Case

The moment of solving a crime is the most difficult and strenuous one. The pressure is high, the tension is unbearable, the various aspects of it must be combined together and not overlooked before it is too late to catch a killer. Notwithstanding the data and police reports still 85% of victims are hurt, murdered or disappear because of the family members and the closest relatives. Most of them do not know that the person standing just right next to them – might be a potential lawbreaker. The data does not lie, it indicates a serious problem. The process of studying profiles of [serial] killers cannot answer the question why people kill; it happens out of the blue, just like that – a calm, psychologically stable person suddenly strikes and kills. The science and years of observations proved it is something more than that; the hidden; violent sub-consciences is somehow awoken and brought back to life. It is defined as an unstoppable anger that has to find its release, its impact hits far beyond the imagination; the image of the murder becomes real, it becomes true. Subconsciousness is conscious. How does come? Psychologists explain this phenomena as regression of unpleasant and hurtful feelings which are tightly closed in our mind such as the overwhelming hatred. The anger comes from hatred. Anger can be stopped whereas hatred must be gotten rid of, the outcome is sudden; often unpredictable with fatal consequences.

Porvoo is a crime scene – the young woman had been found, 50km northeast from Helsinki, Finland. The deceased was completely naked from the waist down and the upper part of her body was clothed normally, the jeans and underwear were bundled on the victim's chest. The examination of the body underwent the standard procedure; the samples were taken. The pieces of evidence were secured. The fibers were taken from various places; the most common for the victim to go to. The house of the victim was thoroughly examined and searched for any pieces of fibers/ microfibers which could direct the investigation into certain way; the way a murderer and a rapist is to be found.

The police uses nonuniform and patrol divisions, detectives in crime scene processing. The division of labor by function is very practical and make the work ongoing faster and more effectively. Multiple number of divisions are present; detectives, specialists, crime scene investigators, fingerprints specialists, forensic specialists, each of the group is responsible for gathering and examining the physical evidence.

During the investigations of homicides, rapes, assaults and robberies – the law enforcement members gain much more extensive training, the rules are the same in all crime scenes in all cases at all times! The investigative group have to gather as much information as possible; the objectives are:

• reconstruct the incident;
• ascertain the sequence of events;
• determine the mode of operation;
• uncover a motive;
• discover what property was stolen;
• find out all that the criminal may have done;
• recover physical evidence of the crime;

In some case the torrent of events and investigation procedures lead directly to the criminal. The work at the crime scene is most of the time thankless. Moreover the notion of teamwork in criminal investigation is a key factor to solve the crime, a case's solution.

"(...) It is better to have processed the scene more thoroughly than needed than to have overlooked something seemingly insignificant that later turns out to be a critical item of evidence in the investigation (...)"

Each of the crime scenes is different and specifict, often reflects the environment, therefore it may not be possible to lay down absolute rules for conducting the investigation; for that reason we have so-called generalized outline on how to proceed a scene; regardless of the problems and unfamiliar circumnstances. A good crime scene investigator must have an eye and hintch. An intuition which indicates what needs to be done, knowledge. He or she follow the patter; a schemata;

• how the search should be conducted;
• what needs to be photographed at the scene;
• where the possible sources of physical evidence are;

By following these three points, the investigation may start and on-go. The beginning is to document everything that is seen at the crime scene and it includes:

• photography/ videotaping (overall scene);
• the investigation of the crime scene properly/ thoroughly;
• sketching;
• note taking ( most of them are taken throughout the investigation; Notes are the Must!)

Contemporaneous note are essential part of the investigation; as well as during the time of the trial. Another important skill that take part at the crime scene is a sketch; sometimes an investigator must examine a scene thoroughly, see the details; make a sketch of an object; the smallest item does matter. Notwithstanding the quick pace of the investigation so-called "healthy skepticism" should be present, though, never believe to the end and judge to excess, namely the circumstances, pieces of evidence may change the course of the whole investigation. Things are often not what they seem to be. Be critical,  judge wisely.

The crime scene is often examined during the day, checking and examining it at night should be avoided; always remember " (...) two heads are better than one (...)".

The presence of paramedics is invariable; if they are called they have to have an access to a crime scene; "(...) let them do it; whenever the injured person is present or when death has not been established with certainty. Beware, though, do not let them to destroy the crime scene and its pieces of evidence (...)".

A crime scene investigation is characterised by three essential conditions for success:

• organisation;
• thoroughness;
• caution;

At the very onset of the investigation of the crime scene a "trash pile" is designated. It contains the things which do not lay about the scene.

As it is seen; the complex and thorough process of uncovering the crime scene is a tedious procedure; filled with contradictions and statements of people who are or "would like to be involved" in the crime. The judicial criticism helps to exclude them out. The potential suspect may be the closest friend or the hardened-enemy. Therefore "judge ... record ... note ... and think" are the essentials skills which help not be misled and deceived.

Bibliography:

1. Criminal Investigations – Crime Scene Investigation.2000
2. Forensic Science.2006
3. Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation.2012
4. Forensics Pathology.2001
5. Pathology.2005   

Acknowledgements: 

The Police Department; 

https://www.politie.nl/mijn-buurt/politiebureaus/05/burgwallen.html and a Chief Inspector – Mr. Erik Akerboom                                               ©