Dear Friends: I am following the Oscar Pistorius case with interest on Live Streaming or TV (if possible). A few aspects come to mind which I would like to share with you: - A crime scene is like a field laboratory. Theres a lot of evidence lying around. Some you can see with the naked eye and other you cannot see. People, and unfortunately I have to include some senior police officers will only come out of curiosity to see what has transpired. In this process they destroy a crime scene. What gets destroyed can never be reversed - There are most often a number of witnesses who saw what happened and they will stand around for a while and will wander away if nobody approaches them to enquire if they saw something. Some of these witnesses will be very hard to trace again. So what can we do to prevent the destruction of a crime scene or to ensure that witness details are available? - If you are the first person on the scene then phone the SAPS, identify yourself and provide full details of address and type of incident. This might be difficult to do as excitement often get the better of us. We get impatient and then start to shout or scream over the phone. This waists valuable time, so try and remain calm - Prevent any unauthorised persons entering the premises. The bigger the area that you can control the better. Obviously you can’t prevent SAPS members from entering. - Report to the first SAPS member on his/her arrival that you have cordoned off the area and provide your full details. Also obtain that SAPS member’s details - DON NOT TOUCH OR MOVE ANY OBJECT ON THE CRIME SCENE. Walk with your hands in your pockets - Ascertain if there are any witnesses and if they are prepared to wait for the SAPS and if they can’t, ask them if they could leave their contact details with you. Hand this to the SAPS - Take down vehicle registration numbers in the vicinity and provide that to the SAPS There are many other things you can do but I think one’s logic will guide you through the process. The prosecutor can only present evidence that is in the case docket. Remember if there is any doubt in a magistrate or judge’s mind the benefit must go to the accuse Kind Regards Lucas
Posted on: Fri, 14 Mar 2014 06:11:42 +0000
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