Crime Scene Investigator (27 page)

Other matters were also determined in the first few days of the investigation. The body had been covered in fifty-four kilogrammes of industrial-quality lime, calcium hydroxide (with traces of calcium carbonate), the sort used as in the farming industry. The deceased had also lost weight, some five or six kilogrammes at least since he went missing. In fact it was later suggested that the lime had probably drawn water from his body (and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to increase its mass), causing the deceased to lose weight after he was dead.

The problem remained. How could we determine how long the body had been at the scene? I suggested we might be able to determine how long the lime had been there by its effect on its surroundings. I assumed that the body and the lime were put there at the same time. It was a good assumption because although there had been a small amount of animal interest in the body, this was limited to an exposed area covered with only a thin layer of lime. Even this would have been bitter and unpleasant to the most determined fox looking for food. It remained an assumption, however, and so was documented as such as we pursued this line of enquiry. If that assumption proved to be wrong a later review would identify the error and allow further, more appropriate, investigations to be made. That was the purpose of recording the nature of the assumption.

We could also try entomology (the science of bugs and flies and the like). This can be used as a timeline by determining the age and development of bugs against known charts of rate of growth and temperature. Unfortunately, the lime not only deterred foxes but insects too. If it had been the intention of whoever dumped the body to use the lime to cause its rapid decay, it had quite the opposite effect. It prevented decomposition by deterring the natural course of nature and, in fact, preserved the body for us.

To confirm this and close it as a line of enquiry, I tried to contact the two leading experts in forensic entomology. It was August and they were both out of the country on holiday. I confirmed my approach by phone and followed it up with a statement to close that avenue when one had returned.

I reviewed the crime scene photos and began to think how we could determine the time presence of the lime. The first potential method was to determine the change in acidity of the soil, as lime is a strong alkali. I took advice from Pam Hamer, a forensic chemist and former colleague at the Metropolitan Police Forensic Science Laboratory. I had a huge amount of respect for Pam and knew she would understand what I was trying to do. It would require core samples to a depth of one or two metres and a record of the rainfall over the past four weeks. It might not work but it was worth a try. I found a company that took core soil samples and arranged for them to visit the scene where they took a dozen or so samples from the area where the body was found and control samples from the surrounding area. It only cost some tens of pounds for all the samples, taken under the supervision of a crime scene manager and team to ensure the correct documentation and integrity of the sampling.

As it happened we didn’t have to use the soil samples, though it had been prudent to quickly secure them. In my conversation with Pam Hamer, I had asked about the effect of lime (an agricultural chemical) on the vegetation. Neither of us knew where to start but came to the conclusion that the National Botanical Gardens at Kew was a good start. So that was my next port of call. Two or three calls followed as each person passed me on to someone else. My fifth call was to a gentleman at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Foods. He was a soil chemist although he preferred the title of agricultural engineer. The important thing was that his life’s work and expert subject was the effect of chemicals on vegetation. Bingo. By absolute chance he was based in Guildford, our county town, but he could have been anywhere in the country as far as I was concerned, I had found someone who could help us.

I carefully briefed him as to my position and responsibility and the question I needed to answer. Could he determine how long the lime had been there given the conditions I had described? In briefing someone who is an expert in a particular field but not accustomed to the demands, requirements and niceties of the criminal justice system it is important to lay out some ground rules for his protection and our integrity. I didn’t want him to stray off his subject and say things which he could not back up.

I did this by telling him the circumstances of the discovery of the body and the confidential nature of our enquiry. I gave him the results of the laboratory examination of the powder and its quantity. I informed him I could show him the scene photographs taken on the day the body was found and arrange for him to visit the scene which was by now a week old. I explained to him that I would like him to observe the photographs and interpret them for us if he could. How long had the lime had been there? If he could he would have to demonstrate on what basis he was making his observations and show any published scientific material which would support them. Wherever possible he should state what is fact and what is opinion based on his experience and expertise. I made notes of my briefing and arranged for Martin Gaule to take the scene photographs straight to him.

The reply and statement I got from Martin and our man was immediately encouraging. He described the four or so types of vegetation (grasses and ferns) surrounding the body and lime, each by their scientific name. He particularly noted one or two key types and suggested their documented growth rate. He then observed that the grasses on the edge of the lime were still depressed and suggested that the grasses had not regenerated and pushed through the lime in search of light. Based on this observation of the photograph and his knowledge it was his opinion that the lime had been there for no more than seven days.

This was a very good start. We had already whittled the time the body was dumped from four to one week. There was more to come.

Martin took our man to the scene with one of our forensic photographers. He surveyed the environment and confirmed the vegetation types. There were still some traces of the powder in the soil and grass. Now, based on this confirmation, and the regenerated growth that was now occurring at the scene, and on his observation and knowledge, it was his opinion that the lime had been there for no more than two days. This was a breakthrough.

It corroborated the observations of the two workmen, with some sound reproducible scientific evidence. It meant that investigators could target motorists who had travelled along the road in a two day period and who may have seen something suspicious. It meant that investigative time was not wasted trying to take statements from all the motorists who had driven that route in a four-week period. This line of enquiry had been useful and helped focus the investigation as it developed.

The overall investigation was soon transferred to the Metropolitan Police in London, based on rules agreed by chief police officers. It is governed by where the major part of the investigation lies. Although Surrey had the crime scene, it was in reality merely the dump site and that could have been anywhere. It was determined that the Met had the majority of the enquiries which had to be made based on the business and social affairs of the deceased.

I prepared a hand-over report for the SIO on all matters which the scientific support department had undertaken and then briefed my counterpart in London and the new SIO with Brian Woodfield.

Some years later, after lengthy extradition matters, a man stood trial for the murder. As for the lime and why the perpetrator(s) had used it, we never found out. It was probably a matter of a little knowledge being a dangerous thing. Lime had been used to cover bodies in plague pits in earlier centuries. Its purpose was to stop the spread of disease. Contrary to common belief it does not cause decomposition, but quite the opposite: it preserves the body by deterring the normal course of nature.

I also reflected on how we managed the investigation process. Did I use the scientific support staff to their best potential? These were still early days in the development of my management of the process and not just how we supported the investigation. Danny Finnerty had been the first crime scene manager to respond to the scene, but he was not a member of the local team. He dealt with the first few hours and in reality that seemed to be a good formula without having the local manager on call all the time. I was concerned that on my return to the county, I had asked Martin Gaule (the local CSM) to take over from Danny. I didn’t want Danny to feel that he was being replaced for some negative reason, which was not the case. Danny had done an excellent job, but I had to plan. I would have to learn how to get the best out of people and there is not only a need for continuity but also perhaps local knowledge, not least knowing the facilities and resources immediately to hand. In the future, as far as possible I would use the local team to respond and see a case through. Outsiders, particularly those on call, would be the first responders, but the local team with their relationship with local officers and detectives, I decided, would be best placed and motivated to see a case of local interest through. Keeping the local team out only demoralised the team. When a big case broke I would use outside personnel to fill in behind the local team for the day-to-day work, whilst they handled the big case.

Whilst I was busy with the nuts and bolts of supporting the investigation with the scientific team there was one aspect of the case which presented a wonderful opportunity and I offer it as a final reflection. It often amuses me. It is the only case I know of where the offenders themselves helped preserve the scene for the police.

It is the major crime scene which brings together all the aspects of practice and resource. The start is often as not confused, very confused. There is emotion amongst the victims and witnesses and high activity amongst the first officers to respond. The priority is the preservation of life. It takes precedence over everything else. The next priority is detaining any offenders who are escaping from the scene. But preservation of life comes first.

As a crime scene investigator I often found myself picking up the pieces once the scene was secure and suspected offenders and injured victims had been taken away. The immediate goal was always to establish order, and to take control. Only then could a planned and balanced investigation take place. My role, however, evolved as the concept of crime scene investigation, and all its benefits, grew and was accepted and ultimately demanded by detectives. The progression was not only to manage my own actions, but those of other scene investigators and other police resources, even serving officers.

Crime scene management was a relatively new concept when I went to Surrey. One person with a crime scene, rather than a detective, background to control the investigation at the scene was a novelty. Of course there had been managers but they were often senior detectives and had no professional expertise in forensic investigation themselves. The model, where it existed up to then, used a detective, often in a laboratory liaison role, which I felt really wasn’t part of the continuum or escalation process which I have previously described. The old system had served the police service well, with many fine exponents from whom I had learnt a lot, but there was a need to change, to develop. In reality, I had been practising the role now recognised as crime scene manager since my time on the Flying Squad. The bedrock for my skills was that of an apprentice examining and investigating thousands of minor and major crime scenes. As a crime scene manager it was my role to plan and implement a process so that all the information, intelligence and evidence was recovered and communicated at the earliest opportunity to the senior investigating officer. As a crime scene manager, I was the link between the scene, the laboratory and the SIO.

On my arrival at a major crime scene I often found the first officers had taken step to preserve it and establish a cordon. My first actions were to confirm that all steps to preserve life had taken place. Sometimes this was obvious, but could never be assumed. Someone with medical training had to confirm death. Until that was done it was best to assume that the victim was alive and get medical assistance there and into the scene without any delay or hindrance.

The initial cordon would be decided by those first officers but it would be my second action to check it. I would review this and would either agree or revise, and in many cases outwardly extend it. Wider is always best as it can be reduced later. It is difficult but not impossible to extend a cordon and if there is a sound reason the earlier that move is taken the better. I would ensure that a log of those entering and leaving the scene (and the relevant times) had been started. The cordon would normally be protected by police officers to ensure that only those with a need or role in the scene could enter it. That need would be determined solely by me once I had taken responsibility for the scene. I also needed to backtrack and list those who entered and left the scene from its discovery. It could be necessary to examine them and possibly recover their clothing and footwear to eliminate this from anything which could subsequently be found in the scene examination.