Victims Flashcards
What are the OC body responsibilities
- Ensure death has been certified by a Dr, using the deceased person cert
- Maintain security and continuity of the body, sample, exhibits from the scene to post-mortem
- secure and guard the body, body samples and 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 and by who in respect of the body
- establish if the body has been moved or disturbed
- ensure body is photographed in situ and consider video
- with authority from OC Invest arrange transport of body to mortuary
- complete sudden death procedures
- arrange formal ID
- obtain medical history for the pathologist
- attend post-mortem
- preserve evidence from the body
- record, label and secure all samples and exhibits
prior to moving the body what must the OC do?
Make an appreciation in respect of the removal of the body
Notification to and response fro the coroner
Views of the pathologist, ESR and Crown attending the scene
Consultation with other relevant experts
Requirement for any examination or action needed before the removal, based on known facts of the case
Best method and rout for the body removal to minimise contamination of the scene, eg stepping plates.
Chain of custody of the body from scene to mortuary
Safe custody of exhibits
Family and cultural considerations
What action should Police take where the body has been disturbed at the scene
Establish what movements have taken place and have the OC body record that info
Do not attempt to restore the scene to the original unchanged condition
Make enquiries to enable the original unchanged scene to be subsequently reconstructed and photographed if require
Describe Who should be appointed as OC body
An experienced investigator with an awareness of forensic issues, if not possible the OC may need additional support.
The appointment of an additional deputy to assist the OC body as a scene exhibits officer especially during the post-mortem should,be considered.
How can the pathologists findings with the body assist in an investigation
Establish how the injuries or events at the scene may have contributed to the death
Determining the mode and time of death
Determining the nature and size of any weapon used
Determining the approx height/statues of the suspect
Providing areas of interest for subsequent interviews of witnesses/suspect
negating possible defences
ID’ing the victim if identity not established
What instruction should be given to a person ID’ing a body
they are fully informed of what is required of them and what they should expect to see when seeing the body, particularly after a post-mortem
List methods of ID’ing a body that has decomposed
eye examination records
medical records, including scars, birth marks, implants, prosthetic s xrays , surgical wounds, amputations, tattoos
Personal effects
Fingerprints
facial reconstruction
DNA profiling
Dental records
What info might a pathologist provide through analysis of skeletal remains
whether they are actually bones
Whether they are human bones
Age, height, gender, and race
When may an OC take notes regarding a PM
they MUST NOT make notes of discussion concerning the PM unless specifically directed by the OC investigation and/or pathologist
When should the OC strip the body
Immediately before the PM examination commences, must only be done on the direction of OC Investigation, generally after a visual examination and collection of exhibits fro the clothed body has been completed.
At the conclusion of the PM, the OC must hand all exhibits to OC Exhibits. List 3 tings OC body must do
- provide the PM scene exhibit schedule
- a copy of the OC Body notebook entries
- A FWS
In addition to photgraphs taken at the scene, the OC body must ensure the photographer at the mortury takes sufficient appropriate photographs of what?
*The body before stripped
*the body after stripped
*close up photos of any wound, mark, internal injuries and unusal features
*photos must include measuring scale place in proximity to the feature being photgraped, to make a permanenet record of the dimentions of the feature
Who is resposnsible for managing the removal of a body
The OC investigation ultimately for how the removal and the examination are managed. Body must not be moved without authority from OC Invest.
Who fromt the police should attend the PM
OC invest, OC body, and Photographer.
An exhibits officer for PM if required and
SOCO or fingerprint officer if required.
post Motrtem safety gear
must dress in protective clothing ie. foot coverings, latex gloves, 2 pairs, overalls, facemasks
