The Initial Response
The initial response is the way in which a crime is first reported to the police, after a crime being reported to the police it then results in response to the crime scene by any organisation that is necessary. Logically this stage in the investigation comes first ad it is the way in which authorities become aware of any crime that has been committed. As this is the stage that alerts authorities to a crime, it is a very important stage of the investigation, without the initial response then there would be no investigation. There are several ways in which a crime can be reported to the police in order for them to respond and depending on the crime or situation, begin an investigation. Two examples of how crimes can be reported are firstly, the victim of the crime reporting the crime or secondly, witnesses of the crime reporting the crime.
In the OJ Simpson case a neighbor heard Nicole Brown Simpson's dog wailing and barking for a long period of time. Eventually, just before midnight on 12th June 1994, two passers-by heard and also saw the distressed dog, on closer inspection the passers-by noticed that the dog had blood on it's legs and belly. The dog then led them to Nicole Brown Simpson's pathway, this is where the passers-by discovered Nicole Brown Simpson's body lying in a pool of blood. The passers-by distressed by what they had just seen, ran over the road and banged on a neighbors door, the neighbor of the house they banged on thought that someone was trying to break into her house so she phoned the Los Angeles Police Department.
The first attending officers were Robert Riske and Miguel Terrazas, these officers firstly attended the neighbors house just after midnight on 13th June 1994. On arrival they were informed by the two passers-by about the woman's body on Nicole Brown Simpson's pathway. Riske and Terrazas then discovered the body of Nicole Brown Simpson and on further inspection they then discovered the body of Ronald Goldman in the bushes of Nicole Brown Simpson's garden, just a short distance away from Nicole's body.
The next stage of the investigation logically is where the investigation actually begins, this is the next stage of the investigation. The preliminary investigation is where an assessment of the crime that has taken place, is carried out, this is to assess whether any further action needs to be taken. This is also a very important stage of the investigation as it is where any critical evidence is identified as evidence and is also preserved if further action is taken. During the preliminary investigation there are many processes that occur to make sure that all the correct protocol is followed, to make sure that the crime scene is kept as it was when found and also uncontaminated. Examples of the processes that take place within the preliminary investigation stage include; firstly the crime scene being cordoned off, premises being searched and also evidence being confiscated for further use. These protocols need to be followed to ensure that all evidence is
In the OJ Simpson case both first attending officers Robert Riske and Miguel Terrazas started the preliminary investigation. The first attending officers started by proceeding to the crime scene to try and figure out what had happened at the scene, they also did this so that they could alert the appropriate agencies that were needed at the crime scene. After finding the body of Nicole Brown Simpson (the female victim), the officers then proceeded to return to the witnesses, in this case the only witnesses where the two passers-by who were the first to see the body. The officers went back to the witnesses to try and find out any extra information that could be used to determine what had occurred at this crime scene. After Robert Riske and Miguel Terrazas had assessed that the two passers-by had only discovered the body due to Nicole Brown Simpson's dog continuously barking and also witnessing that the dog had blood on it's legs and it's belly, the officers then returned to the crime scene, where the body's where located.
Upon returning to the location of the body of Nicole Brown Simpson both officers stayed off the walkway when returning to the body, both officers walked on the foliage surrounding the path. When approaching the location of the body of Nicole Brown Simpson, they then noticed the second body (a male victim lying dead just a short distance away from the female victim). After determining that both victims were dead, both Robert Riske and Miguel Terrazas noted that the pathway was covered in pools of blood, bloody paw prints from the dog and also a shoe print close to the body of the female victim. While noticing this evidence at the crime scene the officers then started to make notes regarding evidence that was found at the crime scene. This evidence included a white envelope, a glove and a knit cap. At this stage of the investigation neither officers handled any evidence that was found.
After noting the evidence that was found at the scene surrounding the bodies, Officer Robert Riske then noticed that the door to Nicole Brown Simpson's property was open, to get to the door Robert Riske, stepped over the body of the female victim in order for him to enter the property. When approaching the property both officers observed the house for any evidence of ransacking, ransacking would indicate a robbery, but there was no evidence of this. Officer Robert Riske then used the phone within the property to call the station to alert his watch commander what he had found at the crime scene.
During this stage of the investigation, which is only the second stage of the investigation there are already identifiable mistakes. Firstly the officers were not wearing any gloves or protective clothing when they entered the crime scene, the officers also walked on the walkway, which contained evidence to the crime. Due to not wearing gloves or protective clothing and also walking on the walkway, both officers may have possibly contaminated any evidence at the crime scene. Secondly when Officer Robert Riske used the property house phone he could have also contaminated any evidence that may have been on the phone.
Shortly after Officer Riske made the call to the police station Sargent Coon and also officers McGowan and Walker arrived at the crime scene, on arrival officers McGowan and Walker began to put up crime scene tape to secure the crime scene. By securing the crime scene with tape they cordoned off the scene and also redirected any traffic away from the road that the murders had occurred on. At 12:45am the paramedics arrived at the crime scene and confirmed that the female victim and the male victim were dead. Officer Robert Riske and Miguel Terrazas who were the first attending officers had established that the female victim was most likely Nicole Brown Simpson, OJ Simpson's ex-wife as this was her property. They established this in the house when officer Robert Riske saw a letter that was addressed to Simpson.
The photographer from the Los Angeles homicide division did not arrive at the crime scene until 3:25am, however when he arrived he was only allowed to take photographs of the general crime scene and not the bodies, he was only given permission to take photographs of the bodies until a lead detective was present while he was doing so. The forensic team then did not arrive at the crime scene to begin the crucial collection of evidence until approximately 7:30am. Finally the coroner and also the team of medical detectives did not arrive at the scene until after 9am. Before the coroner, medical experts and also the forensic team had arrived at the scene, detective Tom Lange had placed a blanket from inside Nicole Brown Simpson's property over her body, to stop the media and also the building crowds of onlookers taking photographs of the body. Covering the body at this stage of the investigation is also a mistake as the forensic experts and also the coroner had arrived to collect evidence, fibers or even samples from the bodies. This means that the blanket which would have contained fibers and also DNA evidence from other none related, innocent people who had previously came into contact with the blanket. Due to the fibers and also the DNA evidence that would have been on tha blanket this blanket will then have contaminated Nicole Brown Simpson's body and also the crime scene that was situated around her.
In the OJ Simpson case a neighbor heard Nicole Brown Simpson's dog wailing and barking for a long period of time. Eventually, just before midnight on 12th June 1994, two passers-by heard and also saw the distressed dog, on closer inspection the passers-by noticed that the dog had blood on it's legs and belly. The dog then led them to Nicole Brown Simpson's pathway, this is where the passers-by discovered Nicole Brown Simpson's body lying in a pool of blood. The passers-by distressed by what they had just seen, ran over the road and banged on a neighbors door, the neighbor of the house they banged on thought that someone was trying to break into her house so she phoned the Los Angeles Police Department.
The first attending officers were Robert Riske and Miguel Terrazas, these officers firstly attended the neighbors house just after midnight on 13th June 1994. On arrival they were informed by the two passers-by about the woman's body on Nicole Brown Simpson's pathway. Riske and Terrazas then discovered the body of Nicole Brown Simpson and on further inspection they then discovered the body of Ronald Goldman in the bushes of Nicole Brown Simpson's garden, just a short distance away from Nicole's body.
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| (Nicole Brown Simpson's body being removed from the crime scene) |
The Preliminary Investigation
In the OJ Simpson case both first attending officers Robert Riske and Miguel Terrazas started the preliminary investigation. The first attending officers started by proceeding to the crime scene to try and figure out what had happened at the scene, they also did this so that they could alert the appropriate agencies that were needed at the crime scene. After finding the body of Nicole Brown Simpson (the female victim), the officers then proceeded to return to the witnesses, in this case the only witnesses where the two passers-by who were the first to see the body. The officers went back to the witnesses to try and find out any extra information that could be used to determine what had occurred at this crime scene. After Robert Riske and Miguel Terrazas had assessed that the two passers-by had only discovered the body due to Nicole Brown Simpson's dog continuously barking and also witnessing that the dog had blood on it's legs and it's belly, the officers then returned to the crime scene, where the body's where located.
Upon returning to the location of the body of Nicole Brown Simpson both officers stayed off the walkway when returning to the body, both officers walked on the foliage surrounding the path. When approaching the location of the body of Nicole Brown Simpson, they then noticed the second body (a male victim lying dead just a short distance away from the female victim). After determining that both victims were dead, both Robert Riske and Miguel Terrazas noted that the pathway was covered in pools of blood, bloody paw prints from the dog and also a shoe print close to the body of the female victim. While noticing this evidence at the crime scene the officers then started to make notes regarding evidence that was found at the crime scene. This evidence included a white envelope, a glove and a knit cap. At this stage of the investigation neither officers handled any evidence that was found.
After noting the evidence that was found at the scene surrounding the bodies, Officer Robert Riske then noticed that the door to Nicole Brown Simpson's property was open, to get to the door Robert Riske, stepped over the body of the female victim in order for him to enter the property. When approaching the property both officers observed the house for any evidence of ransacking, ransacking would indicate a robbery, but there was no evidence of this. Officer Robert Riske then used the phone within the property to call the station to alert his watch commander what he had found at the crime scene.
During this stage of the investigation, which is only the second stage of the investigation there are already identifiable mistakes. Firstly the officers were not wearing any gloves or protective clothing when they entered the crime scene, the officers also walked on the walkway, which contained evidence to the crime. Due to not wearing gloves or protective clothing and also walking on the walkway, both officers may have possibly contaminated any evidence at the crime scene. Secondly when Officer Robert Riske used the property house phone he could have also contaminated any evidence that may have been on the phone.
Shortly after Officer Riske made the call to the police station Sargent Coon and also officers McGowan and Walker arrived at the crime scene, on arrival officers McGowan and Walker began to put up crime scene tape to secure the crime scene. By securing the crime scene with tape they cordoned off the scene and also redirected any traffic away from the road that the murders had occurred on. At 12:45am the paramedics arrived at the crime scene and confirmed that the female victim and the male victim were dead. Officer Robert Riske and Miguel Terrazas who were the first attending officers had established that the female victim was most likely Nicole Brown Simpson, OJ Simpson's ex-wife as this was her property. They established this in the house when officer Robert Riske saw a letter that was addressed to Simpson.
The photographer from the Los Angeles homicide division did not arrive at the crime scene until 3:25am, however when he arrived he was only allowed to take photographs of the general crime scene and not the bodies, he was only given permission to take photographs of the bodies until a lead detective was present while he was doing so. The forensic team then did not arrive at the crime scene to begin the crucial collection of evidence until approximately 7:30am. Finally the coroner and also the team of medical detectives did not arrive at the scene until after 9am. Before the coroner, medical experts and also the forensic team had arrived at the scene, detective Tom Lange had placed a blanket from inside Nicole Brown Simpson's property over her body, to stop the media and also the building crowds of onlookers taking photographs of the body. Covering the body at this stage of the investigation is also a mistake as the forensic experts and also the coroner had arrived to collect evidence, fibers or even samples from the bodies. This means that the blanket which would have contained fibers and also DNA evidence from other none related, innocent people who had previously came into contact with the blanket. Due to the fibers and also the DNA evidence that would have been on tha blanket this blanket will then have contaminated Nicole Brown Simpson's body and also the crime scene that was situated around her.
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| (This image also shows that media took photos of the crime scene) |
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| (This image shows that protocols were not followed as this officer is not wearing gloves) |
The Investigation Plan
When a crime has been committed the next stage of the investigation process is the investigation plan. Logically this part of the investigation process has to come after the preliminary investigation and also after any evidence has been collected during the preliminary investigation, the investigation plan has to be made on how to proceed with the investigation depending on what was discovered at the preliminary investigation and depending on what evidence has also been collected during the preliminary investigation. The investigation plan is also an important part of the investigation process as it ensures that the crime is not only dealt with in the correct way but also ensuring that the correct next steps for a certain crime are taken. The investigation plan also ensures that the investigation is controlled properly and effectively and also that the investigation is organised.
In the OJ Simpson case the investigation plan overlapped with the previous stage which was the preliminary investigation. These two stages overlapped due to some detectives starting to plan the investigation after they discovered that the female victim was probably Nicole Brown Simpson, OJ Simpson's ex-wife. An example of the early investigation planning was when a senior detective informing detectives Lange, Vannatter, Phillips and Fuhrman, that OJ Simpson needed to be notified about the incident as his children were being held at the local police station and also he had to be informed as he was connected to Nicole Brown Simpson so he needed to be examined as a "potential suspect". After being informed about this news, the detectives then began to discuss and also plan how they were going to proceed with the investigation. As the detectives knew where OJ Simpson lived that they would go directly to his home to break the news to him and also discuss the whereabouts of his children. At this stage the detectives also discussed and planned that the families of the victims would also need to be notified about their relatives deaths before the story ended up in the media.
In the OJ Simpson case the investigation plan overlapped with the previous stage which was the preliminary investigation. These two stages overlapped due to some detectives starting to plan the investigation after they discovered that the female victim was probably Nicole Brown Simpson, OJ Simpson's ex-wife. An example of the early investigation planning was when a senior detective informing detectives Lange, Vannatter, Phillips and Fuhrman, that OJ Simpson needed to be notified about the incident as his children were being held at the local police station and also he had to be informed as he was connected to Nicole Brown Simpson so he needed to be examined as a "potential suspect". After being informed about this news, the detectives then began to discuss and also plan how they were going to proceed with the investigation. As the detectives knew where OJ Simpson lived that they would go directly to his home to break the news to him and also discuss the whereabouts of his children. At this stage the detectives also discussed and planned that the families of the victims would also need to be notified about their relatives deaths before the story ended up in the media.
The Follow-up Investigation
After the investigation has been planned around the case then the next stage of the investigation process is the follow-up investigation, this is the logical place for the follow-up investigation as it involves further action being taken depending on the findings and results from the preliminary investigation and also what has been planned during the planning of the investigation.
In the OJ Simpson case the follow up investigations began when the detectives arrived at OJ Simpson's property, the detectives at OJ Simpson's house discovered spots of blood on his Ford Bronco door handle and also a trail of blood leading to OJ Simpson's house. Detectives also found a right handed glove which appeared to match the left handed glove found by the bodies at Nicole Brown Simpson's house. This meant that a follow up investigation began at OJ Simpson's house as a possible additional crime scene.
After the police had spoken to OJ Simpson's daughter Arnelle Simpson and establishing that OJ Simpson had caught a late flight to Chicago, the detectives present at OJ Simpson's property contacted the forensic experts and also the police photographer and alerted them to the possible additional evidence. Shortly after the forensic experts and the police photographer arrived at OJ Simpson's house, detectives Vannatter and Lange left to return to the police station so that they could obtain a warrant to search inside OJ Simpson's property to obtain any evidence found there.
In the OJ Simpson case the follow up investigations began when the detectives arrived at OJ Simpson's property, the detectives at OJ Simpson's house discovered spots of blood on his Ford Bronco door handle and also a trail of blood leading to OJ Simpson's house. Detectives also found a right handed glove which appeared to match the left handed glove found by the bodies at Nicole Brown Simpson's house. This meant that a follow up investigation began at OJ Simpson's house as a possible additional crime scene.
After the police had spoken to OJ Simpson's daughter Arnelle Simpson and establishing that OJ Simpson had caught a late flight to Chicago, the detectives present at OJ Simpson's property contacted the forensic experts and also the police photographer and alerted them to the possible additional evidence. Shortly after the forensic experts and the police photographer arrived at OJ Simpson's house, detectives Vannatter and Lange left to return to the police station so that they could obtain a warrant to search inside OJ Simpson's property to obtain any evidence found there.
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| (Blood evidence found in OJ Simpson's car) |
The Incident room
The next stage of the investigation process is when an incident room is set up, an incident room is a base which allows the police to gather and discuss the case, evidence and any other operations in one place. This stage is incorporated into the investigation process, as it allows anyone such as public to drop in and give the police any information that may be relevant to the case, after any news of the investigation reaches the community. The incident room may not be seen as one of the most important stages of the investigation process but the incident room provides public with reassurance about the investigation and it also allows the community to feel involved with the investigation or to also get involved with the investigation, the incident room is more apparent and also classed as very important in cases that involve the abduction of a child or a missing child.
During the OJ Simpson case there was no incident room set up. However if there was a incident room set up then the incident room would have been used for public to report any information that they may have regarding the crime that had been committed. Due to there being two crime scenes an incident room would have been a place for all of the relevant agencies that were working on the case to come together and discuss the next steps of the investigation and here they could also discuss what they had found so far.
During the OJ Simpson case there was no incident room set up. However if there was a incident room set up then the incident room would have been used for public to report any information that they may have regarding the crime that had been committed. Due to there being two crime scenes an incident room would have been a place for all of the relevant agencies that were working on the case to come together and discuss the next steps of the investigation and here they could also discuss what they had found so far.
Investigating Leads
This stage of the investigation process comes next because the leads that will be investigated will have come from the evidence found from the preliminary investigation, from the follow-up investigation or leads could have come from public information that has been given at the incident room. Investigating leads includes many processes such as forensic testing on any evidence found, house-to-house enquiries and also pathology results from any deceased victims. This part of the investigation process is also very important as this is a key point for any suspects to come to light. While investigating leads information can be obtained about exactly what has happened regarding the crime.
In the OJ Simpson case this is when leads began to be investigated, these leads came from evidence that had been recovered at the crime scene and also witness statements. One key investigating lead was the recovery of one left handed glove at Nicole Brown Simpson's property and a right handed glove which was found at OJ Simpson's property these gloves seemed to match, this evidence lead to the police looking at OJ Simpson as a suspect. Another key investigating lead that pointed to OJ Simpson being a suspect, was a witness statement from Allan Park, the limousine driver who had driven OJ Simpson to the airport on the night of the murders. Allan Park the limousine driver told the police that he had been waiting outside OJ Simpson's house since 10:25pm, when he had tried to buzz the gate to allow him to drive up the drive way he received no answer so he tried to ring the house and there was still no answer. However Allan Park also told the police that at around 10:50pm he saw a man fitting OJ Simpson's description hurrying across the drive way and up to the house, minutes later OJ Simpson answered the gate phone and allowed the limousine drive up the drive way. This witness statement gave police another lead which was pointing to OJ Simpson being a suspect.
Another lead during the case that was also pointing to OJ Simpson being a prime suspect, was preliminary DNA testing done on the glove that was found at OJ Simpson's house, the DNA testing results came back reporting that the glove had traces of both Nicole Brown Simpson's and Ronald Goldman's DNA. The glove needed to be tested further and in more depth but it gave the police a lead to investigate before they knew anything more about the glove.
Researching And Analysing Intelligence
The next stage of the investigation process is where who is committing crimes and where the crimes are being committed is researched and analysed by the police. Researching and analysing intelligence logically has to come next because intelligence may have came from any leads in the investigating leads stage of the investigation. During this stage crime problems such as burglaries will be looked at as a whole in the area but police also may just focus on an individual. This stage is classed as important as intelligence on a person may lead the police to gathering more evidence against a particular suspect.
During the OJ Simpson case the research and analysis of evidence focused mainly on himself, during this stage of the investigation the police used witness statements to build up intelligence about the possibility of OJ Simpson being in the area where the murders were committed on the night of the murders of Ronald Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson. The police used the witness statement of Allan Park the limousine driver and also the statement of a neighbor called Jill Shively who claimed that she had seen a Ford Bronco matching the description of OJ Simpson's car, almost collide with another car on a crossroads, after the Bronco had gone through a red light. Although Jill Shively's witness statement had placed OJ Simpson in the area at the time of the murders, she was dismissed as a witness as she only told the police that she had discussed her statement with her family but she had also spoke to the media about her statement. Because she has spoken to the media about her statement, the prosecution were then unable to use this key statement. Jill Shively's witness statement and also other factors may have played a part in OJ Simpson being acquitted.
Gathering And Analysing Facts
This is the stage in the investigation process where all of the facts have been obtained through the preliminary investigation and follow-up investigation, through any leads and even through the analysis of intelligence, are all gathered together and analysed as a whole. As this is where all of the information from the previous stages this logically has to come after the other stages have been carried out. Facts that may be gathered and analysed at the stage in the investigation process are, witness statements, information about any suspects such as any previous convictions that they have and also any forensic evidence. This stage is also important as this is the stage in the investigation process where the investigators organise all of the facts that they have to analyse which of these facts are important, so that they can potentially build up evidence against a suspect or suspects.
In the OJ Simpson case this is the stage where the police compiled all of the evidence that they had pointing to OJ Simpson being involved in the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. During this part of the investigation the police discovered that OJ Simpson had previously beaten Nicole Brown Simpson and also that he was jealous with her relationships with other men. These new facts gave the police more evidence and reason to suspect that OJ Simpson had committed these murders.
In the OJ Simpson case this is the stage where the police compiled all of the evidence that they had pointing to OJ Simpson being involved in the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. During this part of the investigation the police discovered that OJ Simpson had previously beaten Nicole Brown Simpson and also that he was jealous with her relationships with other men. These new facts gave the police more evidence and reason to suspect that OJ Simpson had committed these murders.
Identifying Patterns And Links
This stage of the investigation process involves the police looking at the intelligence and identifying any patterns that that are connected to suspects or crimes, during this stage of the investigation information will be shared between other agencies and police forces, this stages importance depends on the type of crime that is being investigated. For example if the crime or murder is a one off then the perpetrator of the crime is likely not to left a relevant pattern that can be linked to anything, but if the crime is say a serial killer then the perpetrator is likely to have left patterns as they have a certain way of murdering people. If there are not any patterns then this stage of the investigation would not be important but if the case is a serial killer then this stage would be important to link several cases together to identify the similarities. This stage of the investigation has to logically come after intelligence and facts have been analysed as that is the information that would allow the police and investigators to identify any links and patterns in crimes.
Because OJ Simpson was seen as a potential suspect from almost the very beginning of this investigation, there was not much focus on identifying any links and patterns of crime in the area. Although OJ Simpson had been linked to violently beating and abusing Nicole Brown Simpson in the past, this just gave the police even more reason to link OJ Simpson to the murders.
Process Of Elimination
The process of elimination stage depending on the witness statement and the evidence involves, eliminating suspects and also eliminating certain lines of inquiry. This stage comes next as in order for certain suspects and lines of inquiry to be eliminated, the other intelligence gathering and investigation processes have to have been carried out. This stage is important because certain suspects and inquiry's have to be eliminated from the investigation, especially if there are may lines of inquiry and suspects, this is so the police are able to narrow down the suspects in order for them to eventually find the perpetrator of the crime that has been committed.
During the OJ Simpson case, the witness statements and the evidence that had been collected and processed pointed towards OJ Simpson being the perpetrator of the murders of Ronald Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson. This is due to certain witnesses being able to place OJ Simpson returning home after the time of the murders and witnesses were also able to place OJ Simpson in the area of the murders. There was also a large amount of DNA evidence which gave the impression and evidence that OJ Simpson was guilty, such as the glove found at OJ Simpson's house and also the blood found in his Ford Bronco. OJ Simpson's blood was also found at the crime scene along with a deep cut on his finger, but when explaining how he had the cut he contradicted himself various times. Due to the large amount of evidence and witness statements the police eliminated all other possible lines of inquiry and proceeded with charging OJ Simpson with the murders of Ronald Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson, the case was then taken to court.
Ethical Considerations
This stage is where ethical considerations begin to be addressed, this involves assessing whether the media could hinder the case and cause ethical concerns or if the media could in fact help with the case. In many cases the media is helpful while investigating a crime such as missing children or to help put the face of a suspect out into the public so that the public may call in with any information that they have, whether it be that they know the suspect or they saw something that is related to the crime that is being investigated. However the media could also hinder the investigation such as if someone is wrongly accused of committing a serious crime, for example murder. If the media was to hound this person and ruin their reputation then it could potentially lead to serious consequences, this could also lead to ethical problems as it is not right to accuse a person of being guilty until they are actually convicted of the crime. This stage is important as it could lead to a suspect being arrested or it could bring light to new leads that need to be investigated.
During the OJ Simpson case the media went into a frenzy, from the beginning when they heard a rumor that OJ Simpson's ex-wife had been murdered, the media where also there when OJ Simpson was fleeing from turning himself into the police station. News and also images of the slow police chase where all over the news and an apparent 'suicide note' was read to the media. Ethical concerns also occurred the the beginning of the case as the media showed up outside the house of Nicole Brown Simpson and began to take pictures of her body, this then lead to the police covering up her body with a blanket and contaminating evidence. If the media were not present then this evidence may not have been able to be used for the prosecution of OJ Simpson. Within the OJ Simpson case the investigation wad published to such an extent that the media was also present during OJ Simpson's trial. The majority of the jury are likely to have seen the media coverage of the investigation which means that this could have clouded and effected their view of the case, which could have also lead to them being bias either for or against OJ Simpson depending on what they had heard or seen in the media. Therefore this shows that when the media is used incorrectly, that it could lead to or at least affect the investigation to the extent that a guilty person may be acquitted of any crime they are accused of.
Report Writing And Evidence In Court
This stage of the investigation is where all the information that has been gathered throughout the case is compiled and put into a case file so that it can be prepared for presentation in court. The case file contains information such as any previous convictions that a suspect may have and also a general overview of the case that is written by an officer who is dealing with the case. The case file also includes any witness statements, an itemized list of any evidence that has been collected, exhibits such a photographs and also any analysis of any forensic evidence that has been analysed during the case. Once the case file has been compiled then it will be used by the prosecution in court against the defendant, who is the suspect of the crime that has been committed. When presenting this evidence in court the prosecution always present their evidence first, followed by the defense presenting their case, after both the prosecution and the defense have presented their evidence they both summaries their case and the Judge and Jury make a final decision on the outcome of the case.
During the OJ Simpson case the process above took place in court, however due to the poor evidence collecting procedures such as, blood samples of both Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman being put in the same bag. Much of the evidence that had been collected was contaminated so it could not be used in court by the prosecution. Another argument that surfaced during in the trial which also helped lead to the acquittal of OJ Simpson, was that the amount of blood taken from OJ Simpson to compare to the blood samples at the crime scene, could not be confirmed. The nurse that drew the blood from OJ Simpson was convinced that she drew 8cc's of blood, however when the evidence was turned into the Los Angeles Police Department the vial of OJ Simpson's blood only contained 6cc's of blood. This then led to the defense arguing that the blood which was not founded during the preliminary investigation but was discovered afterwards, on the gate of Nicole Brown Simpson's house, was planted by and officer in an attempt to frame OJ Simpson for the murders.
Eventually OJ Simpson was acquitted of the murders, due to the fact that the prosecution could not prove beyond reasonable doubt that it was OJ Simpson who had committed the murders of both Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. Also the amount of evidence that could not be used in court or that was dismissed in court due as well as other mistakes that occurred throughout the investigation process, may also have led to the Jury deciding on the not guilty verdict. Therefore this highlights the importance of each stage in the investigation process being carried out to a extremely high standard and following all of the correct procedures. As in the case of OJ Simpson a potentially guilty suspect may be acquitted or even an innocent suspect could be prosecuted for a crime that they did not commit.
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