes an order for the body to be released to the next of kin.
