Essay/Term paper: Investigation techniques of a homicide

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Politics

Investigation Techniques of A Homicide


The O. J. Simpson double murder trial is perhaps the most publicized
case this decade. However, before the police can arrest Simpson and prosecute
him, they must investigate. The investigation techniques LAPD used are used all
over the world.

CRIME SCENE
Patrol officers received a disturbance call at Nicole Simpson's
residence. They arrived on scene and discovered two bodies. They looked around
to see if the suspect is anywhere around then they checked to determine the two
subjects were dead. The officers immediately contacted the detectives on duty
and supervisors and then secured the area to ensure no contamination to the
scene. The officers' duties included making sure that no unauthorized people may
enter the scene. They also have to protect all possible evidences left by the
suspect.
In the Simpson case, the officers did not do a very good job at securing
the scene. They had allowed unauthorized officers the go through the scene, thus
causing some contamination to the crime scene. This error had allowed the
defense to attack the creditability of the police department.

CAUSE AND TIME OF DEATH
When the officers first arrived the scene, they saw two people lying in a
pool of blood. The officers did not know if they were dead and if they were, how
and when. After the medical examiner looked at the bodies and the wounds on the
victims, he concluded that they were stabbed to death. The time of death was a
bit harder to determine. Death caused some changes to the bodies. The
investigator looked at the changes and was able to estimate a time of death.
Some of the changes the examiners look for are: lost of body temperature,
rigor mortis, and postmortem lividity. The body temperature will start to
decrease after death. The body will also start to stiffen after death, this is
call rigor mortis. Rigor mortis usually starts to set in two to four hours after
death. Time of death can be estimated by the stiffness of the body. Another way
to estimate the time of death is postmortem lividity. When the body ceased to
function, gravity pulls the blood down and settled at the lowest points of the
body. Postmortem lividity may appear on the body between half hour to four hours
after death.
The determination of the time of death is important in a homicide
investigation. This information can give the police a viable suspect. It can
also break the suspect alibi.

EVIDENCES
There were numerous evidences at the residence of Nicole Simpson. There
were the bodies of both Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman. There was a large amount
of blood of both victims. There were also shoe prints and other evidences. These
evidences could tell the investigators how the and where the victims were killed.
The importance of crime scene security is once again emphasized here. On the
bodies and the scene, there may be trace evidence from the suspect. These trace
evidences could help the investigators learn about the suspect. There might be
hair and clothe fibers transferred on to the victims by the suspect. These trace
evidences can tell what sex, age, and race of the suspect. If the scene was not
protected well against contamination, some of these trace evidences could be
lost.
The main evidences of this case are the bodies, blood, and the questionable
bloody glove. The bodies were searched thoroughly and removed. Then the scene
was searched for more obvious evidences and processed. Then trace evidences were
searched for and collected. Since most of the evidences had blood on them, the
were treated with extreme caution. The evidences were also collected in a paper
bag to prevent moisture build-up, hence ruining the evidences.

DOCUMENTING THE SCENE
The first officers on the scene had taken some notes regarding the
murder case. The investigators made more detailed notes. They also made sketches
of the scene. They marked down where Nicole Simpson's body was and the patterns
which the blood splattered. They did the same thing with Ron Goldman's body. The
investigators also wrote down where every thing was found and marked them on
their sketches.
On their reports, there were the overall description of the scene, date
time and location, victims' description, and wounds of the victims. Numerous
photographs were taken as well. With all these information, the investigators
were able to reconstruct and estimate how the crime was committed. With the aid
of computers, LAPD reconstructed what might have happened with computer
animation.
Photographs were also very important. Every inch of that crime scene was
photographed. The pictures showed where everything was and the exact location of
the evidences. All these pictures and the sketches and reports were used in
court to help the prosecution.

INTERVIEW POSSIBLE WITNESSES
While the investigators processed the scene, the other officers and the
detectives were locating and interviewing all possible witnesses. The statements
taken from those witnesses could help the police determine the time of the
incident and possibly a suspect description. All the neighbors of Nicole Simpson
were interviewed. Their statements helped in the establishment of the time of
the incident. Both Nicole and Ron's friends were interviewed. The police found
out why Ron Goldman was at Nicole Simpson's house. The police also found out
about the victim's lifestyles in order to determine if they have any enemies who
might do this to them.
At the same time, the victims' next of kin were notified. The police had
already determined that the victims were murdered. Their biggest task was to
find out who and why. O. J. Simpson was at Chicago during that time. He was
shocked when he found out about the murder. After more interviews with the
witnesses and friends of the victims, the police found out that O. J. had a
history of domestic violence. Also some of the statements given by his limo
driver and his house guest did not favor O. J. any. Soon the police narrowed the
investigation and focused on O. J.
When O. J. found out that he was the suspect of this double murder case he
became suicidal and pacifically resisted arrest. He led the police on a fairly
low speed chase in his white Ford Bronco driven by his friend. The chase was
captured by the news media and gained the attention of the world. The chase
ended at O. J.'s house where he turned himself in to the police.

THE ELEMENTS OF CRIME
The LAPD had arrested O. J. Simpson as the suspect of the double murder.
They collected enough evidences to charge him with two counts of first degree
murder. The chase with the police did not help him a bit. In order for O. J. to
be tried for first degree murder, the prosecution must prove that he knowingly
caused the deaths of Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman after deliberation on the
matter.
Simpson's house guest stated that he saw Simpson pulled up in the white
bronco shortly after the time of the murders. The limo driver who drove Simpson
to the airport said he waited for Simpson for fifteen minutes. All the times
given by these witnesses coincide with the alleged time of the murders. The
police investigations uncovered more evidences to link Simpson to the murders.
All the testimonies showed that Simpson had actually planned the crime. He even
had an alibi which was shaky. Simpson also had a history of spousal abuse. All
the evidences pointed unfavorably toward O. J. Simpson. The elements of the
crime the police needed were established and Simpson was formally Charged.

DNA
There were no fingerprints at the crime scene. However, there were some
blood which belonged to neither victims'. Thanks to modern technology,
scientists can detect differences in people's DNA. DNA is the genetic
fingerprint of a person. The principal of DNA identification is the same as
fingerprints, no two persons can have the same composition. During the Simpson
trial, the admissibility of DNA evidence was highly debated.
The O. J. Simpson trial had ended for a year now. O. J. was cleared of
murdering his former wife and her friend. The police is still investigating this
case. The LAPD made some mistakes which allowed the defense to attack the
creditability of the police. This showed the importance of protecting the
crime scene. Other than these mistakes, the LAPD conducted a almost text book
perfect investigation.

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