Victims Flashcards
What are the OC body responsibillities?
- Ensure death has been certified by doctor using deceased person cetrification
- Maintain security and continuity of the body, samples, and 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 other 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 body is photographed in situ and consider video
- On authority of OC investigation arrange transport of body to mortuary
- Complete sudden death procedures
- On authority of OC investigation arrange formal ID of body
- Obtain medical history of victim for pathologist
- Attend post-mortem with OC investigation
- Make sure sufficient photographs are taken of the body
- Preserve evidence from the body
- Record, label and secure all samples and exhibits associated with the body
- Attend the debrief of the pathologist and record findings on direction of OC investigation or pathologist
- Ensure all cultural responsibillities have been addressed
Prior to removing the body, what must OC body do?
Make an appreciation in respect of the removal of the body. These factors should be considered in the appreciation
- Notification to and response from, the coroner
- Views of the pathologist, ESR forensic scientist and Crown Solicitor attending the crime scene
- Consultation with other relevant experts
- Requirement for any examination or action needed before removal, based on known facts of the case
- Best method and route for the body removal, to minimise contamination of the scene or the body, for example by using sterile stepping plates
- Supervision of the body removal
- Chain of custody of the body from the scene to the mortuary
- Safe custody of exhibits
- Family and / or cultural considerations
- Records SOP’s what protective clothing is worn
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 information
- Do not attempt to restore the scene to its original unchanged condition
- Make enquiries to enable the original unchangd scene to be subsequently reconstructed and photographed if required
Describe who should be appointed as OC body at a serious crime scene?
- An experienced investigator with awareness of forensic issues. Where this is not possible the OC body may require additional support or mentoring.
- The appoinment of an additional deputy to assist the OC body as Scene Exhibits Officer specifically during the post-mortem examination should be considered.
Describe the role of the OC body during a post-mortem examination?
- The primary role of the OC body during a post-mortem examination is to observe, document and deal with exhibits associated with the body, in a structured, methodical manner.
How can the pathologists finding with the body assist in an investigation?
-Establishing how injuries and/or events at the scene may have contributed toward the death of the victim
- Determining where possible the mode and time of death
- Determining the nature and size of any weapon used
- Determining the approximate height and stature of the suspect
- Proving area of interest for subsequent interviews of witnesses and / or suspects
- Negating possible defences
- Identifying the victim if identity has not been established
What instructions should be given to a person identifying a body?
It is important those carrying out the formal identification are fully informed what is required of them and what they should expect to see when they view the deceased, particuarly after a post-mortem examination has taken place.
List the methods of identifying a body that has decomposed
- Eye examination records
- Medical records, including scars, birthmarks, implants, or prosthetics, x-rays, surgical wounds, amputations, and tattoos
- Personal effects
- Fingerprints
- Facial reconstruction
- DNA profiliing
- Dental records
What information might a forensic anthropologist proved tough analysis of skeletal remains?
- Whether the remains are actually bones
- Whether the bones are human
- The age, gender, height, and race of the person
When may the OC body take notes regarding a post-mortem?
The OC Body must not make any notes of dicussions concerning the post-mortem examination, unless specifically directed to by the OC investigation and/or the pathologist.
When should the OC body strip the body of clothing?
Stripping of the body will take place immediately before the PM examination commences, but must only be undertaken of the specific direction of the OC investigation, generally after a visual examination and collection of evidence from the clothed body has been completed.
In addition to photographs taken at the scene, the OC body must ensure the photographer at the mortuary takes sufficient appropriate photographs of:
- The body, before it is stripped
- The body. after it is stripped
- Close up photographs of any wounds, marks, internal injuries and unusual features
- These photographs must include a measuring scale places in the proximity to the feature being photographed, to make a permenant record of the dimensions of the feature.
What is the OC body’s repsonsibility in relation to exhibits from the body?
- The OC body is responsible for recording, labelling, packaging, sealing, and securing all physcial exhibits relating to the body, including samples taken during the post-mortem
- All exhibits must be packaged and sealed before leaving the mortuary
At conclusion of a post-mortem, OC body must hand all exhibits to OC Exhibits. List three things OC body must do
The OC body should provide the OC Exhibits with:
- The post-mortem scene exhibit schedule
- Copy of the OC’s body’s notebook entry
- Formal statement
