05) - Victims Flashcards
Three key elements of Homicide
- Location/Scene
- Victim
- Suspect
OC Body Responsibilities - Medical
- Ensure death has been certified by a doctor or qualified paramedic
- Note details of medical staff or others who have attended the victim.
OC Body Responsibilities - Scene
MAPS-N
- Moved - establish if body has been moved or disturbed
- Action - record what actions have been taken by any party in relation to the body
- Photographed - ensure body is photographed in situ and consider video recording
- Secure and guard the body with dignity and respect
- Note and record observations relating to the body
O/C Body Responsibilities - Movement
- On authority of OC investigation arrange transport of body to mortuary
- Maintain security and continuity of the body, samples and exhibits from the scene to the start of the post mortem.
O/C Body Responsibilities - Key documents
- POL47
- Formal ID
- Historical medical records of the victim for the pathologist.
O/C Body Responsibilities - Post-mortem
PREFAB
- Photos - make sure police photographer takes at all stages of post-mortem
- Record, label and secure all samples and exhibits
- Evidence - preserve it from the body
- Fingerprints - arrange for these and palm prints as required
- Attend with the OC
- Briefing - attend for pathologist’s findings.
O/C Body Responsibilities - Debrief
- Attend debrief of pathologist and record findings, on direction of OC or pathologist
- Ensure cultural responsibilities have been addressed.
Information to obtain in order to effectively brief experts and interested parties
- actions of the first responders
- photographs and/or video recordings taken at the scene
- identity of the body
- history of the body- including medical history, drugs found at the scene, action taken or developments since the discovery of the body
- timeframes relating to the finding of the body, the last sighting and other significant times that may impact upon time of death
- scope and priorities of the investigation
Appreciation prior to body removal
(Factors)
- Supervision of the body removal
- Exhibits - safe custody
- Route for the body removal to minimise contamination
- Views of the pathologist etc attending the crime scene
- Notification to and response from, the Coroner
- Chain of custody of the body from the scene to the mortuary
Establishing if the body has been moved
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.
Samples at the scene - This is advisable where evidence would otherwise be lost or contaminated by moving the body, such as:
- Larvae and insects
- DNA swabs
- Fingerprint evidence from the skin on the body of the victim and/or items of clothing worn by the body, e.g. fine woven fabrics
- Firearm residue samples
Recording details and removing the body
Record all details of the position of the body including:
(PAWDLE)
- Position of the limbs
- Appearance of the body
- Wounds and clothing
- Direction of any trails of blood present on the body
- Lividity, if present
- Extent of rigor mortis present
Appreciation prior to post mortem
(Factors)
- ID of the body at the mortuary
- Consultation with the pathologist
- Authority from the Coroner to conduct post-mortem
- Safe custody of exhibits
Primary role of the OC Body during a post-mortem
To observe, document and deal with exhibits associated with the body, in a structured, methodical manner.
Purpose of Post Mortem
The primary reason for conducting a Post Mortem is to establish the cause of death.
Findings may also include:
Height and stature of suspect Areas of interest for interviews Nature and size of weapon ID the victim Injuries or events at scene that may have contributed to the death Mode and time of death Negate defences
