3.

4 Proper documentation of crime scene investigation and techniques involving

special cases;

SEAL

To maintain integrity of the specimen; to further prove that no tampering took

placed.

�MARKINGS� on the specimen

These are information to ensure that the items can be identified by the collector
at any time in the future.

This precaution will help immeasurably to established the credibility of the

collector�s report or testimony and will effectively avoid any suggestions that the
item has been misidentified.
Markings on Evidence during the collection

Markings on the specimen must at least contain the following:

A. Exhibits and/or SOCO Case # (for SOCO personnel)

B. Initials and or signature of the collecting officer.

c. Time and date of collection.

***It is also important to note the place or location where the evidence was
collected.

Note: ENCIRCLING THE STAIN WITH A MARKER OR INK MUST BE DONE ONLY WHEN:

a. To indicate a particular stain to be examined.

b. There is a suspicion for a possibility that the stain will further fade through
time.

c. The stain is not prominent or hardly visible to the naked eye.

In rape cases, bed sheets, blankets, pillows, couch covers, etc.. Are just some
sample of materials where seminal stains are commonly found.
This type of stains is unstable and fades through time. ENCIRCLING THE STAIN IS
RECOMMENDED

Labeling through Tagging

Tagging could be applied to movable objects such as this knife where placing
markings on any of its surfaces is not possible.

The tag must contain the markings and other information about the specimen

It is advisable to place same markings such as exhibit and initials on a secured

portion of the specimen for the following reasons:

a. The possibility for the tag to be dislodged or removed due to loose tagging or
incautious transport of the specimen;

b. To further intensify identification of the specimen if ever the need arises

(e.g. court of law/proceedings)

Physical Evidence

These are the articles and materials which re found in connection with the
investigation and aid in establishing the identity of the suspect.

What are the procedures needed for the care of physical evidence?

� In order to introduce physical evidence in court, three important factors

must be considered:
� a. The article must be properly identified
� b. Chain of custody must be proved
� c. The evidence must be material and relevant

What is chain of custody?

It is the number of persons who handle the evidence between the time of the
commission of the offense and the ultimate disposition of the case and should be
kept to minimum.
 3.5 Methods and techniques in identifying deceased victims, person, etc;

Establishing Death

� The first essential step of the homicide investigation is to establish that

the victim is, indeed, dead. Police officers do not have the legal authority to
pronounce death, only physicians/ medical doctor can establish the fact of death.
For this reason, the police officer should never assume death unless the condition
of the victim�s body demonstrates death in a totally obvious manner.

Identifying the Cadaver

� Establishing the identity of the victim is important, it will provide tracing

clues to the motive and identity of the perpetrator, with the identity known, the
investigator can focus attention on the victim�s background and establish a
possible motive through such information.

� If fingerprint identification is unsuccessful, the investigator must rely on

other methods to establish identity. Dental structures are highly resistant to
destruction, and are frequently useful when the other portions of the body are
totally decomposed.

� (Forensic Odontology). The skeletal remains of the victim may also help to
determine identity, as well as yield other types of information. If bone fractures
are noted, they may be used to identify the deceased, but if only corresponding
medical records can be located.

� The widths of the pelvic bones are excellent indicators of the victim�s sex;
Determination of the victims age maybe more difficult, in that the victims past the
age of eighteen years have generally achieved their maximum skeletal growth.
However, general age determination can be established via dental structure.

Law of Multiplicity of Evidence

� The greater the number of points of similarities and dissimilarities of two

persons compared, the greater is the probability for the conclusion to be correct.
Determination of time of death

� A determination of the time of death should be attempted in all homicide

investigations. This fact is significant because of its investigative importance in
corroborating or disputing alibis, or in establishing the victim�s movements prior
to death. Determining death is not an exact science.

Post- mortem changes

� Livor Mortis (Discoloration of the body; Setting of blood in the dependent

regions following death)

It is a reddish purple to purple coloration in dependent areas of the body due to

accumulation of blood in the small vessels of the dependent areas secondary to
gravity. This pooling of blood begins immediately after death and becomes fixed in
approximately 8- 12 hours.

� The investigator can press on the skin in the dependent regions and if the
skin blanches, death has probably occurred less than 12 hours. This becomes fixed
after while and can tell if the body has been moved. This is not a reliable
indicator of time of death. This is a better indicator of whether the body has been
moved since death.

The color of lividity may indicate the cause of death

� Carbon monoxide poisoning/ cyanide- cherry red to pinkish color

� Asphyxia- dark lividity

� Phosphorus poisoning- dark brown

Types of Lividity

� Hypostatic. Blood is still in fluid form inside blood vessel; Change as

position of the body change. Blood remains fluid in the blood vessel for 6- 8 hours

Diffusion. Coagulated inside blood vessel; Change in position

will change its location.
Rigor Mortis (Stiffening of the body)

� Chemical reaction that causes rigidity in the muscle groups or stiffening of

the body after death due to the disappearance of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) from
the muscle.

� Rigor mortis disappears with decomposition

� Cold and/ or freezing will delay the onset of rigor mortis as well as
prolong its presence

� Involves all muscles the same time at the same rate. It appears first in the
smaller muscles such as the jaw and then gradually spread to upper and lower
extremities.

Instantaneous rigidity can also be found following ingestion of cyanide and

strychnine poison.

Algor mortis (Cooling of the body)

The body cools following death at approximately 1.5 degrees F per hour, under
normal conditions and assuming the body�s temperature at death is 98.6 degrees F
(37 degrees C).

Factors affecting algor mortis

� - illness
� - clothes
� - obesity
� - room temperature

Examination of the Cadaver at the crime scene

� External post mortem appearances are very informative. 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, the nature of the murder weapon and the manner of its use.

� Defense wounds are the result of a person�s instinctive reaction of self-

protection. It may be found on the hand in the effort of the victim to grasp the
wounding instrument or by raising the hand to protect the vital parts of the body.
Absence of defense wound does not eliminate the possibility that the victim made
some form of defense.
Other external violence Marks

a. Contusion- an injury in the substance of the skin, discoloration of the surface

due to extravesation of blood. This is due to the application of a blunt
instrument.

B.Hematoma- this is the extravesation of blood in the newly formed cavity.

c. Incised Wound- produced by forcible contact on the body by sharp edge

instrument.

d. Stab wound- produced by the forcible application and penetration of a sharp

instrument.

e. Punctured wound- penetration of a sharp pointed weapon

f. lacerated wound- tearing of the skin due to forcible contact of a blunt

instrument.

INCISED WOUNDS

� SUICIDE:

� �The hallmark of self infliction is repetition.�

� Usually grouped incisions, parallel

� Usual site: throat and wrist.

� �trial or tentative cuts�

� Homicidal cut throat is devoid of tentative cuts and is severe.

� Homicidal cut throat can be multiple and irregular.

� In suicidal cut throat, left side of the neck has more deep incision.

� Suicidal stabbing does not involves the clothing.

HANGING, STRANGLING AND SUFFOCATION

� Hanging is almost always suicidal.

� Self manual strangulation is impossible.

� Strangulation by ligature.

� Horizontal vs. diagonal marks on the neck.

� Chemical asphyxia.

� Choking is almost always accident

Two types of gunshot wounds:

1. entrance wound (POE)

2. exit wound (POX)

Determination whether the wound is suicidal, homicidal or accidental

SUICIDE or HOMICIDE:

1. GSW is arm�s reach

2. Weapon should be present

3. Usually the mouth, temple, anterior neck chest.

4. Not in the eye, abdomen or back

5. Woman rarely use gun.

6. Multiple GSW suggest homicide.

Evidence to prove that gunshot wound is suicidal

The fire is usually contact or near contact, as shown by the presence of burning,
singeing and tattooing of the area around the gunshot wound.

� The presence of usually but one gunshot wound. In most cases, after a shot,
especially at the head, the victim can no longer voluntarily act to inflict another
shot.

Portions of the body involved are those accessible to the hand of the victim
utilized in committing suicide, he will not think of the difficult way of ending
his life unless he has the intention of deceiving the investigators
History of despondency, family problem which may cause him to commit suicide

Evidence to show that the wound is accidental

1. Usually there is but one shot.

2. There is no special area of the body involved

3. Testimony of the witnesses

Evidence to show that the wound is homicidal

1. The site or sites of the wound of entrance has no point of election.

2. The fire is made when the victim is usually some distance away from the
assailant

3. Signs of struggle/ defense wound maybe present in the victim

4 There maybe disturbance of the surrounding on the account of the previous

struggle.

5 Wounding firearm is usually not found at the scene of the crime.

6. Testimony of the witnesses.

3.6 Collection, handling, and preservation of physical evidence on special or high

profile cases.

MORE ON COLLECTION, HANDLING AND

PRESERVATION OF EVIDENCE
Sources of physical evidence in the crime scene and any traces may lead to the
identity of the perpetrator of a crime. For purposes of understanding, physical
evidence is any solid, semisolid, or liquid substances (no matter how microscopic
in nature) connected in the commission of a crime, which may help determine the
facts/truth. It establishes a case for or against a suspect by way of leads, clues
or evidence itself. It may confirm statements of witnesses or deny false testimony.

Collection, handling and preservation of evidences may require expert processing or

require scientific examination by laboratory technicians. Therefore, evidence
collection, markings for identification, packaging, transporting for safe storage
or for laboratory examination �and preservation should be carefully done after such
evidences have been located, recognized and recorded through a systematic search.
Carelessness or mishandling may ruin evidentiary value.

Depending on what crime was committed, the collection, handling and preservation of
evidences must be carefully and systematically done observing certain guidelines.

1) Evidence containers should be on hand.

2) Conduct proper search to locate evidences.

3) Where more officers are needed to conduct search, they should be assigned
specific areas with proper instructions to follow.

4) Take photos of evidences found.

5) Record location and description of evidences found.

6) Sketch crime scene indicating location of evidences when found.

7) All evidences collected should be placed in containers made for the purpose like
boxes, envelopes, plastic bags etc. and sealed.

8) Identify evidences with appropriate markings by writing complete description of

the evidence, date/time collected, where collected, nature/condition of evidence
and the name of officer who discovered and collected the evidence.

9) Investigator, for purposes of identifying evidences, should place the evidence

itself or in its container where appropriate. He should however take care not to
obliterate, alter originality or contaminate evidence(s).

10) In packaging evidence(s), it should be done in such a way that there will be no
breakage, loss, or contamination during handling or in transit. Evidences that need
comparison analysis for possible relationships should be packaged in separate
containers to prevent any cross-contamination.

11)Evidences should be turned over to (he evidence custodian after it has been
properly processed. Evidences turned over should be covered by officially approved
receipts and signed by the receiving evidence custodian indicating time and date
when received and from whom. This is also important for purposes of accountability
and responsibility especially in cases where problems of loss, substitution, or
alteration of the evidence(s) may arise.
In packaging physical evidences, the appropriate tools needed should he used such
as scissors, sealing tape, forceps, rubber gloves, pentel pens, pen and similar
instruments. Containers usually used are plastic envelopes/bags, plastic or non
plastic bottles (transparent or non transparent) wrapping papers, evidence boxes,
etc.

Blood and similar substances should be stored in a refrigerator.

Stain on clothings should be wrapped separately, appropriately marked and packaged.

Documentary evidences should not be folded and should be placed in envelopes as
appropriate.

For fibers, hair and other similar small items, this can be placed in objects with
stains, this should be placed in containers taking care that no other substance may
contaminate the evidence and brought to crime laboratory for analysis immediately.

Food, fluids and other similar substances should be placed separately in moisture
proof containers like bottles properly sealed. All other evidences are collected
and preserved as appropriate depending on its nature or condition and evidentiary
value.

In the transport of evidences where distance is the problem, it should be shipped

through insured parcel post or registered mail as the case maybe.