CJ210: Unit 7
Homicide and Robbery Investigation
Any questions about anything before we
begin?
 Missing assignments
 Unit 7: Seminar, Discussion, and Quiz
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Seminar: Homicides, manslaughter, crime
scene assessment, victimology, and other.
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Tell me what homicide means to you?
Unit 7
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“Homicide is the killing of one human
being by another. All homicides are not
criminal: they may also be justifiable or
excusable. (Self-inflicted death is treated
by the police as homicide until it can be
established as suicide.)”
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Do you know what criminal homicide is?
Homicide
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“Criminal homicide is the unlawful taking
of a human life. There are two kinds of
criminal homicide: murder and
manslaughter. “(page 351).
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What is the difference between murder
and manslaughter? Let’s begin with
murder first, then manslaughter.
Criminal Homicide
Murder
Manslaughter
“the unlawful killing of
another human being with
malice aforethought
(premeditation). Killing a
person during the
commission of a felony also
constitutes murder—even
when the killing is
unintentional. Most murder
convictions are for felony
 murder rather than for
premeditated murder.”
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“the unlawful killing
of another without
intent—expressed or
implied—to effect
death.”
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Note: Need to check
individual state
statutes also.
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Murder and Manslaughter
Murder
First degree
Unlawful killing of a human
being by another with
malice aforethought, either
express or implied
 Express malice: Actual
intent to kill the person
killed, or any other person
 Implied malice: Death
results from intent to cause
serious injury, or act
creating great risk to
others
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Intent to kill with deliberation
and premeditation
Felony-murder, during
dangerous felonies
Murder by poison, lying in
wait, or torture
Second degree: Killing with
malice aforethought, but
without deliberation and
premeditation
Felony-murder during felonies
not inherently dangerous
Murder (Criminal Law Guide)
Felony-murder: Any
death resulting from felony
 No intent to kill necessary,
only intent to commit a
felony
 Model Penal Code replaces
rule with presumption of
malice
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Manslaughter: Unlawful
killing of a human being by
another without malice
aforethought
 Voluntary: Intentional
killing without malice under
mitigating circumstances
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Requires adequate
provocation of the accused
May include killing in the
heat of passion before
defendant cooled off
Involuntary:
Unintentional killing
Commission of dangerous
unlawful act
Doing lawful act with
criminal negligence
Failure to perform legal
duty showing criminal
negligence
Murder and Manslaughter
Negligent homicide or
vehicular homicide:
 Removes cases from
manslaughter statute
 Usually involves operation
of motor vehicle
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Corpus Delicti: “collection
of basic facts establishing
that a crime has been
committed and that some
person is responsible.”
1. The death was not the
result of suicide, natural
causes, or accident, thus
establishing that it was a
homicide. (This is the
province of the forensic
 pathologist.)
 2. Some person was
responsible for the unlawful
death. (Establishing the
identity of the person is the
province of the investigator,
evidence technicians, and
criminalists.)
 Circumstances will
determine if murder or
manslaughter
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Manslaughter and Corpus Delicti
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Investigative activities in a homicide and
Responsibilities. (pages 353-355).
In your opinion, what are some of the most
common motives for homicides?
Investigation and Good
Information To Review
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Financial gain
Sexual gratification
Apparently sex-connected
homicides
Emotional factors
Self-protection
Removal of an
inconvenience or
impediment
Apparently motiveless
crimes
“Thrill” killing (pages 355356)
Crime Scene: center point
and important questions
Motives
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Is this an unlawful
homicide?
Is this a homicide disguised
as a suicide?
Who is the deceased?
What was the motive for
the killing?
Is there physical evidence
present that may link the
killer to the crime scene or
the victim or could be
useful in reconstructing the
crime?
What happened and/or how
was the crime committed?
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Page 364
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Do you know what associative evidence is?
Investigative Checklist
Evidence that can link the
perpetrator to the crime
scene or victim is of two
kinds: (1) evidence
brought to and left (often
unintentionally) at the
scene; and (2) evidence
taken deliberately or
accidentally from the
scene.
 Examples (1)- fingerprints;
spent bullets and cartridge
cases, and blood, hair, and
fibers from the person or
clothing of the perpetrator.
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(2)-easily carried items,
small appliances; rug and
clothing fibers; broken
glass particles imbedded in
clothing or in the rubber
heel of a shoe; smeared
fresh paint or blood
spattered on clothing; and
other.
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Sources of associative
evidence
Associative Evidence
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Traces of the person
Finger and palm prints
Blood, semen, saliva, hair
Bare footprints
Other skin patterns such as
ear prints and lip
impressions
Teeth marks
Traces of wearing apparel
Shoe prints
Weave pattern and
stitching of clothing and
gloves
Clothing accessories
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Impressions left by
Weapons—firearms, cutting
or stabbing devices
Tools—jimmies, metal
cutters, hammers, metal
punches
Shovels—used to bury a
body or weapon (Some
types of soil,
such as clay, retain
striation marks left by the
digging edge of a shovel.)
Reconstructing the crime
(FYI: pages367-380)
Sources of Associative Evidence
Criteria for ViCap
 Homicides: solved, unsolved, attempted (particularly
if an abduction is involved); appear to be random,
motiveless, or sexually oriented; suspected or known
to be part of a series.
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Missing Persons: if the circumstances indicate a
strong possibility of foul play and the victim remains
missing.
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Unidentified Dead Bodies: if the manner of death is
known or suspected to result from criminal homicide.
Violent Criminal Apprehension
Program (ViCAP)
Does this photo tell us
anything about the
crime?
Crime Scene
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That time once again
Thanks for attending and I enjoyed the
seminar and participation
Reminder; missing assignments, complete
unit 7 seminar, discussion, and quiz
Need anything let me know and have a
good week
I will stay online to answer any questions
Wrap Up