Features of postmortem interval evaluation for the crime investigation

Abstract

The work of police investigators includes investigation of violent deaths, when there is scarce information on peculiarities of death. The examination of corpse is essential in most of violent death cases; thus, there is a need to correctly evaluate signs on the corpse as soon as they could help investigators obtain important information about a murder. There could be various questions to be answered by forensic medical examiners; one of which is determination of time since death. The study is aimed to present guidelines on choosing the evaluation method for postmortem changes based on forensic medical data, in accordance with condition of the body, features of surroundings and other factors that have to be noted at the place of corpse’s finding. Guidelines are composed in accordance with current legal procedures on forensic medical examinations.