, PLEASE USE THIS DOCUMENT AS A GUIDE ONLY
SECTION A
QUESTION 1
1.1 Explain the immediate actions you would take on arrival at the murder crime scene.
The actions taken by the first responder upon arrival at a murder scene are arguably the most critical
in the entire investigation, as they set the foundation for all subsequent forensic and legal processes.¹
The primary objectives are to preserve life, secure the scene, and initiate the documentation process.
a. Prioritize Life Safety and Medical Assistance
The first and overriding duty is to preserve human life. Upon arrival, the first responder must
immediately assess the situation to determine if the victim or any other person is still alive and in
need of medical attention.² If there are signs of life, emergency medical services (EMS) must be
summoned and rendered without unduly disturbing the scene. If the victim is clearly deceased, their
body must not be moved, and their position and condition should be meticulously noted. The time of
death or the time the body was discovered must be recorded.³
b. Secure and Isolate the Crime Scene
Once the life safety assessment is complete, the immediate priority is to secure the area. This
involves establishing a physical perimeter to prevent unauthorised access.⁴ The scene should be
cordoned off using barrier tape or other available materials. This perimeter should be large enough to
encompass all potential evidence, including possible secondary scenes. Consideration must be given
to establishing both an inner and outer cordon to control movement and manage onlookers. The
primary objective is to restrict access to only those individuals directly involved in the investigation
to prevent contamination or destruction of physical evidence.⁵
c. Ensure Officer Safety
A scene assessment must be conducted to identify any ongoing threats to the first responder and
other emergency personnel. This includes checking for the presence of an armed suspect, hazardous
materials, biohazards, or any other unsafe conditions. The scene must be rendered safe before any
detailed work can commence.⁶
d. Detain and Identify Witnesses and Suspects
Individuals present at the scene must be identified and separated from one another to prevent
collusion. If a suspect is present and can be lawfully arrested, this should be done promptly to
prevent them from tampering with evidence. Witnesses should be kept separate until their statements
can be taken by investigators.⁷
¹ Fisher, Barry A. J., Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation, 8th ed. (Boca Raton: CRC Press, 2012), p. 87.
² Sechabe, M.P., Crime Scene Management by First Police Responders in Murder Cases within the Tshwane District, Gauteng Province
(Pretoria: University of South Africa, 2024), p. 34.
³ Fisher, Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation, p. 92.
⁴ Covington Police Department, Evidence Collection and Scene Preservation Manual (Covington: CPD Publications, 2018), p. 15.
⁵ Sechabe, Crime Scene Management, p. 41.
⁶ Fisher, Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation, p. 95.
⁷ OHCHR, Essentials of Administrative Order 35 Investigations: A Guide for First Responders (Geneva: United Nations, 2020), p. 22.
, e. Initial Observation and Documentation
The first responder must begin the documentation process immediately. This includes making
detailed notes of all observations, such as the time of arrival, the condition of the scene, any persons
present, and any actions taken. This initial documentation is crucial for later investigative and legal
proceedings. The officer should also make mental notes of the scene's condition, including the
position of doors, windows, lights, and anything that appears out of place.⁸
1.2 Discuss how you would protect and process the murder crime scene and collect physical
evidence.
After the scene is secured, the focus shifts to a systematic and methodical approach to protecting and
processing the scene to ensure the integrity of all physical evidence. This phase is managed by the
lead investigator or Crime Scene Manager.⁹
a. Scene Protection and Contamination Control
The primary goal is to preserve the crime scene in its original state to allow for the proper collection
of evidence. This is achieved through strict access control. A crime scene entry log must be
established to record the name, agency, and time of entry for every individual who enters the
cordoned area.¹⁰ Access must be limited only to essential personnel. All personnel entering the scene
should wear appropriate protective clothing, including gloves, masks, and shoe covers, to minimise
the introduction of foreign material and the contamination of evidence. The use of protective
equipment is critical, especially where bloodborne pathogens are a concern.¹¹
b. Systematic Scene Processing
The processing of a murder scene follows a logical progression, beginning with general
documentation and moving towards specific evidence identification.
Initial Walk-Through: The lead investigator performs an initial walk-through of the scene to
assess the situation, identify potential hazards, and determine the scope of the investigation.
This helps to develop a plan for the systematic processing of the scene.¹²
Documentation: The entire scene must be thoroughly documented before any evidence is
collected or moved. This typically involves a three-pronged approach:
Photography: The scene is photographed in its entirety to create a permanent visual record.
This includes overall, mid-range, and close-up photographs of key items of evidence from
multiple angles.¹³
Sketching: A detailed sketch of the crime scene is prepared. This diagram accurately
depicts the layout and the precise location of all evidence, the victim, and significant
landmarks. Measurements are taken to ensure the sketch is to scale, which is essential for
reconstructing events.¹⁴
⁸ Sechabe, Crime Scene Management, p. 48.
⁹ Fisher, Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation, p. 103.
¹⁰ Covington Police Department, Evidence Collection, p. 22.
¹¹ Fisher, Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation, p. 110.
¹² Sechabe, Crime Scene Management, p. 56.
¹³ Fisher, Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation, p. 125.
¹⁴ Ibid., p. 131.
SECTION A
QUESTION 1
1.1 Explain the immediate actions you would take on arrival at the murder crime scene.
The actions taken by the first responder upon arrival at a murder scene are arguably the most critical
in the entire investigation, as they set the foundation for all subsequent forensic and legal processes.¹
The primary objectives are to preserve life, secure the scene, and initiate the documentation process.
a. Prioritize Life Safety and Medical Assistance
The first and overriding duty is to preserve human life. Upon arrival, the first responder must
immediately assess the situation to determine if the victim or any other person is still alive and in
need of medical attention.² If there are signs of life, emergency medical services (EMS) must be
summoned and rendered without unduly disturbing the scene. If the victim is clearly deceased, their
body must not be moved, and their position and condition should be meticulously noted. The time of
death or the time the body was discovered must be recorded.³
b. Secure and Isolate the Crime Scene
Once the life safety assessment is complete, the immediate priority is to secure the area. This
involves establishing a physical perimeter to prevent unauthorised access.⁴ The scene should be
cordoned off using barrier tape or other available materials. This perimeter should be large enough to
encompass all potential evidence, including possible secondary scenes. Consideration must be given
to establishing both an inner and outer cordon to control movement and manage onlookers. The
primary objective is to restrict access to only those individuals directly involved in the investigation
to prevent contamination or destruction of physical evidence.⁵
c. Ensure Officer Safety
A scene assessment must be conducted to identify any ongoing threats to the first responder and
other emergency personnel. This includes checking for the presence of an armed suspect, hazardous
materials, biohazards, or any other unsafe conditions. The scene must be rendered safe before any
detailed work can commence.⁶
d. Detain and Identify Witnesses and Suspects
Individuals present at the scene must be identified and separated from one another to prevent
collusion. If a suspect is present and can be lawfully arrested, this should be done promptly to
prevent them from tampering with evidence. Witnesses should be kept separate until their statements
can be taken by investigators.⁷
¹ Fisher, Barry A. J., Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation, 8th ed. (Boca Raton: CRC Press, 2012), p. 87.
² Sechabe, M.P., Crime Scene Management by First Police Responders in Murder Cases within the Tshwane District, Gauteng Province
(Pretoria: University of South Africa, 2024), p. 34.
³ Fisher, Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation, p. 92.
⁴ Covington Police Department, Evidence Collection and Scene Preservation Manual (Covington: CPD Publications, 2018), p. 15.
⁵ Sechabe, Crime Scene Management, p. 41.
⁶ Fisher, Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation, p. 95.
⁷ OHCHR, Essentials of Administrative Order 35 Investigations: A Guide for First Responders (Geneva: United Nations, 2020), p. 22.
, e. Initial Observation and Documentation
The first responder must begin the documentation process immediately. This includes making
detailed notes of all observations, such as the time of arrival, the condition of the scene, any persons
present, and any actions taken. This initial documentation is crucial for later investigative and legal
proceedings. The officer should also make mental notes of the scene's condition, including the
position of doors, windows, lights, and anything that appears out of place.⁸
1.2 Discuss how you would protect and process the murder crime scene and collect physical
evidence.
After the scene is secured, the focus shifts to a systematic and methodical approach to protecting and
processing the scene to ensure the integrity of all physical evidence. This phase is managed by the
lead investigator or Crime Scene Manager.⁹
a. Scene Protection and Contamination Control
The primary goal is to preserve the crime scene in its original state to allow for the proper collection
of evidence. This is achieved through strict access control. A crime scene entry log must be
established to record the name, agency, and time of entry for every individual who enters the
cordoned area.¹⁰ Access must be limited only to essential personnel. All personnel entering the scene
should wear appropriate protective clothing, including gloves, masks, and shoe covers, to minimise
the introduction of foreign material and the contamination of evidence. The use of protective
equipment is critical, especially where bloodborne pathogens are a concern.¹¹
b. Systematic Scene Processing
The processing of a murder scene follows a logical progression, beginning with general
documentation and moving towards specific evidence identification.
Initial Walk-Through: The lead investigator performs an initial walk-through of the scene to
assess the situation, identify potential hazards, and determine the scope of the investigation.
This helps to develop a plan for the systematic processing of the scene.¹²
Documentation: The entire scene must be thoroughly documented before any evidence is
collected or moved. This typically involves a three-pronged approach:
Photography: The scene is photographed in its entirety to create a permanent visual record.
This includes overall, mid-range, and close-up photographs of key items of evidence from
multiple angles.¹³
Sketching: A detailed sketch of the crime scene is prepared. This diagram accurately
depicts the layout and the precise location of all evidence, the victim, and significant
landmarks. Measurements are taken to ensure the sketch is to scale, which is essential for
reconstructing events.¹⁴
⁸ Sechabe, Crime Scene Management, p. 48.
⁹ Fisher, Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation, p. 103.
¹⁰ Covington Police Department, Evidence Collection, p. 22.
¹¹ Fisher, Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation, p. 110.
¹² Sechabe, Crime Scene Management, p. 56.
¹³ Fisher, Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation, p. 125.
¹⁴ Ibid., p. 131.
