ABSTRACT
Murder represents one of the major challenges for the investigator, bringing to the fore virtually all aspects of a criminal investigation. Even when the perpetrator is known, the investigator must take care in handling the case and preparing the case for court. One cannot anticipate a guilty plea or know what approach the defense counsel will take—such as invoking self-defense, accident, or one of many other defenses. When a suspect has not been identified, even one mistake can result in a failure to solve the case or can serve to open a line of defense. The handling of homicide cases entails a high level of knowledge and skill. Homicide is the killing of one human being by another. All homicides are not criminal: they may also be justifiable or excusable. This chapter illustrates how the three sources of information—people, physical evidence, and records—are employed to solve homicides.
