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This Unit is archived with an end date of 19/04/2024

Overview

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Academic contacts

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Offerings

MURDOCH-S2-INT-2018-ONGOING

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Other learning activities

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Learning activities

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Learning outcomes

1.

Communicate the importance of evidence collection and chain of custody across forensic disciplines of Crime Scene Investigation, Entomology, Chemical Criminalistics and Bloodstain Pattern Analysis as relevant to death investigations

2.

Establish the major causes of injury and death including blunt and sharp force trauma; gunshot wounds; asphyxia; electrocution and incineration.

3.

Assess the value of biological and trace evidence, patterned injuries and post-mortem changes in serious crimes

4.

Develop and demonstrate the principles of facial approximation as an aid in the identification of skeletal remains

5.

Through an investigation of a complex murder case, develop practical experience in writing an expert testimony report to the Criminal Court system in Western Australia and be able to communicate that body of evidence.

Assessments

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Additional information

Unit content:

Key topics covered in the three modules that constitute this unit include: • The principles of crime scene investigation • The operation of Western Australian criminal courts • The rules of evidence and in particular expert evidence in the Western Australian legal system • The Coronial System including the role of the Coroner’s Court and the autopsy • Post-mortem changes including rigor mortis, livor mortis and algor mortis and how they can be used to assess time since death • Recognition of blunt force injuries (including bruises, abrasions and lacerations) and sharp force injuries (including incised and penetrating wounds) • Gunshot wounds (shotguns and rifled weapons); entry and exit wounds and determination of range of fire • Types of asphyxia including suffocation, smothering, choking, neck compression (hanging and strangulation), crush and postural asphyxia • Recognition of immersion and drowning and associated post-mortem changes including cutis anserina, washerwoman changes and foam cones • Fatal fires and associated incineration changes including charring, heat contracture, heat splits, heat fractures, heat haematomas and calcination; the role of primary (DNA and dental) and secondary identifiers (X-rays) in the identification of incinerated remains • Electrical factors associated with electrocution including voltage, current flow and resistance; low and high voltage post-mortem changes; joule burns and spark lesions; lightning injuries  • Recognition of the types of bloodstain patterns and a basic understanding of approaches to region of origin determination  • Principles of estimation of biographic parameters from the skeleton including sex, age, ancestry and stature • Principles of forensic facial reconstruction • The role and value of forensic anthropology and entomology in forensic and historical enquiries 

Other notes:

There is an intensive "Pathology Week" activity held during teaching break to facilitate the State Pathologists presenting. Time off in lieu will be provided but students are asked to avoid planning time off from study without consulting the unit coordinator first.