OC Body

Question 1

Responsibilities of the OC Body (16)

Answer 1

The OC Body must:
1. ensure death has been certified by a doctor or qualified paramedic using a Deceased Person Certificate (POL 265)
2. maintain security and continuity of the body, samples and exhibits, from the scene to the commencement of the post-mortem examination
3. secure and guard the body, body samples and any exhibits relating to the body, with dignity and respect
4. note and record observations relating to the body
5. note details of medical staff or others who have attended the victim
6. record what actions have been taken by any party in respect of the body
7. establish if the body has been moved or disturbed
8. ensure the body is photographed ‘in situ’ and consider using video recording
9. on authority of the OC Investigation, arrange transportation of the body to the mortuary
10. complete sudden death procedures
11. on authority of OC investigation, arrange formal identification of the body using form Pol 265A
12. obtain historical medial records of victim for information of pathologist
13. attend the post-mortem examination with the OC Investigation, or deputy appointed by them, and:
• attend the briefing of the pathologist by the OC Investigation, and contribute as required
• ensure the Police photographer takes appropriate and sufficient photographs of the body before clothing is removed, again after the body is disrobed, and during the post-mortem examination. The pathologist will direct the photographer.
• 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
14. attend the debrief of the pathologist and record the findings, on direction of the OC and/or pathologist
15. ensure all cultural responsibilities have been addressed.
16. Note. It is the responsibility of the OC Investigation to:
• notify the Coroner early of the death, as detailed in the Police Manual chapter ‘Contacting a Coroner’
• arrange the post-mortem examination, in consultation with the Coroner
• consult the Pathologist before the post-mortem commences, regarding the relevance and benefit of conducting X-ray or CT/CAT scans of the body.

Question 2

Appreciation prior to body removal (10)

Answer 2

At the earliest opportunity, the OC Investigation, in consultation with the Crime Scene Coordinator (or OC Scene where one is not appointed) and the OC Body, must make an appreciation in respect of the removal of the body. These factors should be considered in the appreciation:

1. Notification to and response from, the Coroner
2. Views of the pathologist, ESR forensic scientist and Crown Solicitor attendingthe crime scene
3. Consultation with other relevant experts
4. Requirement for any examination or action needed before removal, based on known facts of the case
5. Best method and route for the body removal, to minimise contamination of the scene or the body, for example by using sterile stepping plates
6. Supervision of the body removal
7. Chain of custody of the body from the scene to the mortuary
8. Safe custody of exhibits
9. Family and/or cultural considerations
10. The appreciation should record the Standing Operating Procedures (SOP) for what and how items of protective clothing (e.g. paper suits, gloves and masks) must be used in relation to the scene and the body. Unless a specific reason exists to retain them, items of protective clothing should be placed in a bag and destroyed. The SOP for protective clothing used at a scene should be recorded once and thereafter scene staff may refer to the SOP, rather than recording every use or change of protective clothing.

Question 3

Recording details and removing the body (12)

Answer 3

1. Record the position of the body by sketch plan and direct a Police photographer to take photographs. Consider video recording or other imaging techniques.
2. In consultation with the Crime Scene Coordinator and/or OC Scene, consider marking and recording the position of the body before moving it, for example by measuring the distance from at least two nearby fixed features. Depending on the scene, this may not always be possible.
3. Record all details of the position of the body including:
   • 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.
   Important: Consider what health risks may be presented by handling the body. Further information on hygiene precautions is available in the Police Manual chapter ‘Sudden Death’.
4. Cover the hands, feet and head with paper bags, secured with tape to prevent any trace evidence being lost when the body is moved. Wide tape should be used, taped around the bag at a suitable anchoring point that will secure the bag to the limb and prevent the bag from slipping off. The tape should not be so tight as to create new marks on the body and must not be applied directly to the skin of the body. Similarly, rubber bands or other tight fitting fasteners must not be used as these may also leave marks on the body, i.e. false ligature marks.
5. If the use of a paper bag to cover a limb is not appropriate (eg. because the limb is wet), then a plastic bag may be used to protect potential forensic material. This decision should be made in consultation with the Crime Scene Coordinator/OC Scene and the OC Investigation.
6. Whilst being transported, any open wounds may shed blood into the bag placed over the head and obscure details of blood splatter/direction. Liaise with scene experts to determine and prioritise appropriate actions to record and preserve this evidence.
7. Ensure clothing on the body is not contaminated by contact with foreign objects.
8. Wrap the body in a plastic sheet and place it in a body bag.
9. Carefully search underneath where the body lay.
10. Retain, as exhibits, all sheets, bags or other materials used to transport the body.
11. Obtain approval from the OC Investigation to remove the body from the scene. The OC Investigation is responsible for ensuring continuity of all aspects of the investigation and the body must not be moved until the OC Investigation has given authority for its removal.
12. 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 commences the post-mortem examination. Ensure that the undertaker uses a body bag which is sterile.

Question 4

Appreciation prior to post-mortem (9)

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Purpose of a post-mortem (7)

Answer 5

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

Question 6

On arrival at the mortuary (5)

Answer 6

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 post-mortem.
4. Ensure the body remains in its present condition until the commencement of the post-mortem.
5. Arrange formal identification of the body.

Question 7

Attendance at post-mortem (14)

Answer 7

Section 38 of the Coroners Act 2006 prescribes who may attend a post-mortem:
• the pathologist
• the Coroner
• any other pathologist assisting (if authorised by the Coroner)
• a doctor who treated the deceased
• a doctor, nurse or funeral director representing the deceased (if authorised by the Coroner)
• a doctor representing the interests of a suspect who has or may be charged in relation to the death (if authorised by the Coroner)
• any other doctor or trainee doctor (if authorised by the Coroner)
• Police
• any other person authorised by a Coroner.
Police who should attend the post-mortem are:
• the OC investigation
• the OC Body
• a member specifically designated as exhibits officer for post-mortem, if required
• Police photographer
• SOCO or fingerprint officer, if required.

Question 8

Stripping the body (12)

Answer 8

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 before clothing is removed, and again after the body is disrobed. The pathologist will lead direction of the photographer.
6. Remove items of clothing from the body. Mortuary technicians may assist to removing clothing, but only under the supervision and direction of the OC Body.
   • Cutting clothing off the body should be avoided, but may be necessary in some cases. If unavoidable, cut clothing in areas where evidence is least likely to be present.
   • Search clothing pockets and make an inventory of each of the pocket contents.
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 each other by coming into contact with one other.
11. Maintain security and continuity of the body and exhibits taken from the body, until the post-mortem examination commences.
12. 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 a weapon, for later comparison with exhibits the suspect(s) have had access to.

Question 9

Formal identification (8)

Answer 9

• fingerprints
• DNA profiling (identification results take 3-4 weeks or 48 hours for urgent analysis)
• dental records, available through the Region Forensic Dentistry Advisor
• eye examination records
• medical examination records, including scars, birth marks, implants or prosthetics, xrays,
• surgical wounds, amputations and tattoos
• personal effects
• facial reconstruction.