Part 10 - Witness Management In Homicide Or Serious Crime Investigstions

Question 1

Identifying and location homicide or serious crime witnesses: The informant

What should police who have first contact with informant do?

Answer 1

Should be debriefed and a full record made of their account

Question 2

Locating other witnesses:

Locating witnesses is a critical aspect of any investigation and the relevant communities should be considered widely

Having identified relevant communities what methods can be used BY OC toward identifying witnesses?

Answer 2

• viewing CCTV
• media releases and appeals
• area canvass
• interview with victims and other witnesses
• suspect interviews
• anniversary appeals
• road check points

Question 3

Locating other witnesses:

Depending on available resources, initial enquires might be confined to certain areas, such as within line of sight and earshot of these locations:

Answer 3

• place where the victim was last seen alive
• place where initial contact with suspect took place
• in place where the victim was assaulted
• murder site
• body deposition site

Consideration may also be given to:
- initiating a witness search along the possible access and escape routes from each scene
- making enquires at significant geographical locations close to scene

Question 4

Witness at a scene:
Some witnesses may have been so close to events that likely evidence was transferred to witness.

Before a witnesses interviewed what must be prepared?

Answer 4

A plan to preserve and recover all available physical evidence from the witness including:
- DNA
- fingerprints
- clothes
- footwear
- fibres
- body fluids
- glass or other materials

Question 5

Interviewing homicide and serious crime witnesses:
Preliminary witness interviews

On some occasions it may be necessary to conduct a prompt, preliminary interview with a witness who possesses info that will
Progress the investigation.

What could this info lead to?

Answer 5

• early identification or arrest of suspect
• recovery of evidence or info relevant to the offence
• prevention of the imminent disposal or destruction or evidence connected to investigation
• prevention of the commission of other offences

Question 6

Preliminary witness interviews:

How should the prelim interview be conducted?

Answer 6

• conducted in accordance with police manual chapter ‘investigative interviewing witness guide’
• limited to using appropriate open TEDS questions
• framed to elicit a brief account of events witnessed

Question 7

Initial witness assessment :

Before formal interview, assessment must be made of witness.

It should consider how interview should be conducted to identify?

Answer 7

• whether due to personal characteristics of witness or circumstances of offending, the witness requires special consideration
• availability of the witness
• any needs of he witness has for special assistance
• the optimum approach to be taken with the witness

Question 8

Appointment of interviewer:
What issues should be considered for selection of appropriate interviewer?

Answer 8

• the level of training of interviewer
  • adult witness lvl 3 specialist
  • interviews of witnesses in serious and complex crime - lvl 2 advanced interviewer
  • child or person with intellectual impairment
• the experience of the officer has in interviewing witnesses in major investigations
• the suitability of the officer to undertake the interview

Question 9

Witness interview plan:

What should the witnesses interview plan usually cover?

Answer 9

• time and location of the interview
• the amount of information to be disclosed to the interviewer
• setting interview objectives
• supporting the interview
• the structure of the interview

Question 10

Debrief phase:
Once interview is completed and then reviewed by OC phase what issues can be assessed?

Answer 10

• debriefing the interviews
• identifying any need for supplementary interviews
• the assessment of any risk to the witness and identification of any associated steps required to ensure ongoing support and safety

Question 11

Police responsibilities to witness:
Who is responsible for what?

Answer 11

FLO:
- maintaining contact

OC witness and OC investigation:
- Ensuring court attendance
- court proceedings
- witness intimidation
- expenses

OC Witness/ 2IC:
- witness order
- witness media interest letters
- interpreter issues
- welfare issues
- witness control
- refreshing memory
- arrange name suppression

File manager:
- victim views

File manager and 2IC:
- special measures

Question 12

Types of witnesses
What are the different witnesses you may incounter?

Answer 12

-Reluctant/unco-operative witnesses
- witnesses requiring protection
- alibi witnesses
- children and YP
- UC police and CHIS
- police witnesses