Witness management in homicide or serious crime investigations

Question 1

What is a witness?

Answer 1

Any person who has information about an alleged offence or offender

Question 2

When would it be necessary to conduct a prompt prelim interview of the witness

Answer 2

When they have info that is likely to rapidly progress the investigation eg

• Early ID or arrest of a suspect
• Recovery of evidence or information relevant to the offence
• Prevention of the imminent disposal or destruction of evidence
• Prevention of commission of other offences

Question 3

If a witness declines to be interviewed what should you do?

Answer 3

Promptly bring it to the attention of OC investigation

Question 4

Explain immunity

Answer 4

Where a witness cannot give evidence for the prosecution without also incriminating themselves in a lesser offence, and the prosecution is unlikely to proceed without them, crown can consider immunity

Question 5

Alibi witnesses must only be interviewed under

Answer 5

Direction of the crown solicitor

Question 6

Alibi witness: when particulars of alibi witnesses are notified the investigator must

Answer 6

• Make enquiries to determine the veracity of the alibi
• Conduct inquiries as directed by OC investigation and the crown solicitor including NIA checks on the alibi witness
• Forward the results of these enquiries to the crown solicitor, including any statements obtained