ABSTRACT
This study examined the relevance of crime scene testimonies on a suspect in Nigeria with special reference to Nigeria police, Delta State. Specifically, the study examine the causes of crime in Nigeria. The study also find out if crime scene testimony helps in solving a crime. Lastly, the study investigate the relevance of crime scene testimony on a suspect. A total of 30 responses were validated from the survey. From the responses obtained and analyzed, the findings revealed that crime scene testimony does not helps in solving a crime. Also, the relevance of a crime scene testimony on a suspect is high. The study thereby recommends that there should be periodic training for police officers on how to ask questions from eye witness to a crime scene. The study also recommend that government should provide adequate safety for eye witness who is willing to share as this could lead to the imprisonment or freedom of a crime suspect.
CHAPTER ONE:
INTRODUCTION
- Background of the Study
The investigation begins at the crime scene with the identification and recovery of physical evidence. After analysis and evolution of the results of recovered physical evidences and documents as well as the statements of witness’s, it proceeds to presentation of the all findings to the court of law(Nabar,2015). From the first responders to the end – users of the information, all entire personnel should have an adequate understanding of the forensic process, like identification, recovery, collection, preservation, transportation and proper documentation to maintain the chain of custody. Crime scene investigation is a process aimed at recording the scene because it is the first encounter and indentifying and collecting all the physical evidences relevant to the solution of the case (Sharma,2018). The scene of crime or place of occurrence is the actual site or location in which the incident took place. Generally the police personnel first reach at the crime scene and begin the investigation of the crime scene. The police personal who first attend the crime scene are called first responding officer (FRO). The first responding officer (FRO) properly protects the crime scene as well as the evidence of the crime scene. The entire investigation hinges on that first responding officer being able to properly identify, isolate, and secure the evidence (s). The crime scene can be secured by establishing a restricted boundary and it is done by using some types of crime scene tape, rope, or barrier for the purpose of securing the scene of crime and prevents evidence destruction(Saferstein, 2015). After secure the crime scene, the first responding officer (FRO) should maintaining the restrictions not to enter any non – essential person to the crime scene. During investigation of an incident may involve one or more place of occurrences. A primary crime scene as well as several secondary or tertiary crime scenes may be involved at another location. All the locations (it may be indoor, outdoor or car etc.) where the incident has occurred or recovered the evidence of that crime and connected to a particular incident all of these places are scene of crime. Basically, a crime scene is that place (s) where the incident has occurred or evidence of that crime may be recovered. Crime scene is not only the location where the crime took place. The place (s) where the related evidence may be located or recovered of a particular crime it is also a crime scene of that case. During investigation all of these crime scene should examine properly for unearth the actual truth of the incident(Evans,2009). Each crime scene is unique and with experience a successful crime scene investigator uses this logical and systematic approach, the investigator will be able to make a successful conclusion to investigate even the most challenging crime scene. Crime scene investigation is a scientific process which includes documentation (including measurements and photography) collection and packing of physical evidence and finally reconstruction of crime scene. The Chain of custody of the evidence should strictly maintain during crime scene investigation (Evans,2009). The first responding officer, generally a police officer, plays a significant role in the entire crime scene investigation process. The initial responsibility of the police officer is to preserve the integrity of the crime scene and the evidence. The police officer is also responsible for the early documentation of crime scene and all its evidences. “In most of the cases, since the first responders are non – forensic personnel, adequate training on handling of evidence at SOC is crucial to successfully carry out these activities. ” The first responding officer has to do some basic recovery procedures before the arrival of the crime scene investigators, if there’s a risk of the evidence being destroyed, lost or contaminated (Evans,2009. In situations where there’s no prospect for the crime scene to be processed by crime scene investigators, the responsibilities of the first responding officer might need to be extended beyond preservation and documentation.
- Statement of the Research Problem
There are many challenges confronting the Nigeria Police today, chief among which is that the police is yet to overcome its perception by the generality of the people as unfriendly and untrustworthy(Evans,2009). Other problems facing the police include its image as a corrupt, brutal and ineffective organization and “going dark.”“Going dark” is a term used to signify the decreasing ability of the police to lawfully (forensically) access and examine digital evidence at rest and evidence in motion due to technical and non-technical barriers.Many people throughout Nigeria believe eyewitness testimony is one of the most solid types of evidence in criminal cases. However, that is not necessarily the case. In fact, the Innocence Project reports that eyewitness mis- identifications were involved in 70 percent of the wrongful convictions that were overturned through DNA testing(Evans,2009). This is, in large part, because there are numerous factors that may affect the accuracy of eyewitness testimony. Hence the need to look into the relevance of crime scene testimonies on a suspect in Nigeria.
- Research Objectives
The general objective of the study is the relevance of crime scene testimonies on a suspect in Nigeria. Specifically, the study will be guided under the following:
- To examine the causes of crime in Nigeria.
- To find out if crime scene testimony helps in solving a crime.
- To investigate the relevance of crime scene testimony on a suspect
- Hypothesis
The following hypothesis have been formulated for this study:
H01: Crime scene testimony does not helps in solving a crime.
H02: The relevance of a crime scene testimony on a suspect is low
- Significance/Scope of the Study
This study will be significant to the Nigerian police as it will be exposed to the fact that most eye witness testimony at a crime scene do not really recount all that happen and this could put an innocent person in trouble with the law, and the police will also be exposed to other ways of verifying a crime scene testimony.
This study therefore examine the causes of crime in Nigeria. The study will also find out if crime scene testimony helps in solving a crime. Lastly, the study will investigate the relevance of crime scene testimony on a suspect. Hence this study will be delimited to the Delta state.
- Organization of the Study
The study is divided into five chapters. Chapter one is the introductory part of the study which includes review of latest literature, problems of study, background of study, research questions, means of obtaining data, hypothesis testing, limitation of study, definition of terms, purpose of study, scope of study, significance of study.
Chapter two is captured “Literature Review” where several part works the subject matter are several reviewed to cover a well detailed theoretical framework of the study.
Chapter three is the research methodology of the study. It covers the research design employed, the research instrument, restatement off research question, data collection procedure and data analysis techniques.
Chapter four is the analysis, presentation of data using a simple percentile method of analysis.
Chapter five is the summary of findings, recommendation of the study as well as conclusion of the study. At the end of the study, suggestion for further study is offered for interested users and readers.
- Research Methodology
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