Victim Flashcards
Where the body has been disturbed:
- Do not attempt to restore the scene to its original unchanged condition.
- Make enquiries to enable the original unchanged scene to be subsequently reconstructed and photographed, if required.
Formal Identification:
It is important that those carrying out the formal ID are fully informed what is required of them and what they should expect to see when they view the deceased, particularly after a post-mortem examination.
Prior to moving the body from the scene what specific action must the OC body take?
SO ARCHER CARS WC
S - The body must be considered a ‘scene within a scene’
O - the OC Investigation is ultimately responsible for ensuring how the removal and examination of the body will be managed.
A - Obtain approval from O/C investigation to remove the body from the scene.
R - Record the position of the body sketch plan and direct a police photographer to take photo’s, consider video recording
C - Consult with scene coordinator and O/C scene, consider marking the position of the body before removing, if possible
H - Consider health risks when handling the body
E - Ensure clothing on the deceased is not contaminated with foreign objects.
R - Record all details of the position of the body including:
- Position of limbs
- Appearance
- Wounds, clothing
- direction of trail of blood on the body
- Lividity if present
- extent of rigor mortis
C - Cover head, hands and feet of the deceased with paper bags and wide tape to prevent trace evidence being lost,.
A - Arrange a contracted undertaker to remove the body to the mortuary.
R - Retain all sheets, bags or other material used to transport the body as exhibts.
S - Search underneath where the body lay
W - Wrap body in a plastic sheet and place in body bag.
C - Cultural considerations should also be taken into account.
Appreciation when moving the body considerations:
NERVESBCFR
N • Notification to and response from, the Coroner
E • Consultation with other relevant experts
R • Requirement for any examination or action needed before removal, based on known facts of the case
V • Views of the pathologist, ESR forensic scientist and Crown Solicitor attending the crime scene
E• Custody of exhibits
S• Supervision of the body removal
B• Best method and route for the body removal, to minimise contamination of the scene or the body.
C• Chain of custody of the body from the scene to the mortuary
F• Family and/or cultural considerations
R• Record Standing Operating Procedures (SOP) for what and how protective equipment must be used in relation to the scene and the body
Methods of Identification if visual not possible:
FDDEMPF Mutilation or decomposition may render visual identification of a body impossible
• 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.
Stripping the body:
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.
Detail the responsibilities of the OC Body regarding exhibits taken from the body at the mortuary?
The OC Body is responsible for recording, labelling, packaging, sealing and securing all physical exhibits relating to the body, including samples taken during the post-mortem.
All exhibits must be packaged and sealed before leaving the mortuary, without exception and will be recorded in a Scene Exhibits Schedule.
The primary reason for conducting a post mortem examination is to establish the cause of death. List four matters how the pathologist’s findings may assist the investigation?
- Determining where possible, the mode and time of death
- Establishing how injuries and/or events at the scene may have contributed toward the death of the victim
- Determining the nature and size of any weapon(s) used
- Determining the approximate height and stature of the suspect
- providing areas of interest for subsequent interviews of witnesses and/or suspects
- negating possible defences
- identifying the victim if identity has not been established
What specific experts must be notified and their attendance requested for a post mortem?
- Pathologist
- Coroner
- Morgue Technicians
- Police photographer
- Trainee pathologist – if authorised by the coroner
- Doctor who treated the deceased
- Doctor representing the interest of the suspect – if authorised by the coroner
- SOCO/Fingerprints (if required)
- OC Investigation
- OC Body
- OC Exhibits for PM (if required)
- The legal representative of any suspect who has been (or may be) charged must be informed of the time, date and place of the post-mortem, and advised that they are required to seek authority from the Coroner for a doctor (or any other representative) to attend on their behalf.
Particular consideration should be given to seeking authority from the coroner to attend the PM for?
ESR Forensic Scientist and Crown Solicitor
List six of the responsibilities of the OC body?
• Ensure death has been certified by a doctor or qualified paramedic using a Deceased Person Certificate (POL 265)
• Maintain security and continuity of the body, samples and exhibits, from the scene to the commencement of the post-mortem examination
• Secure and guard the body, body samples and any exhibits relating to the body, with dignity and respect
• Note and record observations relating to the body
• Note details of medical staff or others who have attended the victim
• Record what actions have been taken by any party in respect of the body
• Establish if the body has been moved or disturbed
• Ensure the body is photographed ‘in situ’ and consider using video recording
• On authority of the OC Investigation, arrange transportation of the body to the
mortuary
• Complete sudden death procedures
• On authority of OC investigation, arrange formal identification of the body using form Pol 265A
• Obtain historical medial records of victim for information of pathologist
• 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
• Attend the debrief of the pathologist and record the findings, on direction of the OC
and/or pathologist
• Ensure all cultural responsibilities have been addressed.
When skeletal remains are found what information can a forensic anthropologist provide?
- Whether the remains are actually bones
- Whether the bones are human
- The age, gender, height and race of the person
Action after the post-mortem:
The OC Body must hand all exhibits to the OC Exhibits, in order to maintain an unbroken chain of exhibit continuity and security.
They should also provide the OC Exhibits with:
- The post-mortem Scene Exhibit Schedule
- Copy of the OC Body’s notebook entries
- Formal written statement
The OC body is responsible for preparing the sudden death file and submitting it as soon as possible. What are the four documents that must be included on the file?
- Statement relating to the victims formal identification
- Copy of the Pol 47 (report for the coroner) or, in the case of a child under the age of 2 years, a Pol 47A (Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy)
- Copy of Deceased Person Certificate (Pol 265)
- Copy of Deceased Person Identification (Pol 265A).
When attending the post-mortem with OC Investigation what must you do?
- Attend briefing of pathologist by OC Investigation
- Observe, document and deal with evidence from the body (exhibit)
- Attend debrief of pathologist and record findings
- Ensure cultural responsibilities have been addressed
- Formal identification (if required)
