Gathering and Analysing Facts

Stage 8 – Gathering and Analysing Facts

It is during this stage of the investigation that the police conduct an overview of all the verified facts, evidence and new intelligence they have collected in respect of the crime through the correct procedures.

The forensic evidence collected while following the correct procedures to avoid cross contamination or tampering could be the most significant part of this stage of the investigation.  It could provide a direct physical link to a suspect/s that will hold up in a court of law.

Statements that have been taken following the correct procedure and the facts contained therein verified by the police are admissible in court as evidence when they have been linked to a suspect/s.

The intelligence gathered on a suspect/s, such as; the way they live their life, known associates or previous convictions they have that can link them to the crime/s and the victim are analysed.

All of the processes can provide the police with a reason why the crime was committed and who by when they are carried out correctly.  This can lead to a positive outcome when the case comes to court.  However if forensic evidence has been tampered with or mishandled, untrue witness statements included as evidence it could lead to no charges being laid against a suspect/s, the dismissal of the charges against a suspect/s or the acquittal of the suspect/s at trial,  making this a very important stage of the investigating process.

In the case of Aileen Wuornos a range of methods were used in order to gather and subsequently analyse facts regarding the criminal investigation, such as; the identification and collection of forensic evidence from the crime scene by the Scene of Crime Officer (SOCO) that was transported to the laboratory for analysis by a forensic scientist.

The facts used in this case were all of the items of forensic evidence gathered at the crime scene, the fingerprints located in the interior of Peter Siems vehicles interior were a match to Aileen Wuornos.  The ballistics evidence from the bullets recovered during each of the autopsies as well as the facts revealed by the pathologist’s reports on each murder.  Receipts from the same EMRO store found at two of the crime scenes.  Over the seven murders numerous witness statements were taken that provided the police with various facts that would eventually contribute to the identification and conviction of the Wuornos.