OVM3702
ASSIGNMENT 1
DUE DATE: AUGUST 2026
, OVM3702 ASSIGNMENT 1 2026
DUE AUGUST 2026
SECTION A
QUESTION 1
1.1 Explain the immediate actions you would take on arrival at the murder crime
scene.
Upon arrival at a murder crime scene, the investigator must immediately assess the
scene to ensure safety, determining whether the perpetrator is still present and whether
any danger exists to officials or the public. The scene must be approached with caution
and safe access routes identified to prevent destruction of evidence and ensure the
safety of emergency personnel. The investigator must ascertain whether the victim is
indeed deceased; if the victim is still alive, an attempt must be made to obtain a dying
declaration and the victim must be transported to hospital with a police escort.
The murder scene must be physically cordoned off using ropes, barricades and
additional personnel to prevent unauthorised persons from entering and destroying or
removing evidence, and access control must be strictly enforced. Experts such as
fingerprint specialists, photographers, ballistics experts and the district surgeon must be
summoned immediately as soon as the scene has been safeguarded. Witnesses must
be taken to a safe area away from the scene and prevented from discussing the case
with one another, as facts might later be labelled as hearsay evidence, and their
particulars must be recorded without delay.
If the suspect is still at the scene, he or she must be arrested and searched, and the
murder weapon must be seized if still in the suspect's possession; the suspect must not
be allowed to wash hands or use the toilet unsupervised, as this could destroy evidence
ASSIGNMENT 1
DUE DATE: AUGUST 2026
, OVM3702 ASSIGNMENT 1 2026
DUE AUGUST 2026
SECTION A
QUESTION 1
1.1 Explain the immediate actions you would take on arrival at the murder crime
scene.
Upon arrival at a murder crime scene, the investigator must immediately assess the
scene to ensure safety, determining whether the perpetrator is still present and whether
any danger exists to officials or the public. The scene must be approached with caution
and safe access routes identified to prevent destruction of evidence and ensure the
safety of emergency personnel. The investigator must ascertain whether the victim is
indeed deceased; if the victim is still alive, an attempt must be made to obtain a dying
declaration and the victim must be transported to hospital with a police escort.
The murder scene must be physically cordoned off using ropes, barricades and
additional personnel to prevent unauthorised persons from entering and destroying or
removing evidence, and access control must be strictly enforced. Experts such as
fingerprint specialists, photographers, ballistics experts and the district surgeon must be
summoned immediately as soon as the scene has been safeguarded. Witnesses must
be taken to a safe area away from the scene and prevented from discussing the case
with one another, as facts might later be labelled as hearsay evidence, and their
particulars must be recorded without delay.
If the suspect is still at the scene, he or she must be arrested and searched, and the
murder weapon must be seized if still in the suspect's possession; the suspect must not
be allowed to wash hands or use the toilet unsupervised, as this could destroy evidence
