Ch 8 Flashcards
Second-degree murder
involves the killing of another but without the element of premeditation.
Manslaughter
defined as the unlawful killing of another without malice or premeditation either voluntarily or involuntarily. Voluntary manslaughter involves a killing that is done in the heat of passion.
The corpus delicti of all criminal homicide comprises the following:
An evidentiary showing
- of the death of a human being
- of a criminal agency
- that the criminal agency was the proximate cause of the death
Criminal agency
means that the death was caused by another person’s unlawful act or omission.
In homicide cases
autopsy performed on the victim is an extension of the crime scene and offers an additional opportunity to search for clues and evidence useful in the investigation.
lividity
The areas of the body showing lividity indicate the position after death. Wounds and their appearance are particularly significant as they often assist in reconstructing the circumstances of a crime, as well as the nature of the murder weapon and the manner of its use.
Surgical Procedures.
Surgery that took place during the lifetime of the victim may also aid in identification.
No dental database
There is no database for dental records. In order to obtain these records the deceased person’s dentist must be located, and in order to do that the investigator must have an idea who the deceased person is.
male teeth have longer root lengths.
window of death.
who talked to the deceased victim prior to the fatal assault, either in person or over a telephone.
algor mortis.
After death the body begins to cool
Rigor Mortis
Biochemical changes in the body after death produce stiffening of the muscles, 2-6 hours after death. Goes away after 2-3 days
postmortem lividity
Due to gravity, when the blood stops circulating, it begins to settle to the lowest portion of the body.
noticeable approximately within one hour after death and is fully developed within three to four hours.
Decomposition, or putrefaction
Autolysis occurs by a chemical breakdown of the body that results in the softening and liquefaction of body tissue.
And
Bacterial action converts body tissue into liquids and gases. Within twenty-four hours, a discoloration of the skin is noticeable. This greenish-red or bluegreen color change is pronounced within thirty-six hours.
CRIME SCENE
- Evidence
- Witness(es)
- Suspect(s)
- Crime Theory
Be alert at the approach to and the entrance to the crime area for the perpetrator and others leaving the crime scene.
warning all present not to smoke, use any plumbing (sinks, tubs, showers, toilet) or towels, touch any objects or surfaces at the scene, or walk in or otherwise contaminate blood traces at the scene.
Post Scene
1.Cause of Death
2. Time of Death
3.Criminal Agency
4.Crime Theory
Determine time of death; bracket the time period. a. Witness(es) who saw victim alive or talked to victim by telephone before his or her death b. Witness(es) who discovered victim (the crime)
