OC Body Flashcards
1
Q
What must you do before moving the body
A
- Record the position of the body by sketch plan and direct a Police Photographer to take photographs. Consider video or other imaging techniques
- In consultation with CSC and/or OC Scene, consider marking and recording the position of the body before moving it eg measure the distance from at least two nearby features.
- Record all details of the position of the body including
- Position of all limbs
- Appearance of the body
- Wounds and clothing
- Direction of any trails of blood present on the body
- Lividity if present (colourisation of skin due to gravitational movement of blood)
- Extent of rigor mortis present
- Consider what health risks may be present by handling of the body
- Cover hands/feet/head with paper bags and secure with tape, go over the top with plastic bags if you believe it will seep through, during journey open wounds may shed blood into bag and obscure details of blood splatter/direction. Liaise with scene experts to determine and prioritise appropriate actions
- 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 under where the body lay
- Retain all sheets, bags and other materials used to transport the body as exhibits
- Obtain approval from OC Investigation to remove the body from the scene. OC Investigation is responsible for the continuity of all aspects of the investigation and the body must not be removed without their authority
- When directed by the OC Investigation arrange a contracted undertaker to remove the body to the mortuary. Ensure you are able to account for the security and continuity of the body as an exhibit at all times until the pathologist starts the post mortem examination. Ensure the body bag is sterile
2
Q
Responsibilities of OC body
A
- Maintain security and continuity of the body, samples and exhibits from the scene to the start of the post mortem
- Record what actions have been taken by any party in respect of the body
- Secure and guard the body samples and any exhibits relating to the body with dignity and respect
- Cultural responsibilities – ensure they have been addressed
- Details of medical staff or others who have attended the victim
- Establish if body has been moved or disturbed
- Certified Deceased person certificate (Pol 265) by doctor or advanced paramedic
- Note and record observations of body
- Photograph body in SITU and consider video recording
- On authority of O/C Investigation arrange transport of the body to mortuary
- On authority on O/C Investigation arrange a formal identification of the body (Pol 265A)
- Complete sudden death procedures
- Obtain historical medical records of the victim for the pathologist’s information
- Attend the post-mortem with the O/C Investigation, or deputy appointed by them and
- Attend the investigations briefing of the pathologist and contribute as required
- Police photographer takes appropriate and sufficient photographs before clothing removed/after clothing removed and during the post mortem examination (pathologist to direct)
- 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)
- Attend the debrief of the pathologist and record findings on direction of the O/C Investigation and/or pathologist.
3
Q
At the mortuary
A
- Ensure mortuary staff do not wash the body
- Ensure the body is labelled and secured in the secure mortuary fridge
- Retain any key used to secure the body until it is required for the post mortem
- Ensure the body remains in its present condition until the start of the post mortem
- Arrange formal identification of the body
4
Q
Stripping the body
A
- The body must only be stripped in the presence of the pathologist
- Remove the body from the secure mortuary fridge and assist staff to take the body into the PM examination room
- Remove the body from the body bag, causing minimal disturbance to the body
- Take possession of the body bag and any sheets or wrappings used to transport the body, as exhibits
- If necessary direct a police photographer to take additional photos to ensure appropriate and sufficient photos are taken of the body before clothing is removed/ after clothing is removed. The pathologist will direct the photographer
- Remove items of clothing from the body. Mortuatry technicians may help remove clothing but only under the supervision and direction of the OC body
- Cutting the clothing off the body should be avoided. If unavoidable cut the clothing in areas where evidence is least likely to be present
- Search clothing pockets and make an inventory of each pocket contents
- Make an inventory of clothing and possessions, as each item is removed
- Label each item of clothing and each possession
- Seal each item in a different bag or container
- Ensure exhibits do not cross contaminate each other by coming in contact with one another
- Maintain security and continuity of the body and exhibits taken from the body, until the post-mortem examination starts
- In cases involving obvious head trauma, before blood and debris is washed from the body, particularly the head hair, consider placing a fine sieve in the mortuary table drain hole to collect trace evidence that may have been transferred from the weapon, for later comparison with exhibits the suspect(s) have had access to.
5
Q
Purpose of a post mortem
A
The primary purpose of a post-mortem is to establish the cause of death. The pathologists post-mortem findings may also assist the investigation to
- Provide areas of interest for subsequent interviews
- Establish how injures and events contributed to death
- Negate possible defences
- Determine nature and size of weapon used
- Determine approximate height and stature of suspect
- Determine possible mode and time of death
- Identify the victim, if the identity has not been established
